Current Visibility
Altitude
-24.1°
Azimuth
16.2°
Object Details
| Group | Property | Value |
|---|
Rise/Set Times
Rise Time
03:31
Transit Time
10:59
Set Time
18:27
Observing Recommendations
Observing Tips:
- Visible to the naked eye under dark skies
- Use low to moderate magnification
- Look for color differences among stars
- Wait for better sky conditions or higher altitude
About Deep Sky Data
Data Sources
Deep sky object data is compiled from authoritative astronomical catalogs including NGC (New General Catalogue), IC (Index Catalogue), Messier, and Caldwell. Primary source: OpenNGC.
Coordinate Systems
Right Ascension (RA): Celestial longitude measured in hours, minutes, and seconds (0h to 24h).
Declination (Dec): Celestial latitude measured in degrees, arcminutes, and arcseconds (-90 to +90 degrees).
Magnitude Scale
The astronomical magnitude scale is logarithmic. Lower values = brighter objects. The formula relating magnitude difference to brightness ratio:
\[m_1 - m_2 = -2.5 \times \log_{10}\left(\frac{F_1}{F_2}\right)\]
where m is magnitude and F is flux.
Observing Recommendations
Recommendations are calculated based on:
- Altitude: Objects above 30 degrees altitude are easier to observe
- Magnitude: Brighter objects (lower magnitude) are easier to see
- Moon Phase: Dark skies (new moon) improve visibility of faint objects
Rise and Set Times
Calculated using Skyfield astronomical library with observer's location and date. Times shown in local timezone. Objects are considered visible when altitude is above 0 degrees.
Best Viewing Time
Determined by finding when the object reaches maximum altitude (culmination) during nighttime hours. Calculated as:
\[t_{\text{best}} = \arg\max_{t \in \text{night}} h(t)\]
where h(t) is altitude as a function of time.