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Sky-Tonight.com / Constellations / Ara
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Observation Settings

Or select it on the map:
This Earth map lets you select the observer’s location used to calculate the bearing and elevation of celestial objects. The selected point determines how the sky, rise and set times, and object positions are shown.
Your location: Santa Clara, United States
Timezone:
Latitude:
37.3541
Longitude:
-121.955

Ara Constellation

Double-click to unlock the map.
Ara, the altar, is a southern constellation symbolizing an altar in Greek mythology, located near the constellations Scorpius and Centaurus.

Ara Rise and Set Timetable

TimeElevation
Ara is always below the horizon-
Moonrise, 31.2% illuminated 23:22-32°
Moonset14:56-12°
Ara transit17:16-7°
Astronomical observing session begins18:26-8°
Astronomical observing session ends03:45-63°

Track Ara Position Throughout the Night

← 7 September 2026 →

Elevation (degrees)
Time
Altitude
Azimuth
Shift the map to change the time and observe Ara changing position in the night sky.

Nebulae in the constellation Ara

IC4651

Open Cluster

IC4651
↗ 18:26 ↘ 03:45 ↑ 2°
☼ 6.9 ✣ 9.60"
IC4651 is an open cluster with apparent magnitude 6.90 in the constellation Ara, spanning approximately 9.6 arcseconds in the sky.
More about IC4651

NGC6188

Nebula

NGC6188
↗ 18:26 ↘ 03:45 ↑ 1°
☼ - ✣ 20.00"
NGC6188 is a nebula with apparent magnitude in the constellation Ara, spanning approximately 20 arcseconds in the sky.
More about NGC6188

NGC6193

Open Cluster

NGC6193
↗ 18:26 ↘ 03:45 ↑ 1°
☼ - ✣ 8.10"
NGC6193 is an open cluster with apparent magnitude in the constellation Ara, spanning approximately 8.1 arcseconds in the sky.
More about NGC6193

NGC6200

Open Cluster

NGC6200
↗ 18:26 ↘ 03:45 ↑ 2°
☼ 7.4 ✣ 8.10"
NGC6200 is an open cluster with apparent magnitude 7.40 in the constellation Ara, spanning approximately 8.1 arcseconds in the sky.
More about NGC6200

NGC6204

Open Cluster

NGC6204
↗ 18:26 ↘ 03:45 ↑ 3°
☼ 8.2 ✣ 4.50"
NGC6204 is an open cluster with apparent magnitude 8.20 in the constellation Ara, spanning approximately 4.5 arcseconds in the sky.
More about NGC6204

NGC6208

Open Cluster

NGC6208
↗ - ↘ - ↑ -3°
☼ 7.2 ✣ 8.40"
NGC6208 is an open cluster with apparent magnitude 7.20 in the constellation Ara, spanning approximately 8.4 arcseconds in the sky.
More about NGC6208

NGC6250

Star cluster + Nebula

NGC6250
↗ 18:26 ↘ 03:45 ↑ 5°
☼ 5.9 ✣ 9.60"
NGC6250 is a star cluster + nebula with apparent magnitude 5.90 in the constellation Ara, spanning approximately 9.6 arcseconds in the sky.
More about NGC6250

NGC6352

Globular Cluster

NGC6352
↗ 18:26 ↘ 03:45 ↑ 3°
☼ 8.9 ✣ 7.20"
NGC6352 is a globular cluster with apparent magnitude 8.87 in the constellation Ara, spanning approximately 7.2 arcseconds in the sky.
More about NGC6352

NGC6362

Globular Cluster

NGC6362
↗ - ↘ - ↑ -15°
☼ 8.9 ✣ 8.40"
NGC6362 is a globular cluster with apparent magnitude 8.86 in the constellation Ara, spanning approximately 8.4 arcseconds in the sky.
More about NGC6362

NGC6397

Globular Cluster

NGC6397
↗ - ↘ - ↑ -2°
☼ 5.2 ✣ 15.30"
NGC6397 is a globular cluster with apparent magnitude 5.17 in the constellation Ara, spanning approximately 15.3 arcseconds in the sky.
More about NGC6397

Annual motion of Ara

Time
DateMon, 7 September 2026
Twilight start18:54
Twilight end03:07
Twilight duration8h 13m
RiseAra is always down
SetAra is always down
Elevation at transit-7°
Transit time17:12
Equatorial coordinatesRA: 17h 13m 09s", Dec: -60° 00' 00s
Magnitude-
Constellation
The graph illustrates the constellation’s annual visibility pattern and its daily rise, set, and transit times throughout the year.
The vertical axis shows the hours of the day, while the horizontal axis spans the days of the year.
The reddish area marks when the constellation is above the horizon. The white line shows when it reaches its highest point in the sky. View detailed visibility information in a table with rise, transit, and set times for each date.

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the International Astronomical Union (IAU) for defining and standardizing the official constellation boundaries used in celestial mapping.

Special thanks to Sky & Telescope Magazine and contributors Roger Sinnott and Rick Fienberg for producing the charts and tables. Alan MacRobert’s constellation patterns were influenced by the work of H. A. Rey and adjusted to align with earlier traditions.