Pluto Observation Details
Pluto Daily Motion
Pluto will be visible until January, 2, when it will move too close to the Sun. During this time, its proximity to the Sun will cause it to disappear from the night sky, making it unobservable for a while.
Pluto Visibility Timetable on September 17
Pluto Rise and Set Timetable
| Time | Elevation | |
| Moon Rise, 29.5% illuminated | 23:16 | 11° |
| Moon Set | 14:45 | -2° |
| Pluto rise | 14:59 | |
| Sunset | 17:12 | 20° |
| Civil sunset | 17:39 | 23° |
| Astrosession begin | 18:41 | 28° |
| Pluto transit | 19:41 | 29° |
| Pluto set | 00:22 | |
| Astrosession end | 03:23 | -34° |
Track Pluto Position Throughout the Night
← Wed, 17 September 2025 →
| Time | |
| Altitude | |
| Azimuth |
Shift the map to change the time and observe Pluto changing position in the night sky.
Where is Pluto right now?
Pluto is located in the constellation Capricornus, at right ascension 20h 18m 44s" and declination -23° 30' 33s, approximately 34.74 AU (5,197,030,028 km) from Earth. At the current time, it is above the horizon at an altitude of 8 degrees toward the southeast from your location, with an apparent magnitude of 14.5.Upcoming Events
| Time | Description | Constellation |
|---|---|---|
| Tue, 14 October 2025 | Retrograde motion of Pluto ends | Capricornus |
Finder Chart for Pluto
Double-click to unlock the map.
| Object name | Pluto |
| Field of view | |
| Limiting magnitude | |
| Pluto coordinates | 20.31233, -23.50922 |
| Center coordinates | 20.31233, -23.50922 |
Pluto Passage Through Night
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Current position of Pluto
| Time | 23:34 |
| Latitude | 37.3541 |
| Longitude | -121.955 |
| Pluto elevation | 8° |
| Pluto Azimuth | 128° |
Here you can see the current position of the Pluto on the map, as well as its positions for rise and set. This tool allows you to track the Pluto's movement throughout the night, providing you with accurate and up-to-date information.
Annual motion of Pluto
| Date | Thu, 18 September 2025 |
| Twighlight start | 18:35 |
| Twighlight end | 03:18 |
| Twighlight duration | 9h 43m |
| Rise | 14:55 |
| Set | 00:18 |
| Elevation at transit | 29° |
| Transit time | 19:37 |
| Equatorial coordinates | RA: 20h 18m 42s", Dec: -23° 30' 39s |
| Magnitude | 15 |
| Constellation | Capricornus |
The graph illustrates the annual visibility pattern of a Pluto, providing a comprehensive overview of its daily appearances and transit times throughout the year.
The graph is structured with the vertical axis showing the hours of the day, ranging from 12 AM to 12 AM the next day, while the horizontal axis spans each day of the year.
The reddish shaded area indicates the periods when the Pluto is above the horizon, visible to observers. The white line marks the times when the celestial object reaches its highest point in the sky each day, known as the transit.
The graph is structured with the vertical axis showing the hours of the day, ranging from 12 AM to 12 AM the next day, while the horizontal axis spans each day of the year.
The reddish shaded area indicates the periods when the Pluto is above the horizon, visible to observers. The white line marks the times when the celestial object reaches its highest point in the sky each day, known as the transit.
Astrometric & Physical Parameters of Pluto
Coordinates & Visibility
| Right Ascension | 20.31233° |
| Declination | -23.50922° |
| Magnitude | 14.5 |
| Constellation | Capricornus |
| Elevation | 7.9° |
| Azimuth | 127.8° |
Basic Properties
| Mass, kg | 1.307E+22 |
| Mean density, g/cm³ | 0.697 |
Orbit
| Orbital period, days | 249.58932 yr |
Rotation
| Sidereal rotation period, days | 153.29335198 h |
| Mean solar day, hours | 153.2820 |
Surface & Atmosphere
| Surface gravity, m/s² | 0.611 m/s^2 |
| Escape velocity, km/s | 1.21 |
Data Acknowledgment
Our solar system data—including planetary physical and orbital parameters—comes from the Solar System OpenData API , maintained by Le Système Solaire. We thank Christophe and the contributors for making this open data available.