Alphard Position and Visibility Tonight
Where is Alphard right now?
Alphard is located in the constellation Hydra. It is currently below the horizon and is not visible from your location.
Alphard visibility on 2026-09-14
Alphard Visible from morning twilight until sunrise
Alphard rise and set timetable
| Time | Elevation | |
Moonrise, 4.1% illuminated  | 07:32 | 39° |
| Alphard transit | 09:04 | 44° |
| Alphard set | 14:36 | |
| Moonset | 18:26 | -45° |
| Astronomical observing session begins | 18:46 | -48° |
| Astronomical observing session ends | 03:20 | -1° |
| Alphard rise | 03:28 | |
| Twilight end (−12°) | 03:52 | 5° |
| Civil sunrise | 04:22 | 11° |
| Sunrise | 04:50 | 16° |
Track Alphard position throughout the night
← 14 September 2026 →
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Shift the map to change the time and observe Alphard changing position in the night sky.
Alphard - Orange Giant Star
Alphard is the brightest star in the constellation Hydra and the thirty-fifth-brightest star in the night sky. It is an orange giant star located about 177 light-years away from Earth.
Alphard has an apparent magnitude of 2.00 and is one of the most prominent stars in the spring sky in the Northern Hemisphere.
Finder Chart for Alphard
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| Object name | Alphard |
| Field of view | |
| Limiting magnitude | |
| Alphard coordinates | 9.45979, -8.658603 |
| Center coordinates | 9.45979, -8.658603 |
Alphard Passage Through Night
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Current position of Alphard
| Time | 02:00 |
| Latitude | 37.3541 |
| Longitude | -121.955 |
| Elevation | -17° |
| Azimuth | 88° |
Here you can see the current position of Alphard on the map, as well as its positions for rise and set. This tool lets you track its movement throughout the night with accurate, up-to-date information.
When Is Alphard Visible Throughout the Year?
Alphard will become visible again around October 14 after moving far enough from the Sun.
| Date | Tue, 15 September 2026 |
| Astronomical observing session begins | 18:40 |
| Astronomical observing session ends | 03:15 |
| Astronomical observing duration | 9h 35m |
| Rise | 03:24 |
| Set | 14:28 |
| Elevation at transit | 44° |
| Transit time | 08:56 |
| Equatorial coordinates | RA: 09h 27m 35s", Dec: -8° 39' 30s |
| Magnitude | 2 |
| Constellation | Hydra |
The graph illustrates the annual visibility pattern of Alphard, including its daily appearances and transit times. The vertical axis shows the hours of the day and the horizontal axis spans the year. The reddish area marks when the object is above the horizon, while the white line marks its daily transit.
You can also see when Alphard is visible throughout the year in a table with exact rise, transit, and set times for each date.
You can also see when Alphard is visible throughout the year in a table with exact rise, transit, and set times for each date.
Astrometric and Physical Parameters of Alphard
Coordinates and Visibility
| Right Ascension | 09h 27m 35s |
| Declination | -8° 39′ 31″ |
| Magnitude | 1.99 |
| Constellation | Hydra |
| Elevation | -17.4° |
| Azimuth | 87.7° |
| Spectral type | K3III |