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Sky-Tonight.com / Brightest Stars / Alphard
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Observation Settings

Or select it on the map:
This Earth map fragment is intended to illustrate celestial motion across the sky, emphasizing both bearing and elevational perspectives. The map's center point corresponds to the transit, showcasing celestial objects at their highest point, while elevation gradually decreases towards the map edges. This dynamic representation offers insights into the changing positions of celestial bodies with a focus on their bearing and elevational trajectories.
Your location: Santa Clara, United States
Timezone:
Latitude:
37.3541
Longitude:
-121.955

Alphard Position and Visibility Tonight

Alphard

Where is Alphard right now?

Alphard is located in the constellation Hydra. At the current time, it is below the horizon and not visible from your location.

Alphard Visibility on March 29

Alphard is visible from sunset through most of the night

Alphard Rise and Set Timetable

TimeElevation
Moon Rise, 73.8% illuminated 13:12-17°
Alphard rise14:36
Sunset17:2530°
Civil sunset17:5334°
Astrosession begin18:5541°
Alphard transit20:0844°
Alphard set01:41
Moon Set03:18-19°
Astrosession end03:29-21°

Track Alphard Position Throughout the Night

← Sun, 29 March 2026 →

Elevation (degrees)
Time
Altitude
Azimuth
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

Double-click to unlock the map.
Object nameAlphard
Field of view
Limiting magnitude
Alphard coordinates9.45979, -8.658603
Center coordinates9.45979, -8.658603

Alphard Passage Through Night

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Current position of Alphard

Time03:54
Latitude37.3541
Longitude-121.955
Alphard elevation-26°
Alphard Azimuth80°
Here you can see the current position of the Alphard on the map, as well as its positions for rise and set. This tool allows you to track the Alphard's movement throughout the night, providing you with accurate and up-to-date information.

Annual motion of Alphard


Alphard will be visible until May, 23, 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.
Time
DateMon, 30 March 2026
Twighlight start18:51
Twighlight end03:22
Twighlight duration9h 30m
Rise14:32
Set01:37
Elevation at transit44°
Transit time20:04
Equatorial coordinatesRA: 09h 27m 35s", Dec: -8° 39' 30s
Magnitude2
ConstellationHydra
The graph illustrates the annual visibility pattern of a Alphard, 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 Alphard 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.
You can also view detailed visibility information in a dedicated table, including exact rise, transit, and set times for each date.

Astrometric & Physical Parameters of Alphard

Coordinates & Visibility

Right Ascension9.45979°
Declination-8.658603°
Magnitude1.99
ConstellationHydra
Elevation-26.4°
Azimuth80.3°