Altair Position and Visibility Tonight
Where is Altair right now?
Altair is located in the constellation Aquila. Although Altair is currently 50° above the horizon, it is not visible because it is daytime.
Twilight begins at 18:15 local time. At that moment, Altair will be 57° above the horizon toward the south-east.
Twilight begins at 18:15 local time. At that moment, Altair will be 57° above the horizon toward the south-east.
Altair visibility on 2026-09-14
Altair Visible from sunset until early morning
Altair rise and set timetable
| Time | Elevation | |
Moonrise, 4.1% illuminated  | 07:32 | -44° |
| Altair rise | 12:59 | |
| Sunset | 17:17 | 49° |
| Civil sunset | 17:44 | 53° |
| Twilight start (−12°) | 18:15 | 57° |
| Moonset | 18:26 | 58° |
| Astronomical observing session begins | 18:46 | 60° |
| Altair transit | 19:25 | 62° |
| Altair set | 01:52 | |
| Astronomical observing session ends | 03:20 | -17° |
Track Altair position throughout the night
← 14 September 2026 →
| Time | |
| Altitude | |
| Azimuth |
Shift the map to change the time and observe Altair changing position in the night sky.
Altair - Main Sequence Star
Altair is the brightest star in the constellation Aquila and the twelfth-brightest star in the night sky. It is a main sequence star located about 16.7 light-years away from Earth.
Altair has an apparent magnitude of 0.76 and is known for its rapid rotation, which causes it to have an oblate shape. It is one of the closest stars visible to the naked eye.
Finder Chart for Altair
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| Object name | Altair |
| Field of view | |
| Limiting magnitude | |
| Altair coordinates | 19.846388, 8.868322000000001 |
| Center coordinates | 19.846388, 8.868322000000001 |
Altair Passage Through Night
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Current position of Altair
| Time | 17:19 |
| Latitude | 37.3541 |
| Longitude | -121.955 |
| Elevation | 50° |
| Azimuth | 127° |
Here you can see the current position of Altair 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 Altair Visible Throughout the Year?
Altair will remain visible until December 22, when it moves too close to the Sun and temporarily disappears from the night sky.
| Date | Tue, 15 September 2026 |
| Astronomical observing session begins | 18:44 |
| Astronomical observing session ends | 03:19 |
| Astronomical observing duration | 9h 35m |
| Rise | 12:55 |
| Set | 01:48 |
| Elevation at transit | 62° |
| Transit time | 19:22 |
| Equatorial coordinates | RA: 19h 50m 46s", Dec: 08° 52' 05s |
| Magnitude | 1 |
| Constellation | Aquila |
The graph illustrates the annual visibility pattern of Altair, 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 Altair is visible throughout the year in a table with exact rise, transit, and set times for each date.
You can also see when Altair is visible throughout the year in a table with exact rise, transit, and set times for each date.
Astrometric and Physical Parameters of Altair
Coordinates and Visibility
| Right Ascension | 19h 50m 47s |
| Declination | 08° 52′ 06″ |
| Magnitude | 0.76 |
| Constellation | Aquila |
| Elevation | 49.7° |
| Azimuth | 126.8° |
| Spectral type | A7IV-V |