Sky Tonight
ST
Location settings
Santa Clara, US
37.4°/-122°
GMT -9
Waning18:11 - 04:20
  ⌕
☾
☰
Sky-Tonight.com / Brightest Stars / Altair
  • Tonight
    • Brightest Objects
  • Solar System
    • Sun
    • Moon
    • Planets
    • Mercury
    • Venus
    • Mars
    • Jupiter
    • Saturn
    • Satellite Flyovers
    • ISS
    • Close Approaches
  • Small Bodies
    • Asteroids
    • Comets
  • Stars
    • Brightest Stars
  • Meteor Showers
    • Active Meteor Showers
    • Major Meteor Showers
  • Solar Eclipses
    • Future Solar Eclipses
    • Past Solar Eclipses
  • Lunar Eclipses
    • Future Lunar Eclipses
    • Past Lunar Eclipses
  • Deep Sky Objects
    • Spring Nebulae
    • Messier Objects
    • Nebulae
    • Star Clusters
    • Galaxies
  • Double Stars
    • Naked-Eye
    • Binocular
    • Physical
    • Color-Contrasting
    • Triple Star Systems
    • Multiple Star Systems
  • Constellations
    • Visible Tonight
    • Seasonal
    • Ecliptic
    • All 88 Constellations
  • Maps
    • Lunar map
    • Mars map
    • Mercury map
    • Earth
    • Cloud Cover Map
    • Aurora Activity
  • Contact Us
    • Feedback

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

Altair Position and Visibility Tonight

Altair

Where is Altair right now?

Altair is located in the constellation Aquila. Although it is currently above the horizon at an altitude of 60 degrees, Altair is not visible because it is daytime.

Altair Visibility on March 16

Altair is visible in the early morning sky until sunrise

Altair Rise and Set Timetable

TimeElevation
Moon Rise, 17.9% illuminated 03:3631°
Altair transit07:2562°
Altair set13:51
Moon Set13:56-1°
Astrosession begin18:42-43°
Altair rise00:55
Astrosession end03:5035°
Civil sunrise04:5146°
Sunrise05:1850°

Track Altair Position Throughout the Night

← Mon, 16 March 2026 →

Elevation (degrees)
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

Double-click to unlock the map.
Object nameAltair
Field of view
Limiting magnitude
Altair coordinates19.846388, 8.868322000000001
Center coordinates19.846388, 8.868322000000001

Altair Passage Through Night

Double-click to unlock the map.

Current position of Altair

Time06:51
Latitude37.3541
Longitude-121.955
Altair elevation60°
Altair Azimuth-163°
Here you can see the current position of the Altair on the map, as well as its positions for rise and set. This tool allows you to track the Altair's movement throughout the night, providing you with accurate and up-to-date information.

Annual motion of Altair


Altair will be visible until December, 22, 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, 16 March 2026
Twighlight start18:37
Twighlight end03:44
Twighlight duration9h 7m
Rise00:55
Set13:47
Elevation at transit62°
Transit time07:21
Equatorial coordinatesRA: 19h 50m 46s", Dec: 08° 52' 05s
Magnitude1
ConstellationAquila
The graph illustrates the annual visibility pattern of a Altair, 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 Altair 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 Altair

Coordinates & Visibility

Right Ascension19.846388°
Declination8.868322000000001°
Magnitude0.76
ConstellationAquila
Elevation60.5°
Azimuth-162.5°