Canopus Tonight: Visibility, Position and Best Viewing Time
Where is Canopus right now?
Canopus is located in the constellation Carina. It is currently below the horizon and is not visible from your location.
Is Canopus Visible Tonight?
From your location, Canopus is visible from before midnight until sunrise. Its current altitude, direction, rise and set times, and finder chart are shown below.
When Is the Best Time to See Canopus Tonight?
The earliest practical time to observe Canopus tonight is around 00:44, when it is already about 31° above the horizon. It reaches its highest point of about 37° around 02:54.
Canopus tonight
Canopus visibility on 2026-11-12
Canopus Visible from before midnight until sunrise
Canopus rise and set timetable
| Time | Elevation | |
Moonrise, 7% illuminated  | 08:06 | 8° |
| Astronomical observing session begins | 18:59 | -17° |
| Moonset | 20:32 | -4° |
| Canopus rise | 20:55 | |
| Canopus transit | 02:54 | 37° |
| Astronomical observing session ends | 04:28 | 34° |
| Twilight end (−12°) | 04:53 | 32° |
| Civil sunrise | 05:19 | 29° |
| Sunrise | 05:41 | 27° |
| Canopus set | 08:53 |
Track Canopus position throughout the night
← 12 November 2026 →
| Time | |
| Altitude | |
| Azimuth |
Shift the map to change the time and observe Canopus changing position in the night sky.
Canopus - Supergiant Star
Canopus is the second-brightest star in the night sky, located in the constellation Carina. It is a supergiant star approximately 310 light-years away from Earth. Canopus is significantly larger and more luminous than the Sun.
With an apparent magnitude of -0.72, Canopus is a key navigation star and has been used for centuries by mariners and astronomers alike.
Finder Chart for Canopus
Canopus Passage Through Night
Double-click to unlock the map.
Current position of Canopus
| Time | 13:18 |
| Latitude | 0 |
| Longitude | 0 |
| Elevation | -33° |
| Azimuth | 198° |
Here you can see the current position of Canopus 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 Canopus Visible Throughout the Year?
Canopus will remain visible until April 21, when it moves too close to the Sun and temporarily disappears from the night sky.
| Date | Fri, 13 November 2026 |
| Astronomical observing session begins | 18:56 |
| Astronomical observing session ends | 04:23 |
| Astronomical observing duration | 9h 27m |
| Rise | 20:55 |
| Set | 08:53 |
| Elevation at transit | 37° |
| Transit time | 02:54 |
| Equatorial coordinates | RA: 06h 23m 57s", Dec: -52° 41' 44s |
| Magnitude | -1 |
| Constellation | Carina |
The graph illustrates the annual visibility pattern of Canopus, 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 Canopus is visible throughout the year in a table with exact rise, transit, and set times for each date.
You can also see when Canopus is visible throughout the year in a table with exact rise, transit, and set times for each date.
Astrometric and Physical Parameters of Canopus
Coordinates and Visibility
| Right Ascension | 06h 23m 57s |
| Declination | -52° 41′ 44″ |
| Magnitude | -0.62 |
| Constellation | Carina |
| Elevation | -33.4° |
| Azimuth | 197.6° |
| Spectral type | F0Ib |