Rigel Tonight: Visibility, Position and Best Viewing Time
Is Rigel Visible Tonight?
From your location, Rigel is visible from early morning until sunrise. Its current altitude, direction, rise and set times, and finder chart are shown below.
When Is the Best Time to See Rigel Tonight?
The earliest practical time to observe Rigel tonight is around 02:29, when it is already about 30° above the horizon. It reaches its highest point of about 40° around 03:45.
Where is Rigel right now?
Rigel is located in the constellation Orion. It is currently below the horizon and is not visible from your location.
Rigel visibility on 2026-09-07
Rigel Visible from early morning until sunrise
Rigel rise and set timetable
| Time | Elevation | |
| Moonset | 14:56 | -47° |
| Astronomical observing session begins | 18:58 | -53° |
Moonrise, 21% illuminated  | 23:21 | -4° |
| Rigel rise | 23:41 | |
| Astronomical observing session ends | 03:13 | 36° |
| Twilight end | 03:45 | 40° |
| Civil sunrise | 04:17 | 42° |
| Sunrise | 04:44 | 44° |
| Rigel transit | 05:15 | 44° |
| Rigel set | 10:49 |
Track Rigel Position Throughout the Night
← 7 September 2026 →
| Time | |
| Altitude | |
| Azimuth |
Shift the map to change the time and observe Rigel changing position in the night sky.
Rigel - Blue Supergiant Star
Rigel is the brightest star in the constellation Orion and the seventh-brightest star in the night sky. It is a blue supergiant star located about 860 light-years away from Earth.
With an apparent magnitude of 0.13, Rigel is one of the most luminous stars visible to the naked eye. It is significantly more massive and hotter than the Sun.
Finder Chart for Rigel
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| Object name | Rigel |
| Field of view | |
| Limiting magnitude | |
| Rigel coordinates | 5.242298, -8.20164 |
| Center coordinates | 5.242298, -8.20164 |
Rigel Passage Through Night
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Current position of Rigel
| Time | 18:59 |
| Latitude | 37.3541 |
| Longitude | -121.955 |
| Elevation | -53° |
| Azimuth | 45° |
Here you can see the current position of Rigel 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 Rigel Visible Throughout the Year?
Rigel will remain visible until April 3, when it moves too close to the Sun and temporarily disappears from the night sky.
| Date | Tue, 8 September 2026 |
| Twilight start | 18:56 |
| Twilight end | 03:12 |
| Twilight duration | 8h 16m |
| Rise | 23:37 |
| Set | 10:45 |
| Elevation at transit | 44° |
| Transit time | 05:11 |
| Equatorial coordinates | RA: 05h 14m 32s", Dec: -8° 12' 05s |
| Magnitude | 0 |
| Constellation | Orion |
The graph illustrates the annual visibility pattern of Rigel, 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 Rigel is visible throughout the year in a table with exact rise, transit, and set times for each date.
You can also see when Rigel is visible throughout the year in a table with exact rise, transit, and set times for each date.
Astrometric and Physical Parameters of Rigel
Coordinates and Visibility
| Right Ascension | 05h 14m 32s |
| Declination | -8° 12′ 06″ |
| Magnitude | 0.18 |
| Constellation | Orion |
| Elevation | -52.8° |
| Azimuth | 44.9° |
| Spectral type | B8Ia |