This site was originally written to provide a means for myself to easily identify what objects are visible in the sky on any given night of the year. Now I've opened it up to all astronomers and curious minds alike.
The way it works is simple: choose a local date/time, choose your timezone, enter in your geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude) then the site does the rest.
You can also sign up to a service which will automatically email you (eg every night, every week, etc) so that you're always informed of what's coming up without having to check back.
At some stage soon, hopefully we'll even go so far as to make a guess as to how the local weather will impact the quality if your star gazing and factor that into the NightWatch report!
Example report for tonight
This report calculates the sun and moon activity, and also locates constellations and deep space objects from the SAC verison 8 catalog. For observational quality it limits the constellation and DSO results to those within 60° of the local zenith, and only DSOs with a magnitude of 6.5 or better (visible to the naked eye on a good clear dark night).
Using default time and location: 2023-10-03 21:00:00, 27° 56' 1" S 153° 17' 34" E (Gold Coast, Australia)
| Object | Twilight Starts | Sunrise | Direction | Sunset | Direction | Twilight Ends |
| Sun | 04:03 | 05:24 | 94.6° (east) | 17:48 | 265.1° (west) | 19:08 |
| Object | Rise | Direction | Set | Direction | Age | Luminosity |
| Moon | 21:59 | 62.4° (northeast) | 08:27 (2023-10-04) | 299.3° (northwest) | 19 days (waning) | 80.46%  |
| Object | RA | DEC | Azimuth | Altitude |
| Jupiter | 2h 47.2m | 14° 38.3' | 68.25° (east) | 8.71° |
| Saturn | 22h 14.9m | -12° 46.2' | 13.00° (north) | 74.48° |
| Uranus | 3h 19.8m | 18° 1.4' | 69.35° (east) | 0.26° |
| Neptune | 23h 45.7m | -2° 56.4' | 49.71° (northeast) | 54.63° |
| Pluto | 20h 0.9m | -23° 19.7' | 272.84° (west) | 62.66° |
Deep Sky Objects
| Type | Object | Constellation | Magnitude | RA | Dec | Azimuth | Altitude |
| Galaxy | NGC 292 (aka Small Magellanc Cl) | Tucana | 2.3 | 0h 52.6m | -72° 48.0' | 164.82° (south) | 39.69° |
| Open Cluster | Mel 227 (aka Cr 411) | Octans | 5.3 | 20h 15.3m | -79° 17.0' | 185.97° (south) | 37.41° |
| Open Cluster | Blanco 1 | Sculptor | 4.5 | 0h 4.3m | -29° 56.0' | 101.74° (east) | 62.98° |
| Open Cluster | NGC 6322 (aka OCL 1000) | Scorpius | 6 | 17h 18.4m | -42° 56.0' | 234.76° (southwest) | 32.28° |
| Open Cluster | NGC 6383 (aka NGC 6374) | Scorpius | 5.5 | 17h 34.7m | -32° 35.0' | 247.60° (west) | 33.30° |
| Open Cluster | NGC 6405 (aka M 6) | Scorpius | 4.2 | 17h 40.3m | -32° 15.0' | 248.34° (west) | 34.36° |
| Open Cluster | NGC 6416 (aka OCL 1031) | Scorpius | 5.7 | 17h 44.3m | -32° 22.0' | 248.44° (west) | 35.21° |
| Open Cluster | NGC 6475 (aka M 7) | Scorpius | 3.3 | 17h 53.9m | -34° 48.0' | 246.00° (southwest) | 37.67° |
| Open Cluster | NGC 6705 (aka M 11) | Scutum | 5.8 | 18h 51.1m | -6° 16.0' | 286.64° (west) | 40.20° |
| Open Cluster | NGC 6605 (aka OCL 47) | Serpens | 6 | 18h 18.4m | -14° 57.0' | 272.00° (west) | 37.10° |
| Open Cluster | IC 4756 (aka Cr 386) | Serpens | 4.6 | 18h 39.0m | 5° 27.0' | 296.40° (northwest) | 31.04° |
| Open Cluster | NGC 6494 (aka M 23) | Sagittarius | 5.5 | 17h 57.1m | -18° 59.0' | 265.02° (west) | 33.95° |
| Open Cluster | NGC 6531 (aka M 21) | Sagittarius | 5.9 | 18h 4.2m | -22° 29.0' | 261.69° (west) | 36.72° |
| Open Cluster | NGC 6530 (aka OCL 19) | Sagittarius | 4.6 | 18h 4.5m | -24° 21.0' | 259.50° (west) | 37.37° |
| Open Cluster | Cr 367 | Sagittarius | 6.4 | 18h 9.8m | -23° 50.0' | 260.58° (west) | 38.36° |
| Open Cluster | IC 4715 (aka M 24) | Sagittarius | 3.1 | 18h 17.3m | -18° 40.0' | 267.54° (west) | 38.29° |
| Open Cluster | IC 4725 (aka M 25) | Sagittarius | 4.6 | 18h 31.8m | -19° 7.0' | 268.60° (west) | 41.65° |
| Open Cluster | Cr 394 | Sagittarius | 6.3 | 18h 52.3m | -20° 12.0' | 269.51° (west) | 46.55° |
| Open Cluster | NGC 6940 (aka OCL 141) | Vulpecula | 6.3 | 20h 34.4m | 28° 17.0' | 338.01° (north) | 30.10° |
| Planetary Nebula | NGC 7293 (aka PK 36-57.1) | Aquarius | 6.3 | 22h 29.6m | -20° 50.0' | 44.32° (northeast) | 80.33° |
| Globular Cluster | NGC 6397 (aka Lac III-11) | Ara | 5.3 | 17h 40.7m | -53° 40.0' | 222.09° (southwest) | 36.76° |
| Globular Cluster | NGC 6541 (aka Dunlop 473) | Corona Australis | 6.3 | 18h 8.0m | -43° 42.0' | 234.90° (southwest) | 41.33° |
| Globular Cluster | NGC 6752 (aka Dunlop 295) | Pavo | 5.4 | 19h 10.9m | -59° 59.0' | 209.70° (southwest) | 47.03° |
| Globular Cluster | NGC 7078 (aka M 15) | Pegasus | 6.4 | 21h 30.0m | 12° 10.0' | 348.45° (north) | 49.21° |
| Globular Cluster | NGC 6656 (aka M 22) | Sagittarius | 5.2 | 18h 36.4m | -23° 54.0' | 262.87° (west) | 44.20° |
| Globular Cluster | NGC 6809 (aka M 55) | Sagittarius | 6.3 | 19h 40.0m | -30° 58.0' | 255.66° (west) | 59.33° |
| Globular Cluster | NGC 104 (aka 47 Tucanae) | Tucana | 4 | 0h 24.1m | -72° 5.0' | 166.03° (south) | 41.76° |
| Cluster with Nebulosity | NGC 6611 (aka M 16) | Serpens | 6 | 18h 18.8m | -13° 47.0' | 273.38° (west) | 36.71° |
| Cluster with Nebulosity | NGC 6514 (aka M 20) | Sagittarius | 6.3 | 18h 2.7m | -22° 58.0' | 260.98° (west) | 36.55° |
| Cluster with Nebulosity | NGC 6523 (aka M 8) | Sagittarius | 5 | 18h 3.7m | -24° 23.0' | 259.39° (west) | 37.20° |
| Cluster with Nebulosity | NGC 6618 (aka M 17) | Sagittarius | 6 | 18h 20.8m | -16° 11.0' | 270.87° (west) | 38.12° |
Constellations
| Constellation | RA | Dec | Azimuth | Altitude |
| Aquarius | 23h 0.0m | -15° 0.0' | 49.78° (northeast) | 71° |
| Aquila | 20h 0.0m | 5° 0.0' | 313.80° (northwest) | 46° |
| Ara | 17h 39.0m | -53° 0.0' | 222.93° (southwest) | 37° |
| Capricornus | 21h 0.0m | -20° 0.0' | 296.48° (northwest) | 74° |
| Cetus | 2h 0.0m | -8° 0.0' | 82.66° (east) | 30° |
| Corona Australis | 19h 0.0m | -40° 0.0' | 239.90° (southwest) | 51° |
| Delphinus | 21h 0.0m | 14° 0.0' | 338.71° (north) | 46° |
| Equuleus | 21h 0.0m | 10° 0.0' | 336.68° (northwest) | 49° |
| Grus | 22h 0.0m | -47° 0.0' | 180.39° (south) | 71° |
| Horologium | 3h 0.0m | -60° 0.0' | 145.56° (southeast) | 31° |
| Hydrus | 2h 0.0m | -70° 0.0' | 158.48° (south) | 36° |
| Indus | 21h 0.0m | -55° 0.0' | 197.93° (south) | 61° |
| Microscopium | 21h 0.0m | -36° 0.0' | 234.08° (southwest) | 75° |
| Octans | 22h 0.0m | -85° 0.0' | 180.02° (south) | 33° |
| Pavo | 20h 0.0m | -65° 0.0' | 198.65° (south) | 48° |
| Pegasus | 23h 0.0m | 20° 0.0' | 18.27° (north) | 40° |
| Phoenix | 0h 0.0m | -50° 0.0' | 142.44° (southeast) | 58° |
| Piscis Austrinus | 22h 0.0m | -30° 0.0' | 184.53° (south) | 88° |
| Sagitta | 19h 45.0m | 19° 0.0' | 321.14° (northwest) | 33° |
| Sagittarius | 19h 0.0m | -25° 0.0' | 263.42° (west) | 50° |
| Sculptor | 0h 0.0m | -30° 0.0' | 101.77° (east) | 64° |
| Scutum | 18h 45.0m | -10° 0.0' | 281.39° (west) | 41° |
| Telescopium | 19h 0.0m | -50° 0.0' | 224.47° (southwest) | 49° |
| Tucana | 0h 0.0m | -65° 0.0' | 161.53° (south) | 48° |
Light Pollution Report - from GlobeAtNight.org
| Date | Distance from location | Naked-eye Mag. | Cloud cover | Sky Comments | Location Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/03/2011 | 35.41km | 3 | over 1/2 of sky | altostratus cloud cover, traveling northwest, sky glow further east. Brock Bell (B.B.) | suburban, a few house lights mostly from windows, quite a few trees, |
| 22/03/2011 | 57.92km | 4 | clear | ||
| 22/03/2011 | 32.83km | 4 | clear | ||
| 23/03/2011 | 46.74km | 5 | clear | Fairly clear sky. Minor sky glow from north west (due to Gateway motorway and Brisbane city). Eyes were not yet dark-adjusted, having just come outside from indoor lighting. | Suburban. A few nearby lights from houses, etc. 3/4 moon rising in east (approx 10-15 degrees). Trees to north. |
| 23/03/2011 | 46.74km | 5 | clear | Minor sky glow from north west (due to nearby Gateway motorway and Brisbane city). | Suburban. Some lights from nearby houses. Trees to north. 3/4 moon rising in east (approx. 10-15 degrees up). Eyes were not yet dark adjusted, having just come out from indoor lighting. |
| 26/03/2011 | 0.03km | 6 | clear | A couple of broken clouds rolling in from south-southeast. Main light glow from GC CBD towards southeast. | Park Lake estate. Approx 13km from CBD. Some streetlights and building lights. Hills to south, west and north; observing from valley. |
| 2/04/2011 | 21.67km | 4 | 1/4 of sky | just had storm come through and cleared up enough for good viewing still clouds in the west. | suburban area. View from backyard. Little bit of light pollution. |
| 3/04/2011 | 53.71km | 4 | clear | Sky glow from state capital city (Brisbane) north northeast | Urban |
| 4/04/2011 | 21.67km | 4 | 1/2 of sky | clouds come in and out | |
| 3/11/2010 | 52.50km | 3 | 1/4 of sky | ||
| 03/15/10 | 59.36km | 4 | 1/2 of sky | I would say it was Mag 4.5 because there were stars visible that Mag 4 but less than 5. | Fortitude Valley, Brisbane QLD |
| 29-Mar-09 | 56.72km | 5 | 1/2 of sky | Passing rain clouds eventually brought rain. Not the clearest of nights due to scattered showers in the region. Earth Hour appeared to be of negligible benefit here. | Reasonably dark park, during "Earth Hour". Not too much direct glare due to trees around the park. |
| 23-Mar-09 | 56.79km | 5 | clear | Pretty clear sky for this time of the evening, only minimal haze tonight. No sighted clouds. | Suburban area near top of a hill in a quiet street. Street lamps generally present the main issues with general observing, but there are (late) nights here where Crux and co. are quite 'milky' when conditions are quite cool and stable. So overall, while the location is not as ideal as a local park it is not too bad because there aren't many other places (walking) nearby that offer a better view. |
| 27-Mar-09 | 21.62km | 3 | clear | Suburban near ocean | |
| 25-Mar-09 | 10.18km | 4 | clear | ||
| 3/01/2008 20 | 44.12km | 5 | clear | Street lights and walkway lights within 100 metres, hidden from view | |
| 3/02/2008 20 | 44.12km | 5 | over 1/2 of sky | Full cloud cover 30 mins later S&T.com | |
| 3/02/2008 21 | 59.06km | 5 | 1/4 of sky | ||
| 3/04/2008 20 | 44.12km | 5 | clear | S&T.com | |
| 3/05/2008 20 | 44.12km | -9999 | over 1/2 of sky | Total cloud and pouring rain S&T.com | |
| 3/06/2008 21 | 44.12km | 5 | clear | S&T.com | |
| 3/07/2008 21 | 44.12km | 5 | clear | S&T.com | |
| 3/08/2008 21 | 44.12km | 5 | clear | S&T.com |