✨ C86
Object data
| Type | Globular cluster |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Ara |
| Right ascension | 17h40m41.9s (265.1745°) |
| Declination | -53°40'00" (-53.6667°) |
| Magnitude | mag 5.7 |
| Apparent size | 31.2′ |
| Other designations | NGC 6397 |
A bright globular cluster in Ara, relatively close to Earth.
Midnight transit date (best season to observe and image)
Location: Tokyo (change)
Around Jun 12, 2026
The date it transits around midnight (transit altitude about 1°)
This date has already passed this year. Next year (2027) it will be around Jun 13.
For about 2–3 weeks either side of this date, the object stays high from evening to dawn — its observing season.
Best time to observe tonight
Tonight (Oct 11 evening – Oct 12 dawn) · Location: Tokyo (full darkness = end of astronomical dusk to start of dawn, altitude ≥ 15°)
Moon tonight: New moon (age 29.2 days, 0% illuminated) — Little moonlight — a good time for faint objects
It never reaches 15° at this location (maximum altitude at transit: about 1°).
Night (sunset – sunrise)
Full darkness (dusk – dawn)
Moon up (darker = brighter moon)
Best time to observe (thick line)
Now
Sunset 17:11 → Dusk 18:36 → Dawn 4:19 → Sunrise 5:44