IC 163 — midnight transit date and best time to observe

Object data

A galaxy in Aries.

Location: Tokyo (change)

🗓️

Around Oct 14, 2026

The date it transits around midnight (transit altitude about 75°)

For about 2–3 weeks either side of this date, the object stays high from evening to dawn — its observing season.

Tonight (Oct 12 evening – Oct 13 dawn) · Location: Tokyo (full darkness = end of astronomical dusk to start of dawn, altitude ≥ 15°)

🌒 Moon tonight: Waxing crescent (age 1.1 days, 1% illuminated) — Little moonlight — a good time for faint objects

🔭

Oct 12 18:35 – Oct 13 4:20

Hours of full darkness (end of astronomical dusk to start of dawn) when it is above 15° — the darkest sky, mostly clear of buildings and trees.

Night (sunset – sunrise) Full darkness (dusk – dawn) Moon up (darker = brighter moon) Best time to observe (thick line) Now

Sunset 17:10 → Dusk 18:35 → Dawn 4:20 → Sunrise 5:45

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