M37 (Salt and Pepper Cluster) — midnight transit date and best time to observe

Object data

An open cluster in Auriga — the richest of the three Messier open clusters in Auriga.

Location: Tokyo (change)

🗓️

Around Dec 15, 2026

The date it transits around midnight (transit altitude about 87°)

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

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

🔭

Oct 11 21:53 – Oct 12 4:19

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 17:11 → Dusk 18:36 → Dawn 4:19 → Sunrise 5:44

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