M42 (Orion Nebula) — midnight transit date and best time to observe

Object data

The Orion Nebula — an emission nebula visible to the naked eye and a well-known region of active star formation.

Location: Tokyo (change)

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Around Dec 11, 2026

The date it transits around midnight (transit altitude about 49°)

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

Tonight (Oct 10 evening – Oct 11 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

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Oct 10 23:30 – Oct 11 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 17:13 → Dusk 18:37 → Dawn 4:19 → Sunrise 5:43

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