✨ NGC 1981 (Upper Sword)
Object data
| Type | Open cluster |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Orion |
| Right ascension | 5h35m09.6s (83.7900°) |
| Declination | -4°25'30" (-4.4251°) |
| Magnitude | mag 4.2 |
| Apparent size | 9′ |
| Other designations | NGC 1981 |
An open cluster in Orion.
Midnight transit date (best season to observe and image)
Location: Tokyo (change)
Around Dec 11, 2026
The date it transits around midnight (transit altitude about 50°)
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 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 23:19 – 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