Where is Alkaid right now?
Alkaid is located in the constellation Ursa Major. It is currently above the horizon at an altitude of 16° toward the north-east, with an apparent magnitude of 1.85.
Twilight begins at 17:42 local time. At that moment, Alkaid will be 29° above the horizon toward the north-west.
Twilight begins at 17:42 local time. At that moment, Alkaid will be 29° above the horizon toward the north-west.
Track Alkaid position throughout the night
← 6 October 2026 →
| Time | |
| Altitude | |
| Azimuth |
Shift the map to change the time and observe Alkaid changing position in the night sky.
Where and When to Look for Alkaid Tonight
The best observable position of Alkaid is near 18:00: 27° above the horizon toward the north-west. Status: Best view.
Alkaid will become visible again around October 31 after moving far enough from the Sun. You can also see when Alkaid is visible throughout the year in a table with exact rise, transit, and set times for each date.
How Alkaid Moves Across the Sky
During this observing period, Alkaid moves from the north, reaches its highest sampled position at 27° toward the north-west, and finishes toward the north.
Astrometric and Physical Parameters of Alkaid
| Constellation | Ursa Major |
| Elevation | 29° |
| Direction | north-west (312°) |
| Right Ascension | 13h 47m |
| Declination | +49° 18′ |
| Magnitude | 1.85 |
Alkaid Passage Through Night
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Current position of Alkaid
| Time | 17:42 |
| Latitude | 37.3541 |
| Longitude | -121.955 |
| Elevation | 29° |
| Azimuth | 312° |
Here you can see the current position of Alkaid on the map, as well as its positions for rise and set. This tool lets you track its movement throughout the night with accurate, up-to-date information.
Alkaid Position by Hour
Select a row to move both interactive maps to that time.
| Time | Elevation | Azimuth | Direction | Visibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 5, 12:00 | 78° | 358° | north | Daylight |
| Oct 5, 13:00 | 74° | 321° | north-west | Daylight |
| Oct 5, 14:00 | 65° | 308° | north-west | Daylight |
| Oct 5, 15:00 | 55° | 305° | north-west | Daylight |
| Oct 5, 16:00 | 45° | 306° | north-west | Daylight |
| Oct 5, 17:00 | 36° | 309° | north-west | Twilight |
| Oct 5, 18:00 | 27° | 313° | north-west | Best view |
| Oct 5, 19:00 | 18° | 319° | north-west | Visible |
| Oct 5, 20:00 | 11° | 325° | north-west | Visible |
| Oct 5, 21:00 | 5° | 333° | north-west | Very low |
| Oct 5, 22:00 | 0° | 342° | north-west | Very low |
| Oct 5, 23:00 | -2° | 351° | north | Below horizon |
| Oct 6, 00:00 | -3° | 1° | north | Below horizon |
| Oct 6, 01:00 | -2° | 11° | north | Below horizon |
| Oct 6, 02:00 | 1° | 20° | north-east | Very low |
| Oct 6, 03:00 | 6° | 28° | north-east | Very low |
| Oct 6, 03:41 — Astronomical night ends | 10° | 34° | north-east | Visible |
| Oct 6, 04:00 | 12° | 36° | north-east | Visible |
| Oct 6, 04:11 — Twilight end | 14° | 37° | north-east | Visible |
| Oct 6, 04:41 — Civil sunrise | 17° | 40° | north-east | Twilight |
| Oct 6, 05:00 | 20° | 42° | north-east | Twilight |
| Oct 6, 05:09 — Sunrise | 21° | 43° | north-east | Twilight |
| Oct 6, 06:00 | 28° | 48° | north-east | Daylight |
| Oct 6, 07:00 | 37° | 52° | north-east | Daylight |
| Oct 6, 08:00 | 47° | 55° | north-east | Daylight |
| Oct 6, 09:00 | 57° | 55° | north-east | Daylight |
| Oct 6, 10:00 | 66° | 51° | north-east | Daylight |
| Oct 6, 11:00 | 75° | 35° | north-east | Daylight |
| Oct 6, 12:00 | 78° | 355° | north | Daylight |