Jupiter's Ghost Nebula (NGC3242) Position and Visibility Tonight
Where is NGC3242 right now?
NGC3242 is located in the constellation Hydra. It is currently below the horizon and is not visible from your location.
NGC3242 visibility on 2026-10-03
NGC3242 Visible from morning twilight until sunrise
NGC3242 rise and set timetable
| Time | Elevation | |
| NGC3242 transit | 08:46 | 34° |
| NGC3242 set | 13:46 | |
| Astronomical observing session begins | 18:15 | -52° |
Moonrise, 56.5% illuminated  | 21:14 | -70° |
| Astronomical observing session ends | 03:38 | -1° |
| NGC3242 rise | 03:43 | |
| Twilight end (−12°) | 04:08 | 5° |
| Civil sunrise | 04:39 | 10° |
| Sunrise | 05:06 | 14° |
| Moonset | 12:53 | 9° |
Track NGC3242 position throughout the night
← 3 October 2026 →
| Time | |
| Altitude | |
| Azimuth |
Shift the map to change the time and observe NGC3242 changing position in the night sky.
Jupiter's Ghost Nebula (NGC3242) Passage Through Night
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Current position of Jupiter's Ghost Nebula (NGC3242)
| Time | 19:00 |
| Latitude | 37.3541 |
| Longitude | -121.955 |
| Elevation | -60° |
| Azimuth | 302° |
Here you can see the current position of NGC3242 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.
When Is Jupiter's Ghost Nebula (NGC3242) Visible Throughout the Year?
NGC3242 will become visible again around November 10 after moving far enough from the Sun.
| Date | Sun, 4 October 2026 |
| Astronomical observing session begins | 18:13 |
| Astronomical observing session ends | 03:36 |
| Astronomical observing duration | 9h 23m |
| Rise | 03:43 |
| Set | 13:42 |
| Elevation at transit | 34° |
| Transit time | 08:42 |
| Equatorial coordinates | RA: 10h 24m 46s", Dec: -18° 38' 31s |
| Magnitude | 8 |
| Constellation | Hydra |
The graph illustrates the annual visibility pattern of NGC3242, including its daily appearances and transit times. The vertical axis shows the hours of the day and the horizontal axis spans the year. The reddish area marks when the object is above the horizon, while the white line marks its daily transit.
You can also see when NGC3242 is visible throughout the year in a table with exact rise, transit, and set times for each date.
You can also see when NGC3242 is visible throughout the year in a table with exact rise, transit, and set times for each date.
Astrometric and Physical Parameters of NGC3242
Coordinates and Visibility
| Right Ascension | 10h 24m 46s |
| Declination | -18° 38′ 32″ |
| Magnitude | 7.7 |
| Constellation | Hydra |
| Elevation | -60.5° |
| Azimuth | 302.1° |
Data Credits
The deep-sky information on this page comes from the OpenNGC project developed by Matteo Verga. OpenNGC provides detailed catalog data for nebulae, galaxies, clusters and other deep-sky objects.
For details or contributions, visit the official repository: OpenNGC GitHub.