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Viewing Time

Viewing Time allows you to specify a time period on the ephemeris date during which an object must be above the horizon to be included in the search result. The Viewing time that you select also affects the best time calculation. Times are displayed according to Preferences.

Select Ignore if you want to ignore these search properties.

Select Astronomical Darkness to select objects up during the times of darkness for the ephemeris date.

Select User Specified if you want to enter a time period that begins on the ephemeris date. If the Ending time you enter is earlier than the Beginning time, it is assumed that the Ending time is on the following day.

For example, if you want to observe from 7 pm today until 1 am tomorrow, enter Beginning time 7 pm (19:00), Ending time 1 am (1:00).

Another example: suppose you want to go out this evening when it gets dark, but must quit at midnight. You select Astronomical Darkness to calculate dark times. Then you can enter the beginning evening dark time into the User Specified Beginning time, and enter 11:59 pm (23:59) into Ending time.