Los Angeles, California, United States

Tuesday, August 18, 2026

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Los Angeles, California, United States Tuesday 18 August 2026

Rocket launch

Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 17-50

Launched - fair from here

Lifted off 9:01 PM

Very LowExcellent
Look
WNW
Heading your way
When
9:01 PM
Highest around 9:10 PM
Distance
141 mi
Climbs to
41°
Lighting
Dark sky
Launch site
Space Launch Complex 4E
Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Landing
Sea - Of Course I Still Love You
Too far downrange to see

A bright climbing star and a flame. The vehicle is in shadow itself, so there is no lit plume behind it.

Milky Way

Milky Way

Washed out by city light

Visible from 10:56 PM

Very LowExcellent
Visible, no moon
10:56 PM to 12:26 AM
Where to look
South-southwestern horizon, up to 20° above it
Highest at
10:56 PM
Sky fully dark
9:06 PM to 4:47 AM
Sky darkness
None
Cloud
Not forecast yet

The bright center of the Milky Way: when it is above the horizon with the sky fully dark and the Moon set, brought down for how dark the sky is here (estimated from the towns around by Walker's law) and for cloud where the forecast reaches.

That morning

Sunrise

6:16 AM

6:16 AM

5:50 AM Blue hour
6:16 AM Sunrise
6:50 AM Golden hour ends

Sunset

7:36 PM

7:36 PM

Too far ahead for a weather forecast. These are the sun's own times - they will not change.

7:02 PM Golden hour
7:36 PM Sunset
8:02 PM Blue hour ends

Moon

First quarter

37% lit

12:30 PM – 10:49 PM

ESE WSW
12:30 PM Moonrise
12:51 PM 4°
5:39 PM Highest, 35°
10:27 PM 4°
10:49 PM Moonset

Between the two 4° marks the Moon is clear of haze and most of what stands on the horizon.

This day at a glance

Sunrise

5:50 AM Blue hour
6:16 AM Sunrise
6:50 AM Golden hour ends

Moon, first quarter

12:30 PM Moonrise
12:51 PM 4°
5:39 PM Highest, 35°
10:27 PM 4°
10:49 PM Moonset

Sunset

7:02 PM Golden hour
7:36 PM Sunset
8:02 PM Blue hour ends
← Previous day Monday Mon, Aug 17
Next day → Wednesday Wed, Aug 19

Upcoming celestial events for Los Angeles, California, United States

Milky Way Visible 7:54 PM to 9:24 PM with no moon, 19° above the south-southwestern horizon - 8 nights 5 Oct to 12 Oct
Mon 5 Oct 2026 7:54 PM Falcon 9 Block 5 | SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer A Fair, look WNW
Tue 6 Oct 2026 1:17 AM Tiangong space station Modest pass, NW to NE, 21 deg up
Tue 6 Oct 2026 6:19 AM Tiangong space station Modest pass, N to NE, 21 deg up
Wed 7 Oct 2026 5:22 AM Draconids A few an hour
Thu 8 Oct 2026 7:57 PM New moon Moonless and fully dark 7:50 PM to 5:30 AM Fri 9 Oct 2026 8:50 AM

Every celestial event, and where else to see it