The night sky on the night of the first Academy Awards — 16 May 1929

The first Academy Awards were presented on 16 May 1929 at a private dinner in the Blossom Room of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, in front of about 270 guests. The ceremony lasted around fifteen minutes. Wings won the top award, and Emil Jannings and Janet Gaynor were the first best actor and actress.

The sky over Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, Los Angeles, California, USA

This is the real sky above Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, Los Angeles, California, USA (34.10°N, 118.34°W) on 16 May 1929 at 21:00 PST (UTC−8) that night (1929-05-17 05:00 UTC). The Sun was 23° below the horizon: it was full night. The Moon (waxing gibbous, 65% lit) was 58° up in the south-west. Planets above the horizon: Mars (32° in the west). Brightest named stars up: Arcturus, Vega, Capella, Procyon and Spica.

Star map of the sky over Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, Los Angeles, California, USA on 16 May 1929 at 21:00 MarsMoon ArcturusVegaCapellaProcyonSpicaAntaresPolluxDeneb NSEW
766 stars brighter than magnitude 5 above the horizon, with the constellation figures. Look up: north at the top, east on the left.

Make the sky of YOUR date

Every night has its own sky. Pick your city and your date — the night you met, a birth, a wedding — and see the real stars above it, free.

Make the sky of YOUR date

Want this night on your wall? Make a print-ready A3 star-chart poster of 16 May 1929 — 4.99.

All 75 historic night skies · The night sky on your birthday