The night sky on the night of Indian independence — 15 August 1947
Just before midnight on 14 August 1947 Jawaharlal Nehru addressed India's Constituent Assembly in New Delhi: 'At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom.' At midnight India became independent of British rule, and Nehru became its first Prime Minister. 15 August is India's Independence Day.
The sky over Constituent Assembly, New Delhi, India
This is the real sky above Constituent Assembly, New Delhi, India (28.62°N, 77.21°E) on 15 August 1947 at 00:00 IST (UTC+5:30) — the stroke of midnight (1947-08-14 18:30 UTC). The Sun was 46° below the horizon: it was full night. The Moon (waning crescent, 4% lit) was below the horizon. No bright planet was above the horizon. Brightest named stars up: Vega, Altair, Fomalhaut, Deneb and Shaula.
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