The night sky on the night of the launch of Sputnik 1 — 4 October 1957
On 4 October 1957 the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1 from the Baikonur test site in Kazakhstan, at 22:28 Moscow time. The 58-centimetre polished metal sphere became the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth, and radio amateurs around the world picked up its beeps. The launch opened the Space Race.
The sky over Baikonur launch site, Kazakhstan
This is the real sky above Baikonur launch site, Kazakhstan (45.92°N, 63.34°E) on 4 October 1957 at 22:28 Moscow time (UTC+3) — the launch of Sputnik 1 (1957-10-04 19:28 UTC). The Sun was 49° below the horizon: it was full night. The Moon (waxing gibbous, 85% lit) was 24° up in the south-west. No bright planet was above the horizon. Brightest named stars up: Vega, Capella, Rigel, Betelgeuse and Altair.
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