The night sky over Berlin when the Wall fell

On the evening of 9 November 1989, an East German official told a press conference that citizens could now travel to the West. Asked when the rule took effect, he answered that it applied immediately.

Within hours, thousands of East Berliners gathered at the border crossings. At Bornholmer Strasse, the officer in charge could no longer hold back the crowd, and he opened the gate.

Sky chart of the night sky above Berlin, Germany at 11:30 pm on 9 November 1989
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The sky above Berlin, Germany on 9 November 1989

The sky was fully dark. There was a waxing gibbous Moon in the sky, 84% lit. It stood 30° above the horizon in the south-west, in the constellation Pisces. Jupiter was above the horizon and could be seen without a telescope.

Local time
11:30 pm
Time in UTC
9 November 1989 at 10:30 pm UTC
Sun
Night
Sun position
54° below the horizon
Moon phase
waxing gibbous Moon
Moon lit
84%
Moon position
30° above the horizon in the south-west

What happened that night

People streamed across the Bösebrücke bridge into West Berlin. Strangers hugged, cried and shared drinks. Other crossings opened later that night.

By morning, people were standing on top of the Wall at the Brandenburg Gate. The Wall had divided the city since August 1961.

Why people remember it

The opening of the Wall led, less than a year later, to German reunification. Some families saw relatives that night for the first time in years.

A star map of this night suits anyone with roots in Berlin, or a couple whose families were once divided by the border.

Questions about this night

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