The night sky over Turin at the 2006 Winter Olympics opening

On 10 February 2006, the 20th Winter Olympic Games opened at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin, in the north of Italy. It was the second time Italy hosted the Winter Games, after Cortina d'Ampezzo in 1956.

The ceremony was a celebration of Italian design, music and sport. Near the end, Luciano Pavarotti performed 'Nessun dorma', the aria from Puccini's opera Turandot.

Sky chart of the night sky above Turin, Italy at 8:00 PM on February 10, 2006
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The sky above Turin, Italy on February 10, 2006

The sky was fully dark. There was a waxing gibbous Moon in the sky, 95% lit. It stood 49° above the horizon in the east, in the constellation Gemini. Mars and Saturn were above the horizon and could be seen without a telescope.

Local time
8:00 PM
Time in UTC
February 10, 2006 at 7:00 PM UTC
Sun
Night
Sun position
23° below the horizon
Moon phase
waxing gibbous Moon
Moon lit
95%
Moon position
49° above the horizon in the east

What happened that night

Athletes from 80 nations paraded into the stadium. Cross-country skier Stefania Belmondo, one of Italy's greatest winter athletes, lit the cauldron.

It was the last performance of Pavarotti's career. He died the next year.

Why people remember it

For many Italians, the sound of 'Nessun dorma' in a stadium full of light is the image of these Games.

A star map of this night makes a gift for an opera lover, a skier, or anyone with family in Piedmont.

Questions about this night

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