2021 Sky Event Almanac

Central Standard Time

The following table gives the date and time of the important astronomical events for the year . The times listed are for Central Standard Time (Coordinated Universal Time − 6 hours) . This time zone may have different names in different countries. If Daylight Saving Time is in effect, add one hour to the times listed. A key to astronomical terms appears below the almanac.

2021 Sky Event Almanac
Central Standard Time
January - June July - December
Date     CST   Event
        (h:m)

Jan 02  08     Earth at Perihelion: 0.98325 AU
    02  15:58  Regulus 4.7°S of Moon
    03  09     Quadrantid Meteor Shower
    06  03:37  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    09  09:39  Moon at Perigee: 367390 km
    10  14:14  Moon at Descending Node 
    11  14:12  Venus 1.5°N of Moon
    12  23:00  NEW MOON 
    14  02:15  Mercury 2.3°N of Moon
    20  15:02  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    21  07:11  Moon at Apogee: 404361 km
    23  20     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.6°E
    23  20     Saturn in Conjunction with Sun 
    24  15:47  Moon at Ascending Node 
    27  09:46  Pollux 3.8°N of Moon
    28  13:16  FULL MOON 
    28  19     Jupiter in Conjunction with Sun 
    28  20     Mercury at Perihelion 
    29  22:56  Regulus 4.6°S of Moon

Feb 03  13:33  Moon at Perigee: 370127 km
    04  11:37  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    06  18:29  Moon at Descending Node 
    08  08     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction 
    10  05:16  Saturn 3.4°N of Moon
    11  13:06  NEW MOON 
    18  04:22  Moon at Apogee: 404467 km
    18  16:47  Mars 3.7°N of Moon
    19  12:47  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    19  23     Venus at Aphelion 
    20  19:44  Moon at Ascending Node 
    23  02     Mercury 4.0°N of Saturn
    23  19:10  Pollux 3.7°N of Moon
    26  08:04  Regulus 4.6°S of Moon
    27  02:17  FULL MOON 

Mar 01  23:19  Moon at Perigee: 365422 km
    03  17:36  Mars 2.6°S of Pleiades
    04  23     Mercury 0.3°N of Jupiter
    05  18:56  Moon at Descending Node 
    05  19:30  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    06  05     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 27.3°W
    09  17:02  Saturn 3.7°N of Moon
    10  09:35  Jupiter 4.0°N of Moon
    10  18     Neptune in Conjunction with Sun 
    10  19:02  Mercury 3.7°N of Moon
    13  04:21  NEW MOON 
    13  20     Mercury at Aphelion 
    17  23:04  Moon at Apogee: 405253 km
    19  11:48  Mars 1.9°N of Moon
    19  21:31  Moon at Ascending Node 
    20  03:37  Vernal Equinox 
    21  08:40  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    23  04:26  Pollux 3.5°N of Moon
    25  18:17  Regulus 4.7°S of Moon
    26  00     Venus at Superior Conjunction 
    28  12:48  FULL MOON 
    30  00:12  Moon at Perigee: 360311 km

Apr 01  14:49  Antares 4.9°S of Moon
    01  20:41  Moon at Descending Node 
    04  04:02  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    06  02:34  Saturn 4.0°N of Moon
    07  01:15  Jupiter 4.4°N of Moon
    11  20:31  NEW MOON 
    14  11:47  Moon at Apogee: 406120 km
    15  23:53  Moon at Ascending Node 
    17  06:09  Mars 0.1°N of Moon: Occn.
    18  20     Mercury at Superior Conjunction 
    19  12:18  Pollux 3.2°N of Moon
    20  00:59  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    22  06     Lyrid Meteor Shower
    26  19     Mercury at Perihelion 
    26  21:31  FULL MOON 
    27  09:24  Moon at Perigee: 357379 km
    29  00:07  Antares 4.8°S of Moon
    29  03:17  Moon at Descending Node 
    30  15     Uranus in Conjunction with Sun 

May 03  11:02  Saturn 4.2°N of Moon
    03  13:50  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    03  21:03  Mercury 2.1°S of Pleiades
    04  15:00  Jupiter 4.6°N of Moon
    04  19     Eta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
    11  13:00  NEW MOON 
    11  15:54  Moon at Apogee: 406512 km
    13  04:29  Moon at Ascending Node 
    13  11:59  Mercury 2.1°N of Moon
    15  22:47  Mars 1.5°S of Moon
    16  18:39  Pollux 3.1°N of Moon
    17  00     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 22.0°E
    19  13:13  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    25  19:52  Moon at Perigee: 357310 km
    26  05:14  FULL MOON 
    26  05:19  Total Lunar Eclipse; mag=1.009
    26  10:55  Antares 4.8°S of Moon
    26  13:38  Moon at Descending Node 
    28  21     Mercury 0.4°S of Venus
    30  19:22  Saturn 4.2°N of Moon

Jun 01  02:57  Jupiter 4.6°N of Moon
    02  01:24  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    07  20:27  Moon at Apogee: 406230 km
    09  10:42  Moon at Ascending Node 
    10  04:42  Annular Solar Eclipse; mag=0.943
    10  04:53  NEW MOON 
    10  19     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction 
    12  00:44  Venus 1.5°S of Moon
    12  07     Venus at Perihelion 
    13  00:19  Pollux 3.1°N of Moon
    13  13:52  Mars 2.8°S of Moon
    17  21:54  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    20  21:32  Summer Solstice 
    22  21:26  Antares 4.8°S of Moon
    23  00:07  Moon at Descending Node 
    23  03:58  Moon at Perigee: 359960 km
    24  12:40  FULL MOON 
    27  03:30  Saturn 4.0°N of Moon
    28  12:38  Jupiter 4.5°N of Moon

Date     CST   Event
        (h:m)

Jul 01  15:11  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    04  14     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 21.6°W
    05  08:48  Moon at Apogee: 405342 km
    05  17     Earth at Aphelion: 1.01673 AU
    06  16:41  Moon at Ascending Node 
    07  22:38  Mercury 3.7°S of Moon
    09  19:17  NEW MOON 
    12  03:10  Venus 3.3°S of Moon
    12  04:10  Mars 3.8°S of Moon
    12  18     Mars at Aphelion:  1.66596 AU
    13  07     Venus 0.5°N of Mars
    17  04:11  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    20  06:06  Antares 4.7°S of Moon
    20  07:22  Moon at Descending Node 
    21  04:30  Moon at Perigee: 364520 km
    21  15:21  Venus 1.0°N of Regulus
    23  19     Mercury at Perihelion 
    23  20:37  FULL MOON 
    24  10:42  Saturn 3.8°N of Moon
    25  19:17  Jupiter 4.2°N of Moon
    27  21     Delta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
    29  08:09  Mars 0.6°N of Regulus
    31  07:16  LAST QUARTER MOON 

Aug 01  08     Mercury at Superior Conjunction 
    01  23     Saturn at Opposition 
    02  01:35  Moon at Apogee: 404412 km
    02  20:51  Moon at Ascending Node 
    06  13:42  Pollux 3.1°N of Moon
    08  07:50  NEW MOON 
    09  18:42  Mars 4.3°S of Moon
    11  01:00  Venus 4.3°S of Moon
    12  13     Perseid Meteor Shower
    15  09:20  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    16  10:04  Moon at Descending Node 
    16  12:34  Antares 4.5°S of Moon
    17  03:23  Moon at Perigee: 369127 km
    18  21     Mercury 0.1°S of Mars
    19  17     Jupiter at Opposition 
    20  16:19  Saturn 3.7°N of Moon
    21  22:52  Jupiter 4.0°N of Moon
    22  06:02  FULL MOON 
    29  20:22  Moon at Apogee: 404100 km
    29  23:13  Moon at Ascending Node 
    30  01:13  LAST QUARTER MOON 

Sep 02  22:04  Pollux 3.0°N of Moon
    05  08:32  Venus 1.4°N of Spica
    05  18     Mercury at Aphelion 
    06  18:52  NEW MOON 
    09  20:09  Venus 4.1°S of Moon
    11  04:05  Moon at Perigee: 368464 km
    12  10:35  Moon at Descending Node 
    12  17:59  Antares 4.2°S of Moon
    13  14:39  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    13  22     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 26.8°E
    14  02     Neptune at Opposition 
    16  20:37  Saturn 3.8°N of Moon
    18  00:50  Jupiter 4.0°N of Moon
    20  17:55  FULL MOON 
    20  20:00  Mercury 1.2°S of Spica
    22  13:21  Autumnal Equinox 
    26  01:33  Moon at Ascending Node 
    26  15:44  Moon at Apogee: 404641 km
    28  19:57  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    30  06:44  Pollux 2.8°N of Moon

Oct 02  16     Venus at Aphelion 
    06  05:05  NEW MOON 
    07  22     Mars in Conjunction with Sun 
    08  11:28  Moon at Perigee: 363388 km
    09  10     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction 
    09  12:36  Venus 2.9°S of Moon
    09  13:35  Moon at Descending Node 
    10  00:27  Antares 4.0°S of Moon
    12  21:25  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    14  01:12  Saturn 3.9°N of Moon
    15  03:58  Jupiter 4.1°N of Moon
    16  07:24  Venus 1.4°N of Antares
    19  18     Mercury at Perihelion 
    20  08:57  FULL MOON 
    21  05     Orionid Meteor Shower
    22  23:45  Pleiades 4.5°N of Moon
    23  05:47  Moon at Ascending Node 
    24  09:30  Moon at Apogee: 405616 km
    24  23     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.4°W
    27  14:40  Pollux 2.6°N of Moon
    28  14:05  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    29  16     Venus at Greatest Elong: 47.0°E

Nov 01  19:18  Mercury 3.7°N of Spica
    03  12:40  Mercury 1.2°S of Moon: Occn.
    04  15:15  NEW MOON 
    04  18     Uranus at Opposition 
    05  06     S Taurid Meteor Shower
    05  16:23  Moon at Perigee: 358845 km
    05  21:38  Moon at Descending Node 
    06  09:29  Antares 3.9°S of Moon
    07  23:21  Venus 1.1°S of Moon: Occn.
    10  08:27  Saturn 4.1°N of Moon
    11  06:46  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    11  11:13  Jupiter 4.4°N of Moon
    12  05     N Taurid Meteor Shower
    17  12     Leonid Meteor Shower
    19  02:58  FULL MOON 
    19  03:03  Partial Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.974
    19  06:21  Pleiades 4.5°N of Moon
    19  11:59  Moon at Ascending Node 
    20  20:14  Moon at Apogee: 406276 km
    23  21:22  Pollux 2.5°N of Moon
    27  06:28  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    28  23     Mercury at Superior Conjunction 

Dec 02  18:28  Mars 0.7°S of Moon: Occn.
    03  08:58  Moon at Descending Node 
    04  01:33  Total Solar Eclipse; mag=1.037
    04  01:43  NEW MOON 
    04  04:01  Moon at Perigee: 356794 km
    06  18:48  Venus 1.9°N of Moon
    07  19:52  Saturn 4.2°N of Moon
    09  00:07  Jupiter 4.5°N of Moon
    10  19:36  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    14  01     Geminid Meteor Shower
    16  12:30  Pleiades 4.5°N of Moon
    16  18:12  Moon at Ascending Node 
    17  20:16  Moon at Apogee: 406322 km
    18  22:36  FULL MOON 
    21  03:20  Pollux 2.6°N of Moon
    21  09:59  Winter Solstice 
    22  09     Ursid Meteor Shower
    26  20:24  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    27  03:15  Mars 4.4°N of Antares
    28  23     Mercury 4.2°S of Venus
    30  19:07  Moon at Descending Node 
    31  07:54  Antares 3.9°S of Moon
    31  14:13  Mars 1.0°N of Moon: Occn.

    

Terms Used in Sky Event Almanac

  • Perihelion - instant when a planet is closest to the Sun
  • Aphelion - instant when a planet is furthest from the Sun
  • Perigee - instant when the Moon is closest to Earth
  • Apogee - instant when the Moon is furthest from Earth
  • Inferior Conjunction - instant when a planet (Mercury or Venus) passes between Earth and the Sun
  • Superior Conjunction - instant when a planet (Mercury or Venus) passes on the opposite side of the Sun from Earth
  • Greatest Elongation - the maximum angular separation between the Sun and the planet (Mercury or Venus) as seen from Earth
    - during eastern elongation (E), the planet appears as an evening star;
    - during western elongation (W), the planet appears as a morning star
  • Opposition - instant when a planet appears opposite the Sun as seen from Earth
  • Conjunction - instant when a planet appears closest the Sun as seen from Earth
  • Occultation - the Moon occults or eclipses a star or planet
  • Ascending Node - point where the Moon crosses from the southern to northern portion of its orbit
  • Descending Node - point where the Moon crosses from the northern to the southern portion of its orbit

  • Aldebaran - bright star in the constellation Taurus
  • Pollux - bright star in the constellation Gemini
  • Regulus - bright star in the constellation Leo
  • Spica - bright star in the constellation Virgo
  • Antares - bright star in the constellation Scorpius
  • Pleiades - bright star cluster in the constellation Taurus

2021 Phases of the Moon

Central Standard Time

The following table gives the date and time of the Moon's phases for the year . The times listed are for Central Standard Time (Coordinated Universal Time − 6 hours) . This time zone may have different names in different countries. If Daylight Saving Time is in effect, add one hour to the times listed.

2021 Phases of the Moon
Central Standard Time
New Moon First Quarter Full Moon Last Quarter
--- Jan 06 03:37
Jan 12 23:00 Jan 20 15:02 Jan 28 13:16 Feb 04 11:37
Feb 11 13:06 Feb 19 12:47 Feb 27 02:17 Mar 05 19:30
Mar 13 04:21 Mar 21 08:40 Mar 28 12:48 Apr 04 04:02
Apr 11 20:31 Apr 20 00:59 Apr 26 21:31 May 03 13:50
May 11 13:00 May 19 13:13 May 26 05:14 t Jun 02 01:24
Jun 10 04:53 A Jun 17 21:54 Jun 24 12:40 Jul 01 15:11
Jul 09 19:17 Jul 17 04:11 Jul 23 20:37 Jul 31 07:16
Aug 08 07:50 Aug 15 09:20 Aug 22 06:02 Aug 30 01:13
Sep 06 18:52 Sep 13 14:39 Sep 20 17:55 Sep 28 19:57
Oct 06 05:05 Oct 12 21:25 Oct 20 08:57 Oct 28 14:05
Nov 04 15:15 Nov 11 06:46 Nov 19 02:58 p Nov 27 06:28
Dec 04 01:43 T Dec 10 19:36 Dec 18 22:36 Dec 26 20:24

For a collection of images showing the Moon's phases see: Phases of the Moon Photo Gallery.

The Phases of the Moon table also shows when an eclipse takes place. An eclipse of the Sun can only occur at New Moon (see: Solar Eclipses for Beginners), while an eclipse of the Moon can only occur at Full Moon (see: Lunar Eclipses for Beginners). In any calendar year there are a minimum of two solar and two lunar eclipses.

If an eclipse of the Sun or Moon takes place on a given date, it is noted by a character next to the date in the Phases of the Moon table. Solar eclipses are indicated as: T=Total, A=Annular, H=Hybrid and P=Partial. Lunar eclipses are indicated as: t=Total, p=Partial, and n=Penumbral.


Solar Eclipses

The following table contains links to a series of web pages covering the 21st Century. Each one summarizes ten years of solar eclipses. Every eclipse has links to a global visibility map, an interactive Google map, tables, and additional information.

Decade Pages of Solar Eclipses
Decades
2001-2010 2011-2020 2021-2030 2031-2040 2041-2050
2051-2060 2061-2070 2071-2080 2081-2090 2091-2100

Lunar Eclipses

The following table contains links to a series of web pages covering the 21st Century. Each one summarizes ten years of lunar eclipses. Every eclipse has links to an eclipse diagram, a global visibility map, tables, and additional information.

Decade Pages of Lunar Eclipses
Decades
2001-2010 2011-2020 2021-2030 2031-2040 2041-2050
2051-2060 2061-2070 2071-2080 2081-2090 2091-2100


Sky Event Almanacs: 2021 to 2030

The Americas

Below are links to sky event almanacs from 2021 to 2030 for eight time zones in the Americas.
Choose a time zone and click on a year to get a sky event almanac for that year.

Sky Event Almanacs - The Americas
ART 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
AST 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
EST 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
CST 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
MST 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
PST 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
AKST 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
HST 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030

        Time Zones Abbreviations
        • ART = Argentina Time (= UTC - 3 hours)
        • AST = Atlantic Standard Time (= UTC - 4 hours)
        • EST = Eastern Standard Time (= UTC - 5 hours)
        • CST = Central Standard Time (= UTC - 6 hours)
        • MST = Mountain Standard Time (= UTC - 7 hours)
        • PST = Pacific Standard Time (= UTC - 8 hours)
        • AKST = Alaskan Standard Time (= UTC - 9 hours)
        • HST = Hawaiian Standard Time (= UTC - 10 hours)
          (where UTC = Coordinated Universal Time)

A time zone may have a different name in different countries. Note the difference in hours between a given time zone and Coordinated Universal Time to help in identification.

For other years and other time zones, visit: Sky Event Almanacs.

Accuracy of the Sky Event Almanacs

The goal of the Sky Event Almanacs is to present a wide range of solar system phenomena with reasonable accuracy. In general, events listed to the nearest hour are accurate to ± 30 minutes. Events listed with a precision in hours and minutes (i.e., hh:mm) are typically accurate to ± 5 minutes or less.

The following table gives a more detailed breakdown of the accuracy of times for various astronomical events.

Accuracy of the Sky Event Almanacs
Solstice/Equinox (Earth) ± 0.5 minute
Aphelion/Perihelion (Earth) ± 30 minutes; ± 0.00001 AU
Solar and Lunar Eclipses ± 0.5 minute
Phases of the Moon ± 0.5 minute
Moon at Nodes ± 2 minutes
Apogee/Perigee of Moon ± 5 minutes; ± 5 kilometers
Conjunctions of Moon with Star or Planet ± 10 minutes
Conjunctions of Planet with Planet ± 3 hours
Inferior/Superior Conjunctions (Mercury & Venus) ± 30 minutes
Greatest Elongation (Mercury & Venus) ± 30 minutes
Opposition/Conjunction (Outer Planets) ± 3 hours
Aphelion/Perihelion of Planets ± 30 minutes

Fifty Year Almanac of Astronomical Events - 2021 to 2070

book


For more information and sample pages, see Fifty Year Almanac of Astronomical Events - 2021 To 2070.

Acknowledgements

All calculations are by Fred Espenak and he assumes full responsibility for their accuracy. Algorithms used in predicting many of the astronomical events are based on Astronomical Algorithms by Jean Meeus (Willmann-Bell Inc. Richmond 1998).

Permission is freely granted to reproduce this data when accompanied by the acknowledgment:

    "Sky Event Almanacs Courtesy of Fred Espenak, www.AstroPixels.com".


Return to: Sky Event Almanacs

Return to: Planetary Ephemeris Data


Useful External Links

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