2013Calendar of Astronomical Events

    
2013Phases of the Moon
Greenwich Mean Time
The following table gives the date and time of the Moon's phases for the year. The times listed are for Greenwich Mean Time.If Daylight Saving Time is in effect, add one hour to the times listed. 
   
      2013 Phases of the Moon   
      Greenwich Mean Time
 New Moon  First Quarter  Full Moon  Last Quarter 
--- Jan  5  03:58   
 Jan 11  19:44    Jan 18  23:45    Jan 27  04:38    Feb  3  13:56   
 Feb 10  07:20    Feb 17  20:31    Feb 25  20:26    Mar  4  21:53   
 Mar 11  19:51    Mar 19  17:27    Mar 27  09:27    Apr  3  04:37   
 Apr 10  09:35    Apr 18  12:31    Apr 25  19:57 p  May  2  11:14   
 May 10  00:29 A  May 18  04:35    May 25  04:25 n  May 31  18:58   
 Jun  8  15:56    Jun 16  17:24    Jun 23  11:32    Jun 30  04:54   
 Jul  8  07:14    Jul 16  03:18    Jul 22  18:15    Jul 29  17:43   
 Aug  6  21:51    Aug 14  10:56    Aug 21  01:45    Aug 28  09:35   
 Sep  5  11:36    Sep 12  17:08    Sep 19  11:13    Sep 27  03:56   
 Oct  5  00:35    Oct 11  23:02    Oct 18  23:38 n  Oct 26  23:41   
 Nov  3  12:50 H  Nov 10  05:57    Nov 17  15:16    Nov 25  19:28   
 Dec  3  00:22    Dec  9  15:12    Dec 17  09:28    Dec 25  13:48   
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 table above. 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. 
Phases of the Moon Photo Gallery is an image collection showing the Moon's phases over a complete synodic month.
2013Calendar of Astronomical Events
Greenwich Mean Time
The following table gives the date and time of the important astronomical events for the year. The times listed are for Greenwich Mean Time.If Daylight Saving Time is in effect, add one hour to the times listed. A key to astronomical terms appears below the calendar.
   
      2013Calendar of Astronomical Events   
   Greenwich Mean Time  
 January - June   July - December 
Date     GMT   Event        (h:m)Jan 01  21:13  Regulus 5.9°N of Moon    02  05     Earth at Perihelion: 0.98329 AU    03  14     Quadrantid Meteor Shower    04  03     Mercury at Aphelion     05  03:58  LAST QUARTER MOON     05  19:54  Spica 0.6°N of Moon    07  01:28  Saturn 3.7°N of Moon    07  23:50  Moon at Ascending Node     08  22:55  Antares 5.9°S of Moon    10  10:26  Moon at Perigee: 360048 km    10  11:36  Venus 2.8°S of Moon    11  19:44  NEW MOON     18  09     Mercury at Superior Conjunction     18  23:45  FIRST QUARTER MOON     21  01:19  Moon at Descending Node     22  02:57  Jupiter 0.5°N of Moon: Occn.    22  10:52  Moon at Apogee: 405313 km    22  11:13  Aldebaran 4.0°S of Moon    24  09     Mars at Perihelion:  1.38149 AU    27  04:38  FULL MOON     29  02:57  Regulus 5.8°N of MoonFeb 02  01:25  Spica 0.3°N of Moon    03  09:55  Saturn 3.5°N of Moon    03  13:56  LAST QUARTER MOON     04  02:14  Moon at Ascending Node     05  06:39  Antares 6.1°S of Moon    07  12:09  Moon at Perigee: 365314 km    08  16     Mercury 0.3°N of Mars    10  07:20  NEW MOON     11  17:51  Mercury 5.2°S of Moon    16  21     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.1°E    17  02     Mercury at Perihelion     17  02:57  Moon at Descending Node     17  20:31  FIRST QUARTER MOON     18  11:31  Jupiter 0.9°N of Moon: Occn.    18  18:49  Aldebaran 3.8°S of Moon    19  06:30  Moon at Apogee: 404475 km    21  02     Venus at Aphelion     21  07     Neptune in Conjunction with Sun     25  10:18  Regulus 5.7°N of Moon    25  20:26  FULL MOON     25  22     Mercury 4.1°N of MarsMar 01  06:56  Spica 0.1°N of Moon    02  15:21  Saturn 3.3°N of Moon    03  02:30  Moon at Ascending Node     04  12:11  Antares 6.4°S of Moon    04  13     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction     04  21:53  LAST QUARTER MOON     05  23:20  Moon at Perigee: 369954 km    11  19:51  NEW MOON     16  06:15  Moon at Descending Node     18  01:16  Jupiter 1.5°N of Moon    18  01:24  Jupiter 5.0°N of Aldebaran    18  02:56  Aldebaran 3.5°S of Moon    19  03:13  Moon at Apogee: 404262 km    19  17:27  FIRST QUARTER MOON     20  11:02  Vernal Equinox     24  19:17  Regulus 5.8°N of Moon    27  09:27  FULL MOON     28  14:29  Spica 0.0°N of Moon    28  17     Venus at Superior Conjunction     29  00     Uranus in Conjunction with Sun     29  20:18  Saturn 3.3°N of Moon    30  05:55  Moon at Ascending Node     31  03:55  Moon at Perigee: 367494 km    31  22     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 27.8°WApr 03  04:37  LAST QUARTER MOON     10  09:35  NEW MOON     12  12:12  Moon at Descending Node     14  10:51  Aldebaran 3.4°S of Moon    14  18:23  Jupiter 2.1°N of Moon    15  22:21  Moon at Apogee: 404865 km    18  00     Mars in Conjunction with Sun     18  12:31  FIRST QUARTER MOON     21  04:44  Regulus 5.9°N of Moon    22  11     Lyrid Meteor Shower    25  00:10  Spica 0.0°N of Moon    25  19:57  FULL MOON     25  20:07  Partial Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.015    26  02:28  Saturn 3.5°N of Moon    26  14:07  Moon at Ascending Node     27  19:48  Moon at Perigee: 362268 km    28  08     Saturn at Opposition May 02  11:14  LAST QUARTER MOON     05  00     Eta-Aquarid Meteor Shower    09  19:12  Moon at Descending Node     10  00:25  Annular Solar Eclipse; mag=0.954    10  00:29  NEW MOON     11  21     Mercury at Superior Conjunction     12  13:03  Jupiter 2.6°N of Moon    13  13:31  Moon at Apogee: 405827 km    16  02     Mercury at Perihelion     18  04:35  FIRST QUARTER MOON     18  13:14  Regulus 5.9°N of Moon    22  10:35  Spica 0.0°N of Moon    23  09:55  Saturn 3.7°N of Moon    24  00:40  Moon at Ascending Node     24  21     Mercury 1.4°N of Venus    25  04:10  Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.016    25  04:25  FULL MOON     25  11:45  Antares 6.6°S of Moon    26  01:45  Moon at Perigee: 358375 km    27  06     Mercury 2.4°N of Jupiter    28  17     Venus 1.0°N of Jupiter    31  18:58  LAST QUARTER MOON Jun 06  00:59  Moon at Descending Node     08  15:56  NEW MOON     09  21:40  Moon at Apogee: 406487 km    10  11:19  Venus 5.3°N of Moon    12  17     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 24.3°E    13  11     Venus at Perihelion     14  20:06  Regulus 5.8°N of Moon    16  17:24  FIRST QUARTER MOON     18  12:57  Mercury 6.1°S of Pollux    18  19:56  Spica 0.1°S of Moon    19  15     Jupiter in Conjunction with Sun     19  17:45  Saturn 3.6°N of Moon    20  07     Mercury 1.9°S of Venus    20  09:51  Moon at Ascending Node     21  05:04  Summer Solstice     22  04:49  Venus 5.1°S of Pollux    23  11:09  Moon at Perigee: 356990 km    23  11:32  FULL MOON     29  01     Mercury at Aphelion     30  04:54  LAST QUARTER MOON 
Date     GMT   Event        (h:m)Jul 03  04:15  Moon at Descending Node     03  15:26  Venus 0.1°N of Beehive    05  06:09  Aldebaran 3.4°S of Moon    05  15     Earth at Aphelion: 1.01671 AU    07  00:36  Moon at Apogee: 406493 km    08  07:14  NEW MOON     09  19     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction     12  01:45  Regulus 5.7°N of Moon    16  03:13  Spica 0.3°S of Moon    16  03:18  FIRST QUARTER MOON     17  01:19  Saturn 3.3°N of Moon    17  14:58  Moon at Ascending Node     21  20:27  Moon at Perigee: 358402 km    22  05     Mars 0.8°N of Jupiter    22  09:30  Venus 1.0°N of Regulus    22  18:15  FULL MOON     28  02     Delta-Aquarid Meteor Shower    28  19     Mercury 6.9°S of Mars    29  17:43  LAST QUARTER MOON     30  05:50  Moon at Descending Node     30  09     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 19.6°WAug 01  12:22  Aldebaran 3.2°S of Moon    03  08:53  Moon at Apogee: 405834 km    03  22:22  Jupiter 4.0°N of Moon    04  22:31  Mercury 7.3°S of Pollux    05  08:39  Mercury 4.4°N of Moon    06  21:51  NEW MOON     10  02:19  Venus 5.1°N of Moon    12  01     Mercury at Perihelion     12  08:46  Spica 0.6°S of Moon    12  18     Perseid Meteor Shower    13  08:51  Saturn 2.8°N of Moon    13  16:20  Moon at Ascending Node     14  10:56  FIRST QUARTER MOON     17  17:03  Mars 5.8°S of Pollux    19  01:26  Moon at Perigee: 362265 km    21  01:45  FULL MOON     24  21     Mercury at Superior Conjunction     26  08:19  Moon at Descending Node     27  00     Neptune at Opposition     28  09:35  LAST QUARTER MOON     28  19:32  Aldebaran 2.9°S of Moon    30  23:46  Moon at Apogee: 404883 km    31  16:38  Jupiter 4.5°N of MoonSep 05  11:36  NEW MOON     06  00:37  Venus 1.5°N of Spica    08  10:00  Mars 0.5°S of Beehive    08  14:11  Spica 0.8°S of Moon    08  21:04  Venus 0.4°N of Moon: Occn.    09  17:29  Moon at Ascending Node     09  17:29  Saturn 2.3°N of Moon    12  17:08  FIRST QUARTER MOON     15  16:34  Moon at Perigee: 367388 km    18  20     Venus 3.5°S of Saturn    19  11:13  FULL MOON     22  13:48  Moon at Descending Node     22  20:44  Autumnal Equinox     24  22:29  Mercury 0.7°N of Spica    25  03:39  Aldebaran 2.7°S of Moon    27  03:56  LAST QUARTER MOON     27  18:17  Moon at Apogee: 404309 km    28  09:05  Jupiter 4.9°N of MoonOct 01  22:19  Regulus 5.6°N of Moon    03  13     Uranus at Opposition     03  19     Venus at Aphelion     05  00:35  NEW MOON     06  22:08  Moon at Ascending Node     06  22:28  Mercury 2.8°S of Moon    07  04:30  Saturn 1.9°N of Moon    08  12:07  Venus 4.7°S of Moon    08  13     Mercury 5.0°S of Saturn    09  10     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 25.3°E    10  23:06  Moon at Perigee: 369813 km    11  23:02  FIRST QUARTER MOON     15  03:51  Mars 0.9°N of Regulus    16  18:26  Venus 1.5°N of Antares    18  23:38  FULL MOON     18  23:50  Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.765    19  21:47  Moon at Descending Node     21  10     Orionid Meteor Shower    22  12:06  Aldebaran 2.7°S of Moon    25  14:25  Moon at Apogee: 404561 km    25  21:55  Jupiter 5.1°N of Moon    26  23:41  LAST QUARTER MOON     29  07:17  Regulus 5.7°N of MoonNov 01  09     Venus at Greatest Elong: 47.1°E    01  20     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction     03  06:52  Moon at Ascending Node     03  12:46  Hybrid Solar Eclipse; mag=1.016    03  12:50  NEW MOON     05  11     S Taurid Meteor Shower    06  09:28  Moon at Perigee: 365362 km    06  11     Saturn in Conjunction with Sun     08  00     Mercury at Perihelion     08  15:08  Jupiter 6.1°S of Pollux    10  05:57  FIRST QUARTER MOON     12  10     N Taurid Meteor Shower    16  05:30  Moon at Descending Node     17  15:16  FULL MOON     17  16     Leonid Meteor Shower    18  02     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 19.5°W    18  20:00  Aldebaran 2.7°S of Moon    22  05:21  Jupiter 5.1°N of Moon    22  09:50  Moon at Apogee: 405446 km    25  15:45  Regulus 5.6°N of Moon    25  19:28  LAST QUARTER MOON     26  05     Mercury 0.3°S of Saturn    27  16:10  Mars 5.7°N of Moon    29  16:43  Spica 0.9°S of Moon    30  16:59  Moon at Ascending Node Dec 01  10:13  Saturn 1.2°N of Moon: Occn.    03  00:22  NEW MOON     04  10:15  Moon at Perigee: 360065 km    09  15:12  FIRST QUARTER MOON     13  10:10  Moon at Descending Node     14  05     Geminid Meteor Shower    16  02:45  Aldebaran 2.7°S of Moon    17  09:28  FULL MOON     19  07:11  Jupiter 5.0°N of Moon    19  23:49  Moon at Apogee: 406269 km    21  17:11  Winter Solstice     22  00     Mercury at Aphelion     22  14     Ursid Meteor Shower    22  22:47  Regulus 5.4°N of Moon    25  13:48  LAST QUARTER MOON     26  02:45  Mars 4.6°N of Moon    27  02:10  Spica 1.0°S of Moon    28  00:21  Moon at Ascending Node     29  01:42  Saturn 0.9°N of Moon: Occn.    29  06     Mercury at Superior Conjunction     

 Terms Used in Astronomical Events Calendar 
  • 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
  • Beehive - bright star cluster in the constellation Cancer
Calendars of Astronomical Events: 2011 to 2020
Europe, Africa, and the Middle East
Below are links to calendars of astronomical events from 2011 to 2020 for five time zones 
in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. 
Choose a time zone and click on a year to get a calendar of astronomical events for that year.
   Calendar of Astronomical Events - Europe, Africa, & Middle East
   GMT    2011     2012     2013     2014     2015     2016     2017     2018     2019     2020 
   CET    2011     2012     2013     2014     2015     2016     2017     2018     2019     2020 
   EET    2011     2012     2013     2014     2015     2016     2017     2018     2019     2020 
   MSK    2011     2012     2013     2014     2015     2016     2017     2018     2019     2020 
   GST    2011     2012     2013     2014     2015     2016     2017     2018     2019     2020 
        Time Zones Abbreviations
        • GMT = Greenwich Mean Time 
        • CET = Central European Time (= GMT + 1 hour)
        • EET = Eastern European Time (= GMT + 2 hours)
        • MSK = Moscow Time (= GMT + 3 hours)
        • GST = Gulf Standard Time (= GMT + 4 hours)
A time zone may have a different name in different countries. Note the difference in hours between a given time zone and Greenwich Mean Time to help in identification.
For other years and other time zones, visit: Calendars of Astronomical Events.
 
Accuracy of the Astronomical Events Calendars
The goal of the Astronomical Events Calendars 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 Astronomical Events Calendars
 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 

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: 

Return to: Calendars of Astronomical Events
Return to: Planetary Ephemeris Data