2018Calendar of Astronomical Events

    
2018Phases of the Moon
Moskow Time
The following table gives the date and time of the Moon's phases for the year. The times listed are for Moskow Time(Greenwich Mean Time + 3 hours).If Daylight Saving Time is in effect, add one hour to the times listed. 
   
      2018 Phases of the Moon   
      Moskow Time
 New Moon  First Quarter  Full Moon  Last Quarter 
-- Jan  2  05:24    Jan  9  01:25   
 Jan 17  05:17    Jan 25  01:20    Jan 31  16:27 t  Feb  7  18:54   
 Feb 16  00:05 P  Feb 23  11:09    Mar  2  03:51    Mar  9  14:20   
 Mar 17  16:12    Mar 24  18:35    Mar 31  15:37    Apr  8  10:18   
 Apr 16  04:57    Apr 23  00:46    Apr 30  03:58    May  8  05:09   
 May 15  14:48    May 22  06:49    May 29  17:20    Jun  6  21:32   
 Jun 13  22:43    Jun 20  13:51    Jun 28  07:53    Jul  6  10:51   
 Jul 13  05:48 P  Jul 19  22:52    Jul 27  23:20 t  Aug  4  21:18   
 Aug 11  12:58 P  Aug 18  10:49    Aug 26  14:56    Sep  3  05:37   
 Sep  9  21:01    Sep 17  02:15    Sep 25  05:53    Oct  2  12:45   
 Oct  9  06:47    Oct 16  21:02    Oct 24  19:45    Oct 31  19:40   
 Nov  7  19:02    Nov 15  17:54    Nov 23  08:39    Nov 30  03:19   
 Dec  7  10:20    Dec 15  14:49    Dec 22  20:49    Dec 29  12:34   
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.
2018Calendar of Astronomical Events
Moskow Time
The following table gives the date and time of the important astronomical events for the year. The times listed are for Moskow Time(Greenwich Mean Time + 3 hours).If Daylight Saving Time is in effect, add one hour to the times listed. A key to astronomical terms appears below the calendar.
   
      2018Calendar of Astronomical Events   
   Moskow Time  
 January - June   July - December 
Date     MSK   Event        (h:m)Jan 01  23     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 22.7°W    02  00:54  Moon at Perigee: 356566 km    02  05:24  FULL MOON     03  09     Earth at Perihelion: 0.98329 AU    03  22:50  Beehive 2.3°N of Moon    03  23     Quadrantid Meteor Shower    04  10:48  Moon at Ascending Node     05  10:24  Regulus 0.9°S of Moon    07  04     Mars 0.2°S of Jupiter    09  01:25  LAST QUARTER MOON     09  09     Venus at Superior Conjunction     11  08:59  Jupiter 4.3°S of Moon    11  13:03  Mars 4.6°S of Moon    13  11     Mercury 0.7°S of Saturn    15  05:10  Moon at Apogee: 406461 km    15  05:13  Saturn 2.6°S of Moon    15  10:24  Mercury 3.4°S of Moon    17  05:17  NEW MOON     18  17:28  Moon at Descending Node     23  20     Venus at Aphelion     25  01:20  FIRST QUARTER MOON     25  14     Mercury at Aphelion     27  13:09  Aldebaran 0.7°S of Moon    30  12:54  Moon at Perigee: 358995 km    31  10:19  Beehive 2.3°N of Moon    31  16:27  FULL MOON     31  16:30  Total Lunar Eclipse; mag=1.315    31  21:46  Moon at Ascending Node Feb 01  21:24  Regulus 0.9°S of Moon    07  18:54  LAST QUARTER MOON     07  22:47  Jupiter 4.3°S of Moon    09  08:12  Mars 4.4°S of Moon    11  17:16  Moon at Apogee: 405701 km    11  17:46  Saturn 2.5°S of Moon    11  19:40  Mars 5.0°N of Antares    15  00:11  Moon at Descending Node     15  23:51  Partial Solar Eclipse; mag=0.599    16  00:05  NEW MOON     17  15     Mercury at Superior Conjunction     23  11:09  FIRST QUARTER MOON     23  20:07  Aldebaran 0.7°S of Moon    27  17:48  Moon at Perigee: 363938 km    27  20:28  Beehive 2.3°N of Moon    28  08:03  Moon at Ascending Node Mar 01  08:09  Regulus 0.9°S of Moon    02  03:51  FULL MOON     04  09     Mercury 1.1°N of Venus    04  17     Neptune in Conjunction with Sun     07  09:57  Jupiter 4.1°S of Moon    09  14:20  LAST QUARTER MOON     10  03:37  Mars 3.8°S of Moon    10  14     Mercury at Perihelion     11  05:37  Saturn 2.2°S of Moon    11  12:13  Moon at Apogee: 404682 km    14  06:47  Moon at Descending Node     15  18     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.4°E    17  16:12  NEW MOON     18  22:07  Venus 3.7°N of Moon    19  11     Mercury 3.8°N of Venus    20  19:15  Vernal Equinox     23  01:33  Aldebaran 0.9°S of Moon    24  18:35  FIRST QUARTER MOON     26  20:17  Moon at Perigee: 369104 km    27  03:52  Beehive 2.2°N of Moon    27  13:56  Moon at Ascending Node     28  16:38  Regulus 1.0°S of Moon    31  15:37  FULL MOON Apr 01  21     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction     02  22     Mars 1.3°S of Saturn    03  17:14  Jupiter 3.9°S of Moon    07  15:50  Saturn 1.9°S of Moon    07  21:15  Mars 3.1°S of Moon    08  08:32  Moon at Apogee: 404145 km    08  10:18  LAST QUARTER MOON     10  11:09  Moon at Descending Node     14  12:24  Mercury 3.9°N of Moon    16  04:57  NEW MOON     17  15     Saturn at Aphelion: 10.06564 AU    17  22:29  Venus 5.4°N of Moon    18  18     Uranus in Conjunction with Sun     19  07:45  Aldebaran 1.1°S of Moon    20  17:44  Moon at Perigee: 368713 km    22  21     Lyrid Meteor Shower    23  00:46  FIRST QUARTER MOON     23  09:17  Beehive 1.9°N of Moon    23  15:19  Moon at Ascending Node     24  19:47  Venus 3.4°S of Pleiades    24  22:39  Regulus 1.2°S of Moon    29  21     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 27.0°W    30  03:58  FULL MOON     30  20:16  Jupiter 3.8°S of MoonMay 02  16:29  Venus 6.3°N of Aldebaran    04  23:31  Saturn 1.7°S of Moon    05  10     Eta-Aquarid Meteor Shower    06  03:35  Moon at Apogee: 404458 km    06  10:24  Mars 2.7°S of Moon    07  13:23  Moon at Descending Node     08  05:09  LAST QUARTER MOON     09  03     Jupiter at Opposition     13  20:21  Mercury 2.4°N of Moon    15  14:48  NEW MOON     16  04     Venus at Perihelion     17  21:11  Venus 4.8°N of Moon    18  00:06  Moon at Perigee: 363777 km    20  14:57  Beehive 1.7°N of Moon    20  16:13  Moon at Ascending Node     22  03:53  Regulus 1.4°S of Moon    22  06:49  FIRST QUARTER MOON     27  20:39  Jupiter 4.0°S of Moon    29  17:20  FULL MOON Jun 01  04:20  Saturn 1.6°S of Moon    02  19:34  Moon at Apogee: 405316 km    03  14:58  Mars 3.2°S of Moon    03  15:39  Moon at Descending Node     06  05     Mercury at Superior Conjunction     06  13     Mercury at Perihelion     06  21:32  LAST QUARTER MOON     08  06:37  Venus 4.6°S of Pollux    13  22:43  NEW MOON     15  02:55  Moon at Perigee: 359507 km    16  16:13  Venus 2.3°N of Moon    16  20:50  Moon at Ascending Node     16  22:38  Beehive 1.5°N of Moon    18  10:25  Regulus 1.7°S of Moon    20  05:21  Venus 0.4°N of Beehive    20  13:51  FIRST QUARTER MOON     21  13:07  Summer Solstice     23  21:47  Jupiter 4.2°S of Moon    25  00:37  Mercury 4.7°S of Pollux    27  15     Saturn at Opposition     28  06:59  Saturn 1.8°S of Moon    28  07:53  FULL MOON     30  05:43  Moon at Apogee: 406061 km    30  19:44  Moon at Descending Node 
Date     MSK   Event        (h:m)Jul 01  04:43  Mars 4.8°S of Moon    04  08:39  Mercury 0.6°S of Beehive    06  10:51  LAST QUARTER MOON     06  20     Earth at Aphelion: 1.01670 AU    10  02:34  Venus 0.9°N of Regulus    10  12:30  Aldebaran 1.1°S of Moon    12  08     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 26.4°E    13  05:48  NEW MOON     13  06:01  Partial Solar Eclipse; mag=0.337    13  11:28  Moon at Perigee: 357432 km    14  05:50  Moon at Ascending Node     15  01:04  Mercury 2.2°S of Moon    15  19:14  Regulus 1.7°S of Moon    16  06:31  Venus 1.6°S of Moon    19  22:52  FIRST QUARTER MOON     20  13     Mercury at Aphelion     21  02:57  Jupiter 4.4°S of Moon    24  19:49  Mercury 1.2°S of Regulus    25  09:10  Saturn 2.0°S of Moon    27  09     Mars at Opposition     27  08:44  Moon at Apogee: 406223 km    27  23:20  FULL MOON     27  23:22  Total Lunar Eclipse; mag=1.609    28  01:40  Moon at Descending Node     28  12     Delta-Aquarid Meteor ShowerAug 04  21:18  LAST QUARTER MOON     06  21:35  Aldebaran 1.1°S of Moon    09  05     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction     10  16:40  Moon at Ascending Node     10  21:05  Moon at Perigee: 358083 km    11  12:46  Partial Solar Eclipse; mag=0.737    11  12:58  NEW MOON     13  04     Perseid Meteor Shower    14  16:35  Venus 6.3°S of Moon    17  13:38  Jupiter 4.5°S of Moon    17  19     Venus at Greatest Elong: 45.9°E    18  10:49  FIRST QUARTER MOON     21  05:09  Mercury 4.8°S of Beehive    21  12:55  Saturn 2.1°S of Moon    23  14:23  Moon at Apogee: 405744 km    24  07:51  Moon at Descending Node     26  14:56  FULL MOON     26  23     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.3°WSep 01  07:45  Venus 1.0°S of Spica    02  13     Mercury at Perihelion     03  04:34  Aldebaran 1.2°S of Moon    03  05:37  LAST QUARTER MOON     07  01:42  Moon at Ascending Node     07  05:13  Beehive 1.4°N of Moon    07  20     Neptune at Opposition     08  04:21  Moon at Perigee: 361355 km    09  21:01  NEW MOON     14  05:21  Jupiter 4.4°S of Moon    16  16     Mars at Perihelion:  1.38144 AU    17  02:15  FIRST QUARTER MOON     17  19:46  Saturn 2.1°S of Moon    20  03:54  Moon at Apogee: 404875 km    20  09:38  Mars 4.8°S of Moon    20  12:30  Moon at Descending Node     21  05     Mercury at Superior Conjunction     23  04:54  Autumnal Equinox     25  05:52  FULL MOON     30  10:06  Aldebaran 1.4°S of MoonOct 02  12:45  LAST QUARTER MOON     04  06:10  Moon at Ascending Node     04  12:51  Beehive 1.3°N of Moon    06  00:58  Regulus 1.8°S of Moon    06  01:29  Moon at Perigee: 366396 km    09  06:47  NEW MOON     12  00:21  Jupiter 4.1°S of Moon    15  06:01  Saturn 1.8°S of Moon    16  06     Mercury 6.2°N of Venus    16  21:02  FIRST QUARTER MOON     17  15:03  Moon at Descending Node     17  22:16  Moon at Apogee: 404227 km    18  16:01  Mars 1.9°S of Moon    21  20     Orionid Meteor Shower    24  04     Uranus at Opposition     24  19:45  FULL MOON     26  17     Venus at Inferior Conjunction     27  16:04  Aldebaran 1.6°S of Moon    29  09     Mercury 3.1°S of Jupiter    31  06:46  Moon at Ascending Node     31  18:24  Beehive 1.0°N of Moon    31  19:40  LAST QUARTER MOON     31  23:05  Moon at Perigee: 370201 kmNov 02  07:16  Regulus 2.1°S of Moon    05  21     S Taurid Meteor Shower    06  18     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 23.3°E    07  19:02  NEW MOON     09  07:58  Mercury 1.8°N of Antares    11  18:46  Saturn 1.4°S of Moon    12  20     N Taurid Meteor Shower    13  17:04  Moon at Descending Node     14  18:57  Moon at Apogee: 404341 km    15  02:14  Venus 0.2°S of Spica    15  17:54  FIRST QUARTER MOON     16  07:16  Mars 1.0°N of Moon: Occn.    18  02     Leonid Meteor Shower    23  08:39  FULL MOON     24  00:11  Aldebaran 1.7°S of Moon    26  09     Jupiter in Conjunction with Sun     26  15:10  Moon at Perigee: 366623 km    27  08:18  Moon at Ascending Node     27  12     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction     27  23:57  Beehive 0.8°N of Moon    29  12     Mercury at Perihelion     29  12:27  Regulus 2.3°S of Moon    30  03:19  LAST QUARTER MOON Dec 03  21:42  Venus 3.6°S of Moon    06  00:06  Mercury 1.9°S of Moon    07  10:20  NEW MOON     09  08:30  Saturn 1.1°S of Moon: Occn.    10  20:57  Moon at Descending Node     12  15:25  Moon at Apogee: 405177 km    14  15     Geminid Meteor Shower    15  02:21  Mars 3.6°N of Moon    15  14     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 21.3°W    15  14:49  FIRST QUARTER MOON     21  10:31  Aldebaran 1.7°S of Moon    21  23     Mercury 0.8°N of Jupiter    22  01:22  Winter Solstice     22  11:05  Mercury 5.8°N of Antares    22  18:03  Jupiter 5.1°N of Antares    22  20:49  FULL MOON     23  00     Ursid Meteor Shower    24  12:52  Moon at Perigee: 361060 km    24  14:54  Moon at Ascending Node     25  07:52  Beehive 0.6°N of Moon    26  19:06  Regulus 2.5°S of Moon    26  21     Venus at Perihelion     29  12:34  LAST QUARTER MOON     

 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