Key to Geocentric Ephemeris of the Moon








An ephemeris is a table of values that gives 
the positions of astronomical objects in the sky over a range of times, 
while geocentric means "as seen from Earth's center." 
The following table is a key to the geocentric ephemeris of the Moon 
and includes a description of each column in these tables.







   

Key to Geocentric Ephemeris of the Moon
   

   

Column
Heading
Definition/Description
   



   

1
Date
(0 UT)		
Calendar Date (Gregorian).

All ephemeris positions are for 00:00:00 UTC

(Coordinated Universal Time).		
   

   

2
Apparent
R.A.		
Apparent Right Ascension of the Moon for the true equator 

      and equinox of date (hours, minutes, seconds).		
   

   

3
Apparent
Declination		
Apparent Declination of the Moon for the true equator  

      and equinox of date (degrees, arc-minutes, arc-seconds).		
   

   

4
Distance
to Earth		
Distance of the Moon from Earth (kilometers).
   

   

5
Hor.
Par.		
Horizontal Parallax

      Shift in the Moon's apparent position from two points on Earth separated by 
      a perpendicular distance of one Earth radius.		
   

   

6
Ang.
Diam.		
Apparent Angular Diameter of the Moon (arc-seconds).
   

   

7-9
Libration
l - b - c		
Lunar Libration

      Selenographic or lunar coordinates of the central point 

      of the Moon's disk (degrees) measured in 
 
      l (longitude), b (latitude) and c (position angle).		
   

   

10
Sun
Colng		
Solar Colongitude

Selenographic or lunar longitude of the 

      morning/sunrise terminator (degrees).		
   

   

11
P.A.
Limb		
Phase Angle of the Lunar Limb

      Position Angle of the midpoint of the Moon's bright limb, 

      measured eastwards (counter-clockwise) on the sky from the celestial north point 
      of the lunar disk (degrees).		
   

   

12
Phase
Age		
Age of the Moon, measured from the instant of New Moon (days).
   

   

13
Phase
Illum.		
Phase Illumination

Fractional area (or diameter) of the Moon's apparent disk 

      illuminated by sunlight.		
   

   

14
Solar
Elong.		
Solar Elongation of the Moon. 

      Defined as geocentric angular position of the Moon 

      with respect to the Sun (degrees).

      'E' is east (evening sky) and 'W' is west (morning sky).		
   

   

15
Lunar
Events		
A list of major lunar events and the corresponding times (in UTC) where:

      NEW, FIRST, FULL, LAST - phases of the Moon

      APO, PERI - Moon at apogee (APO) or perigee (PERI)

      A.NOD, D.NOD - Moon at ascending (A) or descending (D) node

      MAX.N, MAX.S - maximum northern (N) or southern (S) declination		
   




















Links to Geocentric Ephemerides for the Sun, Moon and Planets












   Geocentric Ephemerides for the Sun, Moon and Planets






   Sun
    2011 
    2012 
    2013 
    2014 
    2015 
    2016 
    2017 
    2018 
    2019 
    2020 
    2021 
    2022 




   Moon
    2011 
    2012 
    2013 
    2014 
    2015 
    2016 
    2017 
    2018 
    2019 
    2020 
    2021 
    2022 




   Mercury
    2011 
    2012 
    2013 
    2014 
    2015 
    2016 
    2017 
    2018 
    2019 
    2020 
    2021 
    2022 




   Venus
    2011 
    2012 
    2013 
    2014 
    2015 
    2016 
    2017 
    2018 
    2019 
    2020 
    2021 
    2022 




   Mars
    2011 
    2012 
    2013 
    2014 
    2015 
    2016 
    2017 
    2018 
    2019 
    2020 
    2021 
    2022 




   Jupiter
    2011 
    2012 
    2013 
    2014 
    2015 
    2016 
    2017 
    2018 
    2019 
    2020 
    2021 
    2022 




   Saturn
    2011 
    2012 
    2013 
    2014 
    2015 
    2016 
    2017 
    2018 
    2019 
    2020 
    2021 
    2022 




   Uranus
    2011 
    2012 
    2013 
    2014 
    2015 
    2016 
    2017 
    2018 
    2019 
    2020 
    2021 
    2022 




   Neptune
    2011 
    2012 
    2013 
    2014 
    2015 
    2016 
    2017 
    2018 
    2019 
    2020 
    2021 
    2022 












Return to: Planetary Ephemeris Data