2008 Sky Event Almanac
Atlantic Standard Time
The following table gives the date and time of the important astronomical events for the year. The times listed are for Atlantic Standard Time (Coordinated Universal Time − 4 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.
| 2008 Sky Event Almanac | ||||||||
| Atlantic Standard Time | ||||||||
| January - June | July - December | |||||||
Date AST Event
(h:m)
Jan 01 10:51 Spica 2.4°N of Moon
02 20 Earth at Perihelion: 0.98328 AU
03 04:06 Moon at Apogee: 405328 km
04 03 Quadrantid Meteor Shower
05 05:55 Antares 0.5°N of Moon
08 07:37 NEW MOON
11 11:17 Moon at Ascending Node
15 15:46 FIRST QUARTER MOON
18 02:43 Pleiades 1.1°S of Moon
19 04:39 Moon at Perigee: 366436 km
19 19:40 Mars 1.1°S of Moon: Occn.
21 20:00 Pollux 3.8°N of Moon
22 01 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.6°E
22 09:35 FULL MOON
24 06:49 Moon at Descending Node
24 10:57 Regulus 0.7°N of Moon
25 02:25 Saturn 3.0°N of Moon
27 14 Mercury at Perihelion
28 19:09 Spica 2.5°N of Moon
30 01:03 LAST QUARTER MOON
31 00:26 Moon at Apogee: 404532 km
Feb 01 09 Venus 0.6°N of Jupiter
01 13:57 Antares 0.6°N of Moon
04 01:52 Jupiter 4.0°N of Moon
04 07:35 Venus 4.3°N of Moon
06 14 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
06 23:44 NEW MOON
06 23:55 Annular Solar Eclipse; mag=0.965
07 17:39 Moon at Ascending Node
10 22 Neptune in Conjunction with Sun
13 21:07 Moon at Perigee: 370216 km
13 23:34 FIRST QUARTER MOON
14 08:35 Pleiades 1.2°S of Moon
16 03:53 Mars 1.6°S of Moon
18 04:15 Pollux 3.8°N of Moon
20 16:01 Moon at Descending Node
20 20:16 Regulus 0.7°N of Moon
20 23:26 Total Lunar Eclipse; mag=1.106
20 23:31 FULL MOON
21 08:01 Saturn 2.9°N of Moon
24 05 Saturn at Opposition
25 03:47 Spica 2.6°N of Moon
27 04 Mercury 1.1°N of Venus
27 21:27 Moon at Apogee: 404442 km
28 22:16 Antares 0.6°N of Moon
28 22:18 LAST QUARTER MOON
Mar 02 20:56 Jupiter 3.6°N of Moon
03 07 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 27.1°W
05 09:59 Mercury 0.2°N of Moon: Occn.
05 15:20 Venus 0.2°S of Moon: Occn.
06 02:52 Moon at Ascending Node
07 13:14 NEW MOON
08 16 Uranus in Conjunction with Sun
10 17:39 Moon at Perigee: 366302 km
11 14 Mercury at Aphelion
12 14:09 Pleiades 1.2°S of Moon
14 06:46 FIRST QUARTER MOON
14 22:58 Mars 1.7°S of Moon
16 10:16 Pollux 3.8°N of Moon
18 22:53 Moon at Descending Node
19 03:35 Regulus 0.7°N of Moon
19 11:31 Saturn 2.7°N of Moon
20 01:49 Vernal Equinox
21 08 Venus at Aphelion
21 14:40 FULL MOON
23 11:47 Spica 2.5°N of Moon
24 09 Mercury 1.0°S of Venus
26 16:13 Moon at Apogee: 405094 km
27 06:04 Antares 0.5°N of Moon
29 17:47 LAST QUARTER MOON
30 13:23 Jupiter 3.2°N of Moon
Apr 02 11:18 Moon at Ascending Node
04 21:09 Venus 4.7°S of Moon
05 23:55 NEW MOON
07 15:28 Moon at Perigee: 361083 km
08 21:38 Pleiades 1.0°S of Moon
12 01:35 Mars 1.2°S of Moon: Occn.
12 14:32 FIRST QUARTER MOON
12 15:47 Pollux 4.0°N of Moon
15 01:48 Moon at Descending Node
15 09:23 Regulus 0.9°N of Moon
15 14:42 Saturn 2.6°N of Moon
16 03 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
19 18:36 Spica 2.4°N of Moon
20 06:25 FULL MOON
22 00 Lyrid Meteor Shower
23 05:34 Moon at Apogee: 405945 km
23 12:57 Antares 0.3°N of Moon
24 13 Mercury at Perihelion
26 12:24 Mars 4.7°S of Pollux
27 01:11 Jupiter 2.8°N of Moon
28 10:12 LAST QUARTER MOON
29 16:07 Moon at Ascending Node
May 02 16:07 Mercury 2.0°S of Pleiades
03 17:12 Saturn 0.6°N of Regulus
04 14 Eta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
05 08:18 NEW MOON
05 23:22 Moon at Perigee: 357772 km
06 18:17 Mercury 2.5°S of Moon
09 22:51 Pollux 4.3°N of Moon
10 09:44 Mars 0.2°S of Moon: Occn.
11 23:47 FIRST QUARTER MOON
12 02:37 Moon at Descending Node
12 15:14 Regulus 1.1°N of Moon
12 20:08 Saturn 2.8°N of Moon
12 22 Mars at Aphelion: 1.66594 AU
14 00 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 21.8°E
17 00:35 Spica 2.5°N of Moon
19 22:11 FULL MOON
20 10:27 Moon at Apogee: 406404 km
20 19:06 Antares 0.2°N of Moon
24 07:20 Jupiter 2.5°N of Moon
26 17:45 Moon at Ascending Node
27 22:57 LAST QUARTER MOON
Jun 03 09:08 Moon at Perigee: 357251 km
03 15:23 NEW MOON
06 08:04 Pollux 4.5°N of Moon
07 11 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
07 22:13 Mars 1.1°N of Moon: Occn.
08 05:15 Moon at Descending Node
08 22:37 Regulus 1.4°N of Moon
09 00 Venus at Superior Conjunction
09 05:26 Saturn 3.1°N of Moon
10 11:04 FIRST QUARTER MOON
13 06:37 Spica 2.7°N of Moon
16 13:33 Moon at Apogee: 406229 km
17 01:08 Antares 0.2°N of Moon
18 13:30 FULL MOON
19 10:05 Mercury 1.5°N of Aldebaran
20 08:44 Jupiter 2.4°N of Moon
20 20:00 Summer Solstice
22 19:17 Moon at Ascending Node
26 08:10 LAST QUARTER MOON
30 04:13 Pleiades 1.0°S of Moon
|
Date AST Event
(h:m)
Jul 01 06:15 Mars 0.6°N of Regulus
01 14 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 21.8°W
01 17:22 Moon at Perigee: 359513 km
02 22:19 NEW MOON
04 04 Earth at Aphelion: 1.01675 AU
05 11:53 Moon at Descending Node
06 07:46 Regulus 1.6°N of Moon
06 14:03 Mars 2.6°N of Moon
06 18:27 Saturn 3.5°N of Moon
09 05 Jupiter at Opposition
10 00:35 FIRST QUARTER MOON
10 13:33 Spica 2.9°N of Moon
10 19 Mars 0.6°S of Saturn
11 16 Venus at Perihelion
14 00:13 Moon at Apogee: 405452 km
14 07:40 Antares 0.3°N of Moon
17 08:27 Jupiter 2.6°N of Moon
18 03:59 FULL MOON
19 23:27 Moon at Ascending Node
21 12 Mercury at Perihelion
25 14:42 LAST QUARTER MOON
27 12:08 Pleiades 1.1°S of Moon
27 15 Delta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
29 16 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
29 19:24 Moon at Perigee: 363887 km
31 04:31 Pollux 4.6°N of Moon
Aug 01 06:13 NEW MOON
01 06:21 Total Solar Eclipse; mag=1.039
01 21:21 Moon at Descending Node
02 10:49 Venus 2.3°N of Moon
02 17:42 Regulus 1.7°N of Moon
03 09:42 Saturn 3.8°N of Moon
04 08:14 Mars 4.0°N of Moon
05 20:57 Venus 0.9°N of Regulus
06 21:38 Spica 3.0°N of Moon
08 16:20 FIRST QUARTER MOON
10 15:00 Antares 0.4°N of Moon
10 16:18 Moon at Apogee: 404558 km
12 07 Perseid Meteor Shower
13 10:12 Jupiter 2.8°N of Moon
13 15 Venus 0.2°S of Saturn
15 02 Neptune at Opposition
15 17 Mercury 0.6°S of Saturn
16 06:27 Moon at Ascending Node
16 17:10 Partial Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.808
16 17:16 FULL MOON
20 17 Mercury 0.9°S of Venus
23 18:01 Pleiades 1.1°S of Moon
23 19:50 LAST QUARTER MOON
25 23:44 Moon at Perigee: 368693 km
27 12:45 Pollux 4.6°N of Moon
29 06:30 Moon at Descending Node
30 15:58 NEW MOON
Sep 01 19:16 Mercury 2.9°N of Moon
03 06:20 Spica 3.0°N of Moon
03 12 Mercury at Aphelion
03 22 Saturn in Conjunction with Sun
06 22:56 Antares 0.3°N of Moon
06 23 Mercury 2.5°S of Mars
07 10:04 FIRST QUARTER MOON
07 10:58 Moon at Apogee: 404210 km
09 16:26 Jupiter 2.8°N of Moon
11 00 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 26.9°E
11 22 Venus 0.3°N of Mars
12 12 Mercury 3.6°S of Venus
12 14:24 Moon at Ascending Node
12 22 Uranus at Opposition
15 05:13 FULL MOON
18 23:35 Venus 2.2°N of Spica
19 23:17 Moon at Perigee: 368890 km
19 23:27 Pleiades 1.0°S of Moon
22 01:04 LAST QUARTER MOON
22 11:45 Autumnal Equinox
22 20 Mercury 4.0°S of Mars
23 15:51 Mercury 1.2°S of Spica
23 18:57 Pollux 4.7°N of Moon
24 21:47 Mars 2.1°N of Spica
25 12:20 Moon at Descending Node
26 10:38 Regulus 1.7°N of Moon
27 15:53 Saturn 4.6°N of Moon
29 04:12 NEW MOON
30 14:42 Spica 2.9°N of Moon
Oct 04 06:52 Antares 0.1°N of Moon
05 06:34 Moon at Apogee: 404716 km
06 17 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
07 03:22 Jupiter 2.5°N of Moon
07 05:04 FIRST QUARTER MOON
09 20:38 Moon at Ascending Node
14 16:03 FULL MOON
17 02:06 Moon at Perigee: 363828 km
17 06:32 Pleiades 0.8°S of Moon
17 12 Mercury at Perihelion
21 00 Orionid Meteor Shower
21 00:24 Pollux 4.9°N of Moon
21 07:55 LAST QUARTER MOON
22 05 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.3°W
22 14:00 Moon at Descending Node
23 16:33 Regulus 1.9°N of Moon
26 18:15 Venus 3.1°N of Antares
28 19:14 NEW MOON
31 14:13 Antares 0.1°S of Moon
Nov 01 04:11 Venus 2.6°N of Moon
02 00:55 Moon at Apogee: 405723 km
03 17:54 Jupiter 1.9°N of Moon
05 00 S Taurid Meteor Shower
05 23:34 Moon at Ascending Node
06 00:03 FIRST QUARTER MOON
11 23 N Taurid Meteor Shower
13 02:17 FULL MOON
13 16:16 Pleiades 0.7°S of Moon
14 05:59 Moon at Perigee: 358973 km
17 06 Leonid Meteor Shower
18 14:37 Moon at Descending Node
19 17:31 LAST QUARTER MOON
19 22:17 Regulus 2.2°N of Moon
24 04:03 Spica 3.0°N of Moon
25 13 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
27 12:55 NEW MOON
29 12:55 Moon at Apogee: 406480 km
Dec 01 05 Venus 2.0°S of Jupiter
01 10:45 Jupiter 1.3°N of Moon
01 12:01 Venus 0.8°S of Moon: Occn.
03 00:47 Moon at Ascending Node
05 17:26 FIRST QUARTER MOON
05 18 Mars in Conjunction with Sun
11 03:38 Pleiades 0.8°S of Moon
12 12:37 FULL MOON
12 17:37 Moon at Perigee: 356568 km
13 19 Geminid Meteor Shower
15 19:02 Moon at Descending Node
17 05:47 Regulus 2.4°N of Moon
19 06:29 LAST QUARTER MOON
21 08:04 Winter Solstice
21 09:54 Spica 3.2°N of Moon
22 03 Ursid Meteor Shower
25 02:53 Antares 0.1°S of Moon
26 13:50 Moon at Apogee: 406602 km
27 08:22 NEW MOON
29 00:09 Mercury 0.7°S of Moon: Occn.
29 05:07 Jupiter 0.6°N of Moon: Occn.
30 03:40 Moon at Ascending Node
31 17:03 Venus 3.4°S of Moon
|
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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
2008 Phases of the Moon
Atlantic Standard Time
The following table gives the date and time of the Moon's phases for the year. The times listed are for Atlantic Standard Time (Coordinated Universal Time − 4 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.
| 2008 Phases of the Moon | |||
| Atlantic Standard Time | |||
| New Moon | First Quarter | Full Moon | Last Quarter |
| Jan 08 07:37 | Jan 15 15:46 | Jan 22 09:35 | Jan 30 01:03 |
| Feb 06 23:44 A | Feb 13 23:34 | Feb 20 23:31 t | Feb 28 22:18 |
| Mar 07 13:14 | Mar 14 06:46 | Mar 21 14:40 | Mar 29 17:47 |
| Apr 05 23:55 | Apr 12 14:32 | Apr 20 06:25 | Apr 28 10:12 |
| May 05 08:18 | May 11 23:47 | May 19 22:11 | May 27 22:57 |
| Jun 03 15:23 | Jun 10 11:04 | Jun 18 13:30 | Jun 26 08:10 |
| Jul 02 22:19 | Jul 10 00:35 | Jul 18 03:59 | Jul 25 14:42 |
| Aug 01 06:13 T | Aug 08 16:20 | Aug 16 17:16 p | Aug 23 19:50 |
| Aug 30 15:58 | Sep 07 10:04 | Sep 15 05:13 | Sep 22 01:04 |
| Sep 29 04:12 | Oct 07 05:04 | Oct 14 16:03 | Oct 21 07:55 |
| Oct 28 19:14 | Nov 06 00:04 | Nov 13 02:17 | Nov 19 17:31 |
| Nov 27 12:55 | Dec 05 17:26 | Dec 12 12:37 | Dec 19 06:29 |
| Dec 27 08:23 | - | - | - |
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: 2001 to 2010
The Americas
Below are links to sky event almanacs from 2001 to 2010 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 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |||||
| AST | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |||||
| EST | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |||||
| CST | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |||||
| MST | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |||||
| PST | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |||||
| AKST | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |||||
| HST | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |||||
- 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)
- Time Zones Abbreviations
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
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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