2008 Sky Event Almanac
Mountain Standard Time
The following table gives the date and time of the important astronomical events for the year. The times listed are for Mountain Standard Time (Coordinated Universal Time − 7 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 | ||||||||
| Mountain Standard Time | ||||||||
| January - June | July - December | |||||||
Date MST Event
(h:m)
Jan 01 07:51 Spica 2.4°N of Moon
02 17 Earth at Perihelion: 0.98328 AU
03 01:06 Moon at Apogee: 405328 km
04 00 Quadrantid Meteor Shower
05 02:55 Antares 0.5°N of Moon
08 04:37 NEW MOON
11 08:17 Moon at Ascending Node
15 12:46 FIRST QUARTER MOON
17 23:43 Pleiades 1.1°S of Moon
19 01:39 Moon at Perigee: 366436 km
19 16:40 Mars 1.1°S of Moon: Occn.
21 17:00 Pollux 3.8°N of Moon
21 22 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.6°E
22 06:35 FULL MOON
24 03:49 Moon at Descending Node
24 07:57 Regulus 0.7°N of Moon
24 23:25 Saturn 3.0°N of Moon
27 11 Mercury at Perihelion
28 16:09 Spica 2.5°N of Moon
29 22:03 LAST QUARTER MOON
30 21:26 Moon at Apogee: 404532 km
Feb 01 06 Venus 0.6°N of Jupiter
01 10:57 Antares 0.6°N of Moon
03 22:52 Jupiter 4.0°N of Moon
04 04:35 Venus 4.3°N of Moon
06 11 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
06 20:44 NEW MOON
06 20:55 Annular Solar Eclipse; mag=0.965
07 14:39 Moon at Ascending Node
10 19 Neptune in Conjunction with Sun
13 18:07 Moon at Perigee: 370216 km
13 20:34 FIRST QUARTER MOON
14 05:35 Pleiades 1.2°S of Moon
16 00:53 Mars 1.6°S of Moon
18 01:15 Pollux 3.8°N of Moon
20 13:01 Moon at Descending Node
20 17:16 Regulus 0.7°N of Moon
20 20:26 Total Lunar Eclipse; mag=1.106
20 20:31 FULL MOON
21 05:01 Saturn 2.9°N of Moon
24 02 Saturn at Opposition
25 00:47 Spica 2.6°N of Moon
27 01 Mercury 1.1°N of Venus
27 18:27 Moon at Apogee: 404442 km
28 19:16 Antares 0.6°N of Moon
28 19:18 LAST QUARTER MOON
Mar 02 17:56 Jupiter 3.6°N of Moon
03 04 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 27.1°W
05 06:59 Mercury 0.2°N of Moon: Occn.
05 12:20 Venus 0.2°S of Moon: Occn.
05 23:52 Moon at Ascending Node
07 10:14 NEW MOON
08 13 Uranus in Conjunction with Sun
10 14:39 Moon at Perigee: 366302 km
11 11 Mercury at Aphelion
12 11:09 Pleiades 1.2°S of Moon
14 03:46 FIRST QUARTER MOON
14 19:58 Mars 1.7°S of Moon
16 07:16 Pollux 3.8°N of Moon
18 19:53 Moon at Descending Node
19 00:35 Regulus 0.7°N of Moon
19 08:31 Saturn 2.7°N of Moon
19 22:49 Vernal Equinox
21 05 Venus at Aphelion
21 11:40 FULL MOON
23 08:47 Spica 2.5°N of Moon
24 06 Mercury 1.0°S of Venus
26 13:13 Moon at Apogee: 405094 km
27 03:04 Antares 0.5°N of Moon
29 14:47 LAST QUARTER MOON
30 10:23 Jupiter 3.2°N of Moon
Apr 02 08:18 Moon at Ascending Node
04 18:09 Venus 4.7°S of Moon
05 20:55 NEW MOON
07 12:28 Moon at Perigee: 361083 km
08 18:38 Pleiades 1.0°S of Moon
11 22:35 Mars 1.2°S of Moon: Occn.
12 11:32 FIRST QUARTER MOON
12 12:47 Pollux 4.0°N of Moon
14 22:48 Moon at Descending Node
15 06:23 Regulus 0.9°N of Moon
15 11:42 Saturn 2.6°N of Moon
16 00 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
19 15:36 Spica 2.4°N of Moon
20 03:25 FULL MOON
21 21 Lyrid Meteor Shower
23 02:34 Moon at Apogee: 405945 km
23 09:57 Antares 0.3°N of Moon
24 10 Mercury at Perihelion
26 09:24 Mars 4.7°S of Pollux
26 22:11 Jupiter 2.8°N of Moon
28 07:12 LAST QUARTER MOON
29 13:07 Moon at Ascending Node
May 02 13:07 Mercury 2.0°S of Pleiades
03 14:12 Saturn 0.6°N of Regulus
04 11 Eta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
05 05:18 NEW MOON
05 20:22 Moon at Perigee: 357772 km
06 15:17 Mercury 2.5°S of Moon
09 19:51 Pollux 4.3°N of Moon
10 06:44 Mars 0.2°S of Moon: Occn.
11 20:47 FIRST QUARTER MOON
11 23:37 Moon at Descending Node
12 12:14 Regulus 1.1°N of Moon
12 17:08 Saturn 2.8°N of Moon
12 19 Mars at Aphelion: 1.66594 AU
13 21 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 21.8°E
16 21:35 Spica 2.5°N of Moon
19 19:11 FULL MOON
20 07:27 Moon at Apogee: 406404 km
20 16:06 Antares 0.2°N of Moon
24 04:20 Jupiter 2.5°N of Moon
26 14:45 Moon at Ascending Node
27 19:57 LAST QUARTER MOON
Jun 03 06:08 Moon at Perigee: 357251 km
03 12:23 NEW MOON
06 05:04 Pollux 4.5°N of Moon
07 08 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
07 19:13 Mars 1.1°N of Moon: Occn.
08 02:15 Moon at Descending Node
08 19:37 Regulus 1.4°N of Moon
08 21 Venus at Superior Conjunction
09 02:26 Saturn 3.1°N of Moon
10 08:04 FIRST QUARTER MOON
13 03:37 Spica 2.7°N of Moon
16 10:33 Moon at Apogee: 406229 km
16 22:08 Antares 0.2°N of Moon
18 10:30 FULL MOON
19 07:05 Mercury 1.5°N of Aldebaran
20 05:44 Jupiter 2.4°N of Moon
20 17:00 Summer Solstice
22 16:17 Moon at Ascending Node
26 05:10 LAST QUARTER MOON
30 01:13 Pleiades 1.0°S of Moon
|
Date MST Event
(h:m)
Jul 01 03:15 Mars 0.6°N of Regulus
01 11 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 21.8°W
01 14:22 Moon at Perigee: 359513 km
02 19:19 NEW MOON
04 01 Earth at Aphelion: 1.01675 AU
05 08:53 Moon at Descending Node
06 04:46 Regulus 1.6°N of Moon
06 11:03 Mars 2.6°N of Moon
06 15:27 Saturn 3.5°N of Moon
09 02 Jupiter at Opposition
09 21:35 FIRST QUARTER MOON
10 10:33 Spica 2.9°N of Moon
10 16 Mars 0.6°S of Saturn
11 13 Venus at Perihelion
13 21:13 Moon at Apogee: 405452 km
14 04:40 Antares 0.3°N of Moon
17 05:27 Jupiter 2.6°N of Moon
18 00:59 FULL MOON
19 20:27 Moon at Ascending Node
21 09 Mercury at Perihelion
25 11:42 LAST QUARTER MOON
27 09:08 Pleiades 1.1°S of Moon
27 12 Delta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
29 13 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
29 16:24 Moon at Perigee: 363887 km
31 01:31 Pollux 4.6°N of Moon
Aug 01 03:13 NEW MOON
01 03:21 Total Solar Eclipse; mag=1.039
01 18:21 Moon at Descending Node
02 07:49 Venus 2.3°N of Moon
02 14:42 Regulus 1.7°N of Moon
03 06:42 Saturn 3.8°N of Moon
04 05:14 Mars 4.0°N of Moon
05 17:57 Venus 0.9°N of Regulus
06 18:38 Spica 3.0°N of Moon
08 13:20 FIRST QUARTER MOON
10 12:00 Antares 0.4°N of Moon
10 13:18 Moon at Apogee: 404558 km
12 04 Perseid Meteor Shower
13 07:12 Jupiter 2.8°N of Moon
13 12 Venus 0.2°S of Saturn
14 23 Neptune at Opposition
15 14 Mercury 0.6°S of Saturn
16 03:27 Moon at Ascending Node
16 14:10 Partial Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.808
16 14:16 FULL MOON
20 14 Mercury 0.9°S of Venus
23 15:01 Pleiades 1.1°S of Moon
23 16:50 LAST QUARTER MOON
25 20:44 Moon at Perigee: 368693 km
27 09:45 Pollux 4.6°N of Moon
29 03:30 Moon at Descending Node
30 12:58 NEW MOON
Sep 01 16:16 Mercury 2.9°N of Moon
03 03:20 Spica 3.0°N of Moon
03 09 Mercury at Aphelion
03 19 Saturn in Conjunction with Sun
06 19:56 Antares 0.3°N of Moon
06 20 Mercury 2.5°S of Mars
07 07:04 FIRST QUARTER MOON
07 07:58 Moon at Apogee: 404210 km
09 13:26 Jupiter 2.8°N of Moon
10 21 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 26.9°E
11 19 Venus 0.3°N of Mars
12 09 Mercury 3.6°S of Venus
12 11:24 Moon at Ascending Node
12 19 Uranus at Opposition
15 02:13 FULL MOON
18 20:35 Venus 2.2°N of Spica
19 20:17 Moon at Perigee: 368890 km
19 20:27 Pleiades 1.0°S of Moon
21 22:04 LAST QUARTER MOON
22 08:45 Autumnal Equinox
22 17 Mercury 4.0°S of Mars
23 12:51 Mercury 1.2°S of Spica
23 15:57 Pollux 4.7°N of Moon
24 18:47 Mars 2.1°N of Spica
25 09:20 Moon at Descending Node
26 07:38 Regulus 1.7°N of Moon
27 12:53 Saturn 4.6°N of Moon
29 01:12 NEW MOON
30 11:42 Spica 2.9°N of Moon
Oct 04 03:52 Antares 0.1°N of Moon
05 03:34 Moon at Apogee: 404716 km
06 14 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
07 00:22 Jupiter 2.5°N of Moon
07 02:04 FIRST QUARTER MOON
09 17:38 Moon at Ascending Node
14 13:03 FULL MOON
16 23:06 Moon at Perigee: 363828 km
17 03:32 Pleiades 0.8°S of Moon
17 09 Mercury at Perihelion
20 21 Orionid Meteor Shower
20 21:24 Pollux 4.9°N of Moon
21 04:55 LAST QUARTER MOON
22 02 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.3°W
22 11:00 Moon at Descending Node
23 13:33 Regulus 1.9°N of Moon
26 15:15 Venus 3.1°N of Antares
28 16:14 NEW MOON
31 11:13 Antares 0.1°S of Moon
Nov 01 01:11 Venus 2.6°N of Moon
01 21:55 Moon at Apogee: 405723 km
03 14:54 Jupiter 1.9°N of Moon
04 21 S Taurid Meteor Shower
05 20:34 Moon at Ascending Node
05 21:03 FIRST QUARTER MOON
11 20 N Taurid Meteor Shower
12 23:17 FULL MOON
13 13:16 Pleiades 0.7°S of Moon
14 02:59 Moon at Perigee: 358973 km
17 03 Leonid Meteor Shower
18 11:37 Moon at Descending Node
19 14:31 LAST QUARTER MOON
19 19:17 Regulus 2.2°N of Moon
24 01:03 Spica 3.0°N of Moon
25 10 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
27 09:55 NEW MOON
29 09:55 Moon at Apogee: 406480 km
Dec 01 02 Venus 2.0°S of Jupiter
01 07:45 Jupiter 1.3°N of Moon
01 09:01 Venus 0.8°S of Moon: Occn.
02 21:47 Moon at Ascending Node
05 14:26 FIRST QUARTER MOON
05 15 Mars in Conjunction with Sun
11 00:38 Pleiades 0.8°S of Moon
12 09:37 FULL MOON
12 14:37 Moon at Perigee: 356568 km
13 16 Geminid Meteor Shower
15 16:02 Moon at Descending Node
17 02:47 Regulus 2.4°N of Moon
19 03:29 LAST QUARTER MOON
21 05:04 Winter Solstice
21 06:54 Spica 3.2°N of Moon
22 00 Ursid Meteor Shower
24 23:53 Antares 0.1°S of Moon
26 10:50 Moon at Apogee: 406602 km
27 05:22 NEW MOON
28 21:09 Mercury 0.7°S of Moon: Occn.
29 02:07 Jupiter 0.6°N of Moon: Occn.
30 00:40 Moon at Ascending Node
31 14:03 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
Mountain Standard Time
The following table gives the date and time of the Moon's phases for the year. The times listed are for Mountain Standard Time (Coordinated Universal Time − 7 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 | |||
| Mountain Standard Time | |||
| New Moon | First Quarter | Full Moon | Last Quarter |
| Jan 08 04:37 | Jan 15 12:46 | Jan 22 06:35 | Jan 29 22:03 |
| Feb 06 20:44 A | Feb 13 20:34 | Feb 20 20:31 t | Feb 28 19:18 |
| Mar 07 10:14 | Mar 14 03:46 | Mar 21 11:40 | Mar 29 14:47 |
| Apr 05 20:55 | Apr 12 11:32 | Apr 20 03:25 | Apr 28 07:12 |
| May 05 05:18 | May 11 20:47 | May 19 19:11 | May 27 19:57 |
| Jun 03 12:23 | Jun 10 08:04 | Jun 18 10:30 | Jun 26 05:10 |
| Jul 02 19:19 | Jul 09 21:35 | Jul 18 00:59 | Jul 25 11:42 |
| Aug 01 03:13 T | Aug 08 13:20 | Aug 16 14:16 p | Aug 23 16:50 |
| Aug 30 12:58 | Sep 07 07:04 | Sep 15 02:13 | Sep 21 22:04 |
| Sep 29 01:12 | Oct 07 02:04 | Oct 14 13:03 | Oct 21 04:55 |
| Oct 28 16:14 | Nov 05 21:04 | Nov 12 23:17 | Nov 19 14:31 |
| Nov 27 09:55 | Dec 05 14:26 | Dec 12 09:37 | Dec 19 03:29 |
| Dec 27 05:23 | - | - | - |
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 |
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
Interactive Sky Chart (Sky and Telescope)
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Weather Forecast for Astronomy (Clear Outside)
GOES-East Images (NOAA-GOES)
Astronomy Tools (Astronomy Tools)