2008 Sky Event Almanac

Pacific Standard Time

The following table gives the date and time of the important astronomical events for the year. The times listed are for Pacific Standard Time (Coordinated Universal Time − 8 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
Pacific Standard Time
January - June July - December
Date     PST   Event
        (h:m)

Jan 01  06:51  Spica 2.4°N of Moon
    02  16     Earth at Perihelion: 0.98328 AU
    03  00:06  Moon at Apogee: 405328 km
    03  23     Quadrantid Meteor Shower
    05  01:55  Antares 0.5°N of Moon
    08  03:37  NEW MOON 
    11  07:17  Moon at Ascending Node 
    15  11:46  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    17  22:43  Pleiades 1.1°S of Moon
    19  00:39  Moon at Perigee: 366436 km
    19  15:40  Mars 1.1°S of Moon: Occn.
    21  16:00  Pollux 3.8°N of Moon
    21  21     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.6°E
    22  05:35  FULL MOON 
    24  02:49  Moon at Descending Node 
    24  06:57  Regulus 0.7°N of Moon
    24  22:25  Saturn 3.0°N of Moon
    27  10     Mercury at Perihelion 
    28  15:09  Spica 2.5°N of Moon
    29  21:03  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    30  20:26  Moon at Apogee: 404532 km

Feb 01  05     Venus 0.6°N of Jupiter
    01  09:57  Antares 0.6°N of Moon
    03  21:52  Jupiter 4.0°N of Moon
    04  03:35  Venus 4.3°N of Moon
    06  10     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction 
    06  19:44  NEW MOON 
    06  19:55  Annular Solar Eclipse; mag=0.965
    07  13:39  Moon at Ascending Node 
    10  18     Neptune in Conjunction with Sun 
    13  17:07  Moon at Perigee: 370216 km
    13  19:34  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    14  04:35  Pleiades 1.2°S of Moon
    15  23:53  Mars 1.6°S of Moon
    18  00:15  Pollux 3.8°N of Moon
    20  12:01  Moon at Descending Node 
    20  16:16  Regulus 0.7°N of Moon
    20  19:26  Total Lunar Eclipse; mag=1.106
    20  19:31  FULL MOON 
    21  04:01  Saturn 2.9°N of Moon
    24  01     Saturn at Opposition 
    24  23:47  Spica 2.6°N of Moon
    27  00     Mercury 1.1°N of Venus
    27  17:27  Moon at Apogee: 404442 km
    28  18:16  Antares 0.6°N of Moon
    28  18:18  LAST QUARTER MOON 

Mar 02  16:56  Jupiter 3.6°N of Moon
    03  03     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 27.1°W
    05  05:59  Mercury 0.2°N of Moon: Occn.
    05  11:20  Venus 0.2°S of Moon: Occn.
    05  22:52  Moon at Ascending Node 
    07  09:14  NEW MOON 
    08  12     Uranus in Conjunction with Sun 
    10  13:39  Moon at Perigee: 366302 km
    11  10     Mercury at Aphelion 
    12  10:09  Pleiades 1.2°S of Moon
    14  02:46  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    14  18:58  Mars 1.7°S of Moon
    16  06:16  Pollux 3.8°N of Moon
    18  18:53  Moon at Descending Node 
    18  23:35  Regulus 0.7°N of Moon
    19  07:31  Saturn 2.7°N of Moon
    19  21:49  Vernal Equinox 
    21  04     Venus at Aphelion 
    21  10:40  FULL MOON 
    23  07:47  Spica 2.5°N of Moon
    24  05     Mercury 1.0°S of Venus
    26  12:13  Moon at Apogee: 405094 km
    27  02:04  Antares 0.5°N of Moon
    29  13:47  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    30  09:23  Jupiter 3.2°N of Moon

Apr 02  07:18  Moon at Ascending Node 
    04  17:09  Venus 4.7°S of Moon
    05  19:55  NEW MOON 
    07  11:28  Moon at Perigee: 361083 km
    08  17:38  Pleiades 1.0°S of Moon
    11  21:35  Mars 1.2°S of Moon: Occn.
    12  10:32  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    12  11:47  Pollux 4.0°N of Moon
    14  21:48  Moon at Descending Node 
    15  05:23  Regulus 0.9°N of Moon
    15  10:42  Saturn 2.6°N of Moon
    15  23     Mercury at Superior Conjunction 
    19  14:36  Spica 2.4°N of Moon
    20  02:25  FULL MOON 
    21  20     Lyrid Meteor Shower
    23  01:34  Moon at Apogee: 405945 km
    23  08:57  Antares 0.3°N of Moon
    24  09     Mercury at Perihelion 
    26  08:24  Mars 4.7°S of Pollux
    26  21:11  Jupiter 2.8°N of Moon
    28  06:12  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    29  12:07  Moon at Ascending Node 

May 02  12:07  Mercury 2.0°S of Pleiades
    03  13:12  Saturn 0.6°N of Regulus
    04  10     Eta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
    05  04:18  NEW MOON 
    05  19:22  Moon at Perigee: 357772 km
    06  14:17  Mercury 2.5°S of Moon
    09  18:51  Pollux 4.3°N of Moon
    10  05:44  Mars 0.2°S of Moon: Occn.
    11  19:47  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    11  22:37  Moon at Descending Node 
    12  11:14  Regulus 1.1°N of Moon
    12  16:08  Saturn 2.8°N of Moon
    12  18     Mars at Aphelion:  1.66594 AU
    13  20     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 21.8°E
    16  20:35  Spica 2.5°N of Moon
    19  18:11  FULL MOON 
    20  06:27  Moon at Apogee: 406404 km
    20  15:06  Antares 0.2°N of Moon
    24  03:20  Jupiter 2.5°N of Moon
    26  13:45  Moon at Ascending Node 
    27  18:57  LAST QUARTER MOON 

Jun 03  05:08  Moon at Perigee: 357251 km
    03  11:23  NEW MOON 
    06  04:04  Pollux 4.5°N of Moon
    07  07     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction 
    07  18:13  Mars 1.1°N of Moon: Occn.
    08  01:15  Moon at Descending Node 
    08  18:37  Regulus 1.4°N of Moon
    08  20     Venus at Superior Conjunction 
    09  01:26  Saturn 3.1°N of Moon
    10  07:04  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    13  02:37  Spica 2.7°N of Moon
    16  09:33  Moon at Apogee: 406229 km
    16  21:08  Antares 0.2°N of Moon
    18  09:30  FULL MOON 
    19  06:05  Mercury 1.5°N of Aldebaran
    20  04:44  Jupiter 2.4°N of Moon
    20  16:00  Summer Solstice 
    22  15:17  Moon at Ascending Node 
    26  04:10  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    30  00:13  Pleiades 1.0°S of Moon

Date     PST   Event
        (h:m)

Jul 01  02:15  Mars 0.6°N of Regulus
    01  10     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 21.8°W
    01  13:22  Moon at Perigee: 359513 km
    02  18:19  NEW MOON 
    04  00     Earth at Aphelion: 1.01675 AU
    05  07:53  Moon at Descending Node 
    06  03:46  Regulus 1.6°N of Moon
    06  10:03  Mars 2.6°N of Moon
    06  14:27  Saturn 3.5°N of Moon
    09  01     Jupiter at Opposition 
    09  20:35  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    10  09:33  Spica 2.9°N of Moon
    10  15     Mars 0.6°S of Saturn
    11  12     Venus at Perihelion 
    13  20:13  Moon at Apogee: 405452 km
    14  03:40  Antares 0.3°N of Moon
    17  04:27  Jupiter 2.6°N of Moon
    17  23:59  FULL MOON 
    19  19:27  Moon at Ascending Node 
    21  08     Mercury at Perihelion 
    25  10:42  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    27  08:08  Pleiades 1.1°S of Moon
    27  11     Delta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
    29  12     Mercury at Superior Conjunction 
    29  15:24  Moon at Perigee: 363887 km
    31  00:31  Pollux 4.6°N of Moon

Aug 01  02:13  NEW MOON 
    01  02:21  Total Solar Eclipse; mag=1.039
    01  17:21  Moon at Descending Node 
    02  06:49  Venus 2.3°N of Moon
    02  13:42  Regulus 1.7°N of Moon
    03  05:42  Saturn 3.8°N of Moon
    04  04:14  Mars 4.0°N of Moon
    05  16:57  Venus 0.9°N of Regulus
    06  17:38  Spica 3.0°N of Moon
    08  12:20  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    10  11:00  Antares 0.4°N of Moon
    10  12:18  Moon at Apogee: 404558 km
    12  03     Perseid Meteor Shower
    13  06:12  Jupiter 2.8°N of Moon
    13  11     Venus 0.2°S of Saturn
    14  22     Neptune at Opposition 
    15  13     Mercury 0.6°S of Saturn
    16  02:27  Moon at Ascending Node 
    16  13:10  Partial Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.808
    16  13:16  FULL MOON 
    20  13     Mercury 0.9°S of Venus
    23  14:01  Pleiades 1.1°S of Moon
    23  15:50  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    25  19:44  Moon at Perigee: 368693 km
    27  08:45  Pollux 4.6°N of Moon
    29  02:30  Moon at Descending Node 
    30  11:58  NEW MOON 

Sep 01  15:16  Mercury 2.9°N of Moon
    03  02:20  Spica 3.0°N of Moon
    03  08     Mercury at Aphelion 
    03  18     Saturn in Conjunction with Sun 
    06  18:56  Antares 0.3°N of Moon
    06  19     Mercury 2.5°S of Mars
    07  06:04  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    07  06:58  Moon at Apogee: 404210 km
    09  12:26  Jupiter 2.8°N of Moon
    10  20     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 26.9°E
    11  18     Venus 0.3°N of Mars
    12  08     Mercury 3.6°S of Venus
    12  10:24  Moon at Ascending Node 
    12  18     Uranus at Opposition 
    15  01:13  FULL MOON 
    18  19:35  Venus 2.2°N of Spica
    19  19:17  Moon at Perigee: 368890 km
    19  19:27  Pleiades 1.0°S of Moon
    21  21:04  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    22  07:45  Autumnal Equinox 
    22  16     Mercury 4.0°S of Mars
    23  11:51  Mercury 1.2°S of Spica
    23  14:57  Pollux 4.7°N of Moon
    24  17:47  Mars 2.1°N of Spica
    25  08:20  Moon at Descending Node 
    26  06:38  Regulus 1.7°N of Moon
    27  11:53  Saturn 4.6°N of Moon
    29  00:12  NEW MOON 
    30  10:42  Spica 2.9°N of Moon

Oct 04  02:52  Antares 0.1°N of Moon
    05  02:34  Moon at Apogee: 404716 km
    06  13     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction 
    06  23:22  Jupiter 2.5°N of Moon
    07  01:04  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    09  16:38  Moon at Ascending Node 
    14  12:03  FULL MOON 
    16  22:06  Moon at Perigee: 363828 km
    17  02:32  Pleiades 0.8°S of Moon
    17  08     Mercury at Perihelion 
    20  20     Orionid Meteor Shower
    20  20:24  Pollux 4.9°N of Moon
    21  03:55  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    22  01     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.3°W
    22  10:00  Moon at Descending Node 
    23  12:33  Regulus 1.9°N of Moon
    26  14:15  Venus 3.1°N of Antares
    28  15:14  NEW MOON 
    31  10:13  Antares 0.1°S of Moon

Nov 01  00:11  Venus 2.6°N of Moon
    01  20:55  Moon at Apogee: 405723 km
    03  13:54  Jupiter 1.9°N of Moon
    04  20     S Taurid Meteor Shower
    05  19:34  Moon at Ascending Node 
    05  20:03  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    11  19     N Taurid Meteor Shower
    12  22:17  FULL MOON 
    13  12:16  Pleiades 0.7°S of Moon
    14  01:59  Moon at Perigee: 358973 km
    17  02     Leonid Meteor Shower
    18  10:37  Moon at Descending Node 
    19  13:31  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    19  18:17  Regulus 2.2°N of Moon
    24  00:03  Spica 3.0°N of Moon
    25  09     Mercury at Superior Conjunction 
    27  08:55  NEW MOON 
    29  08:55  Moon at Apogee: 406480 km

Dec 01  01     Venus 2.0°S of Jupiter
    01  06:45  Jupiter 1.3°N of Moon
    01  08:01  Venus 0.8°S of Moon: Occn.
    02  20:47  Moon at Ascending Node 
    05  13:26  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    05  14     Mars in Conjunction with Sun 
    10  23:38  Pleiades 0.8°S of Moon
    12  08:37  FULL MOON 
    12  13:37  Moon at Perigee: 356568 km
    13  15     Geminid Meteor Shower
    15  15:02  Moon at Descending Node 
    17  01:47  Regulus 2.4°N of Moon
    19  02:29  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    21  04:04  Winter Solstice 
    21  05:54  Spica 3.2°N of Moon
    21  23     Ursid Meteor Shower
    24  22:53  Antares 0.1°S of Moon
    26  09:50  Moon at Apogee: 406602 km
    27  04:22  NEW MOON 
    28  20:09  Mercury 0.7°S of Moon: Occn.
    29  01:07  Jupiter 0.6°N of Moon: Occn.
    29  23:40  Moon at Ascending Node 
    31  13:03  Venus 3.4°S of Moon

    

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

Pacific Standard Time

The following table gives the date and time of the Moon's phases for the year. The times listed are for Pacific Standard Time (Coordinated Universal Time − 8 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
Pacific Standard Time
New Moon First Quarter Full Moon Last Quarter
Jan 08 03:37 Jan 15 11:46 Jan 22 05:35 Jan 29 21:03
Feb 06 19:44 A Feb 13 19:34 Feb 20 19:31 t Feb 28 18:18
Mar 07 09:14 Mar 14 02:46 Mar 21 10:40 Mar 29 13:47
Apr 05 19:55 Apr 12 10:32 Apr 20 02:25 Apr 28 06:12
May 05 04:18 May 11 19:47 May 19 18:11 May 27 18:57
Jun 03 11:23 Jun 10 07:04 Jun 18 09:30 Jun 26 04:10
Jul 02 18:19 Jul 09 20:35 Jul 17 23:59 Jul 25 10:42
Aug 01 02:13 T Aug 08 12:20 Aug 16 13:16 p Aug 23 15:50
Aug 30 11:58 Sep 07 06:04 Sep 15 01:13 Sep 21 21:04
Sep 29 00:12 Oct 07 01:04 Oct 14 12:03 Oct 21 03:55
Oct 28 15:14 Nov 05 20:04 Nov 12 22:17 Nov 19 13:31
Nov 27 08:55 Dec 05 13:26 Dec 12 08:37 Dec 19 02:29
Dec 27 04:23 ---

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

        Time Zones Abbreviations
        • 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)

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

book

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


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