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
|
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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
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 | |||||
- 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)
Sky Maps (sky-map.org)
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Weather Forecast for Astronomy (Clear Outside)
GOES-East Images (NOAA-GOES)
Astronomy Tools (Astronomy Tools)