2012 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.
| 2012 Sky Event Almanac | ||||||||
| Atlantic Standard Time | ||||||||
| January - June | July - December | |||||||
Date AST Event
(h:m)
Jan 01 02:15 FIRST QUARTER MOON
02 16:19 Moon at Apogee: 404580 km
04 03 Quadrantid Meteor Shower
04 21 Earth at Perihelion: 0.98328 AU
05 05:17 Pleiades 2.8°N of Moon
06 10:30 Moon at Descending Node
09 03:30 FULL MOON
16 03:21 Spica 2.0°N of Moon
16 05:08 LAST QUARTER MOON
17 17:28 Moon at Perigee: 369883 km
18 02 Mercury at Aphelion
19 06:59 Antares 4.2°S of Moon
19 14:26 Moon at Ascending Node
23 03:39 NEW MOON
30 13:42 Moon at Apogee: 404325 km
31 00:10 FIRST QUARTER MOON
Feb 01 13:42 Pleiades 3.0°N of Moon
02 16:02 Moon at Descending Node
07 05 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
07 17:54 FULL MOON
11 14:32 Moon at Perigee: 367920 km
12 08:47 Spica 1.8°N of Moon
14 13:04 LAST QUARTER MOON
15 12:35 Antares 4.4°S of Moon
15 16:16 Moon at Ascending Node
15 17 Mars at Aphelion: 1.66598 AU
19 16 Neptune in Conjunction with Sun
21 18:35 NEW MOON
25 17:44 Venus 3.3°S of Moon
27 02:16 Jupiter 3.8°S of Moon
27 10:01 Moon at Apogee: 404864 km
28 21:46 Pleiades 3.3°N of Moon
29 18:37 Moon at Descending Node
29 21:22 FIRST QUARTER MOON
Mar 02 01 Mercury at Perihelion
03 15 Mars at Opposition
05 05 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.2°E
08 05:40 FULL MOON
10 06:02 Moon at Perigee: 362401 km
10 16:20 Spica 1.5°N of Moon
13 16:41 Moon at Ascending Node
13 18 Venus 3.0°N of Jupiter
13 18:10 Antares 4.7°S of Moon
14 21:25 LAST QUARTER MOON
20 01:15 Vernal Equinox
20 21 Venus at Perihelion
21 15 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
22 10:37 NEW MOON
24 14 Uranus in Conjunction with Sun
25 19:57 Jupiter 3.1°S of Moon
26 02:04 Moon at Apogee: 405780 km
26 14:21 Venus 1.8°N of Moon
27 03 Venus at Greatest Elong: 46.0°E
27 04:56 Pleiades 3.5°N of Moon
27 20:19 Moon at Descending Node
30 15:41 FIRST QUARTER MOON
Apr 03 09:18 Venus 0.4°S of Pleiades
06 15:19 FULL MOON
07 02:24 Spica 1.5°N of Moon
07 12:59 Moon at Perigee: 358314 km
09 20:47 Moon at Ascending Node
10 01:54 Antares 4.9°S of Moon
13 06:50 LAST QUARTER MOON
15 14 Saturn at Opposition
15 22:18 Mars 0.7°N of Regulus
18 13 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 27.5°W
21 03:18 NEW MOON
22 01 Lyrid Meteor Shower
22 09:49 Moon at Apogee: 406422 km
22 14:30 Jupiter 2.4°S of Moon
23 11:15 Pleiades 3.6°N of Moon
23 23:43 Moon at Descending Node
29 05:58 FIRST QUARTER MOON
May 04 13:26 Spica 1.5°N of Moon
04 14 Eta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
05 23:33 Moon at Perigee: 356954 km
05 23:35 FULL MOON
07 05:43 Moon at Ascending Node
07 11:57 Antares 5.0°S of Moon
12 17:47 LAST QUARTER MOON
13 09 Jupiter in Conjunction with Sun
19 12:13 Moon at Apogee: 406451 km
20 19:47 NEW MOON
20 19:53 Annular Solar Eclipse; mag=0.944
21 05:20 Moon at Descending Node
27 07 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
28 16:16 FIRST QUARTER MOON
29 01 Mercury at Perihelion
31 23:24 Spica 1.5°N of Moon
Jun 03 09:19 Moon at Perigee: 358483 km
03 16:38 Moon at Ascending Node
03 22:51 Antares 5.0°S of Moon
04 07:03 Partial Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.370
04 07:12 FULL MOON
05 21 Venus at Inferior Conjunction
11 05:30 Jupiter 4.7°S of Pleiades
11 06:41 LAST QUARTER MOON
15 21:24 Moon at Apogee: 405791 km
16 23:34 Pleiades 3.6°N of Moon
17 04:23 Jupiter 1.1°S of Moon: Occn.
17 11:43 Moon at Descending Node
17 20:47 Venus 2.1°S of Moon
19 11:02 NEW MOON
20 19:08 Summer Solstice
21 06:33 Venus 2.2°N of Aldebaran
26 23:30 FIRST QUARTER MOON
28 07:04 Spica 1.4°N of Moon
30 22 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 25.7°E
|
Date AST Event
(h:m)
Jul 01 01:45 Moon at Ascending Node
01 04 Venus 4.8°S of Jupiter
01 08:42 Antares 5.0°S of Moon
01 14:01 Moon at Perigee: 362363 km
03 14:52 FULL MOON
05 00 Earth at Aphelion: 1.01668 AU
09 00:13 Venus 0.9°N of Aldebaran
10 21:48 LAST QUARTER MOON
11 06 Venus at Aphelion
12 00 Mercury at Aphelion
13 12:47 Moon at Apogee: 404783 km
14 06:34 Pleiades 3.7°N of Moon
14 16:55 Moon at Descending Node
14 23:02 Jupiter 0.5°S of Moon: Occn.
15 11:29 Venus 3.8°S of Moon
19 00:24 NEW MOON
24 18:07 Mars 4.2°N of Moon
25 12:43 Spica 1.2°N of Moon
26 04:56 FIRST QUARTER MOON
27 16 Delta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
28 06:34 Moon at Ascending Node
28 16 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
29 04:30 Moon at Perigee: 367318 km
29 07:45 Jupiter 4.6°N of Aldebaran
Aug 01 23:27 FULL MOON
02 09:36 Saturn 4.0°N of Spica
09 14:55 LAST QUARTER MOON
10 06:52 Moon at Apogee: 404125 km
10 14:12 Pleiades 3.9°N of Moon
10 20:04 Moon at Descending Node
11 16:25 Jupiter 0.1°N of Moon: Occn.
12 08 Perseid Meteor Shower
13 15:41 Venus 0.6°S of Moon: Occn.
13 18:45 Mars 1.6°N of Spica
15 06 Venus at Greatest Elong: 45.8°W
15 14 Mars 2.7°S of Saturn
16 01:06 Mercury 3.6°N of Moon
16 08 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.7°W
17 11:55 NEW MOON
21 18:04 Spica 1.0°N of Moon
22 03:50 Mars 2.3°N of Moon
23 15:39 Moon at Perigee: 369731 km
24 07 Neptune at Opposition
24 07:38 Moon at Ascending Node
24 09:54 FIRST QUARTER MOON
25 00 Mercury at Perihelion
31 09:58 FULL MOON
Sep 06 22:04 Pleiades 4.2°N of Moon
06 22:08 Moon at Descending Node
07 02:00 Moon at Apogee: 404296 km
07 21:23 Aldebaran 4.5°S of Moon
08 06:59 Jupiter 0.6°N of Moon: Occn.
08 09:15 LAST QUARTER MOON
10 09 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
12 13:09 Venus 3.7°N of Moon
15 22:11 NEW MOON
18 01:05 Spica 0.8°N of Moon
18 10:45 Saturn 5.0°N of Moon
18 22:52 Moon at Perigee: 365749 km
19 16:36 Mars 0.2°N of Moon: Occn.
20 08:54 Moon at Ascending Node
22 10:49 Autumnal Equinox
22 15:41 FIRST QUARTER MOON
29 03 Uranus at Opposition
29 23:19 FULL MOON
Oct 01 06:56 Mercury 1.5°N of Spica
02 23:35 Venus 0.1°S of Regulus
04 01:15 Moon at Descending Node
04 05:36 Pleiades 4.4°N of Moon
04 20:43 Moon at Apogee: 405162 km
05 04 Mercury 3.2°S of Saturn
05 04:58 Aldebaran 4.3°S of Moon
05 16:50 Jupiter 0.9°N of Moon: Occn.
08 03:33 LAST QUARTER MOON
15 08:02 NEW MOON
16 21:02 Moon at Perigee: 360673 km
16 21:43 Mercury 1.3°S of Moon
17 14:27 Moon at Ascending Node
18 09:06 Mars 2.0°S of Moon
20 16:07 Mars 3.5°N of Antares
21 00 Orionid Meteor Shower
21 23:32 FIRST QUARTER MOON
25 04 Saturn in Conjunction with Sun
26 18 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 24.1°E
29 15:50 FULL MOON
31 06:36 Moon at Descending Node
31 12:28 Pleiades 4.5°N of Moon
31 14 Venus at Perihelion
Nov 01 11:30 Moon at Apogee: 406050 km
01 11:49 Aldebaran 4.2°S of Moon
01 20:58 Jupiter 0.9°N of Moon: Occn.
05 01 S Taurid Meteor Shower
06 20:36 LAST QUARTER MOON
11 21:42 Spica 0.8°N of Moon
12 00 N Taurid Meteor Shower
12 17:04 Saturn 4.3°N of Moon
13 18:08 NEW MOON
13 18:12 Total Solar Eclipse; mag=1.050
14 00:37 Moon at Ascending Node
14 06:21 Moon at Perigee: 357361 km
16 05:40 Mars 4.0°S of Moon
16 21:22 Venus 3.6°N of Spica
17 06 Leonid Meteor Shower
17 12 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
20 10:31 FIRST QUARTER MOON
20 23 Mercury at Perihelion
27 01 Venus 0.5°S of Saturn
27 13:05 Moon at Descending Node
27 18:46 Pleiades 4.5°N of Moon
28 10:33 Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.915
28 10:46 FULL MOON
28 15:35 Moon at Apogee: 406366 km
28 18:06 Aldebaran 4.2°S of Moon
28 20:46 Jupiter 0.6°N of Moon: Occn.
Dec 02 21 Jupiter at Opposition
04 19 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 20.6°W
06 11:32 LAST QUARTER MOON
09 08:04 Spica 0.8°N of Moon
10 08:46 Saturn 4.0°N of Moon
11 09:48 Venus 1.6°N of Moon
11 11:57 Moon at Ascending Node
11 20:44 Mercury 1.1°N of Moon: Occn.
12 19:14 Moon at Perigee: 357074 km
13 01:18 Jupiter 4.7°N of Aldebaran
13 04:42 NEW MOON
13 19 Geminid Meteor Shower
20 01:19 FIRST QUARTER MOON
21 07:12 Winter Solstice
22 04 Ursid Meteor Shower
24 18:27 Moon at Descending Node
25 01:00 Pleiades 4.5°N of Moon
25 17:19 Moon at Apogee: 406101 km
25 20:02 Jupiter 0.4°N of Moon: Occn.
26 00:23 Aldebaran 4.2°S of Moon
28 06:21 FULL 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
2012 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.
| 2012 Phases of the Moon | |||
| Atlantic Standard Time | |||
| New Moon | First Quarter | Full Moon | Last Quarter |
| - | Jan 01 02:15 | Jan 09 03:30 | Jan 16 05:08 |
| Jan 23 03:39 | Jan 31 00:10 | Feb 07 17:54 | Feb 14 13:04 |
| Feb 21 18:35 | Feb 29 21:22 | Mar 08 05:40 | Mar 14 21:25 |
| Mar 22 10:37 | Mar 30 15:41 | Apr 06 15:19 | Apr 13 06:50 |
| Apr 21 03:18 | Apr 29 05:58 | May 05 23:35 | May 12 17:47 |
| May 20 19:47 A | May 28 16:16 | Jun 04 07:12 p | Jun 11 06:41 |
| Jun 19 11:02 | Jun 26 23:30 | Jul 03 14:52 | Jul 10 21:48 |
| Jul 19 00:24 | Jul 26 04:56 | Aug 01 23:27 | Aug 09 14:55 |
| Aug 17 11:54 | Aug 24 09:54 | Aug 31 09:58 | Sep 08 09:15 |
| Sep 15 22:11 | Sep 22 15:41 | Sep 29 23:19 | Oct 08 03:33 |
| Oct 15 08:02 | Oct 21 23:32 | Oct 29 15:50 | Nov 06 20:36 |
| Nov 13 18:08 T | Nov 20 10:31 | Nov 28 10:46 n | Dec 06 11:32 |
| Dec 13 04:42 | Dec 20 01:19 | Dec 28 06:21 | - |
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: 2011 to 2020
The Americas
Below are links to sky event almanacs from 2011 to 2020 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 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |||||
| AST | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |||||
| EST | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |||||
| CST | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |||||
| MST | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |||||
| PST | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |||||
| AKST | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |||||
| HST | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |||||
- 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
Interactive Sky Chart (Sky and Telescope)
Sky Maps (sky-map.org)
Astronomical Almanac (Sky and Telescope)
Weather Forecast for Astronomy (Clear Outside)
GOES-East Images (NOAA-GOES)
Astronomy Tools (Astronomy Tools)