2012 Sky Event Almanac
Central Standard Time
The following table gives the date and time of the important astronomical events for the year. The times listed are for Central Standard Time (Coordinated Universal Time − 6 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 | ||||||||
| Central Standard Time | ||||||||
| January - June | July - December | |||||||
Date CST Event
(h:m)
Jan 01 00:15 FIRST QUARTER MOON
02 14:19 Moon at Apogee: 404580 km
04 01 Quadrantid Meteor Shower
04 19 Earth at Perihelion: 0.98328 AU
05 03:17 Pleiades 2.8°N of Moon
06 08:30 Moon at Descending Node
09 01:30 FULL MOON
16 01:21 Spica 2.0°N of Moon
16 03:08 LAST QUARTER MOON
17 15:28 Moon at Perigee: 369883 km
18 00 Mercury at Aphelion
19 04:59 Antares 4.2°S of Moon
19 12:26 Moon at Ascending Node
23 01:39 NEW MOON
30 11:42 Moon at Apogee: 404325 km
30 22:10 FIRST QUARTER MOON
Feb 01 11:42 Pleiades 3.0°N of Moon
02 14:02 Moon at Descending Node
07 03 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
07 15:54 FULL MOON
11 12:32 Moon at Perigee: 367920 km
12 06:47 Spica 1.8°N of Moon
14 11:04 LAST QUARTER MOON
15 10:35 Antares 4.4°S of Moon
15 14:16 Moon at Ascending Node
15 15 Mars at Aphelion: 1.66598 AU
19 14 Neptune in Conjunction with Sun
21 16:35 NEW MOON
25 15:44 Venus 3.3°S of Moon
27 00:16 Jupiter 3.8°S of Moon
27 08:01 Moon at Apogee: 404864 km
28 19:46 Pleiades 3.3°N of Moon
29 16:37 Moon at Descending Node
29 19:22 FIRST QUARTER MOON
Mar 01 23 Mercury at Perihelion
03 13 Mars at Opposition
05 03 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.2°E
08 03:40 FULL MOON
10 04:02 Moon at Perigee: 362401 km
10 14:20 Spica 1.5°N of Moon
13 14:41 Moon at Ascending Node
13 16 Venus 3.0°N of Jupiter
13 16:10 Antares 4.7°S of Moon
14 19:25 LAST QUARTER MOON
19 23:15 Vernal Equinox
20 19 Venus at Perihelion
21 13 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
22 08:37 NEW MOON
24 12 Uranus in Conjunction with Sun
25 17:57 Jupiter 3.1°S of Moon
26 00:04 Moon at Apogee: 405780 km
26 12:21 Venus 1.8°N of Moon
27 01 Venus at Greatest Elong: 46.0°E
27 02:56 Pleiades 3.5°N of Moon
27 18:19 Moon at Descending Node
30 13:41 FIRST QUARTER MOON
Apr 03 07:18 Venus 0.4°S of Pleiades
06 13:19 FULL MOON
07 00:24 Spica 1.5°N of Moon
07 10:59 Moon at Perigee: 358314 km
09 18:47 Moon at Ascending Node
09 23:54 Antares 4.9°S of Moon
13 04:50 LAST QUARTER MOON
15 12 Saturn at Opposition
15 20:18 Mars 0.7°N of Regulus
18 11 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 27.5°W
21 01:18 NEW MOON
21 23 Lyrid Meteor Shower
22 07:49 Moon at Apogee: 406422 km
22 12:30 Jupiter 2.4°S of Moon
23 09:15 Pleiades 3.6°N of Moon
23 21:43 Moon at Descending Node
29 03:58 FIRST QUARTER MOON
May 04 11:26 Spica 1.5°N of Moon
04 12 Eta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
05 21:33 Moon at Perigee: 356954 km
05 21:35 FULL MOON
07 03:43 Moon at Ascending Node
07 09:57 Antares 5.0°S of Moon
12 15:47 LAST QUARTER MOON
13 07 Jupiter in Conjunction with Sun
19 10:13 Moon at Apogee: 406451 km
20 17:47 NEW MOON
20 17:53 Annular Solar Eclipse; mag=0.944
21 03:20 Moon at Descending Node
27 05 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
28 14:16 FIRST QUARTER MOON
28 23 Mercury at Perihelion
31 21:24 Spica 1.5°N of Moon
Jun 03 07:19 Moon at Perigee: 358483 km
03 14:38 Moon at Ascending Node
03 20:51 Antares 5.0°S of Moon
04 05:03 Partial Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.370
04 05:12 FULL MOON
05 19 Venus at Inferior Conjunction
11 03:30 Jupiter 4.7°S of Pleiades
11 04:41 LAST QUARTER MOON
15 19:24 Moon at Apogee: 405791 km
16 21:34 Pleiades 3.6°N of Moon
17 02:23 Jupiter 1.1°S of Moon: Occn.
17 09:43 Moon at Descending Node
17 18:47 Venus 2.1°S of Moon
19 09:02 NEW MOON
20 17:08 Summer Solstice
21 04:33 Venus 2.2°N of Aldebaran
26 21:30 FIRST QUARTER MOON
28 05:04 Spica 1.4°N of Moon
30 20 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 25.7°E
30 23:45 Moon at Ascending Node
|
Date CST Event
(h:m)
Jul 01 02 Venus 4.8°S of Jupiter
01 06:42 Antares 5.0°S of Moon
01 12:01 Moon at Perigee: 362363 km
03 12:52 FULL MOON
04 22 Earth at Aphelion: 1.01668 AU
08 22:13 Venus 0.9°N of Aldebaran
10 19:48 LAST QUARTER MOON
11 04 Venus at Aphelion
11 22 Mercury at Aphelion
13 10:47 Moon at Apogee: 404783 km
14 04:34 Pleiades 3.7°N of Moon
14 14:55 Moon at Descending Node
14 21:02 Jupiter 0.5°S of Moon: Occn.
15 09:29 Venus 3.8°S of Moon
18 22:24 NEW MOON
24 16:07 Mars 4.2°N of Moon
25 10:43 Spica 1.2°N of Moon
26 02:56 FIRST QUARTER MOON
27 14 Delta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
28 04:34 Moon at Ascending Node
28 14 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
29 02:30 Moon at Perigee: 367318 km
29 05:45 Jupiter 4.6°N of Aldebaran
Aug 01 21:27 FULL MOON
02 07:36 Saturn 4.0°N of Spica
09 12:55 LAST QUARTER MOON
10 04:52 Moon at Apogee: 404125 km
10 12:12 Pleiades 3.9°N of Moon
10 18:04 Moon at Descending Node
11 14:25 Jupiter 0.1°N of Moon: Occn.
12 06 Perseid Meteor Shower
13 13:41 Venus 0.6°S of Moon: Occn.
13 16:45 Mars 1.6°N of Spica
15 04 Venus at Greatest Elong: 45.8°W
15 12 Mars 2.7°S of Saturn
15 23:06 Mercury 3.6°N of Moon
16 06 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.7°W
17 09:55 NEW MOON
21 16:04 Spica 1.0°N of Moon
22 01:50 Mars 2.3°N of Moon
23 13:39 Moon at Perigee: 369731 km
24 05 Neptune at Opposition
24 05:38 Moon at Ascending Node
24 07:54 FIRST QUARTER MOON
24 22 Mercury at Perihelion
31 07:58 FULL MOON
Sep 06 20:04 Pleiades 4.2°N of Moon
06 20:08 Moon at Descending Node
07 00:00 Moon at Apogee: 404296 km
07 19:23 Aldebaran 4.5°S of Moon
08 04:59 Jupiter 0.6°N of Moon: Occn.
08 07:15 LAST QUARTER MOON
10 07 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
12 11:09 Venus 3.7°N of Moon
15 20:11 NEW MOON
17 23:05 Spica 0.8°N of Moon
18 08:45 Saturn 5.0°N of Moon
18 20:52 Moon at Perigee: 365749 km
19 14:36 Mars 0.2°N of Moon: Occn.
20 06:54 Moon at Ascending Node
22 08:49 Autumnal Equinox
22 13:41 FIRST QUARTER MOON
29 01 Uranus at Opposition
29 21:19 FULL MOON
Oct 01 04:56 Mercury 1.5°N of Spica
02 21:35 Venus 0.1°S of Regulus
03 23:15 Moon at Descending Node
04 03:36 Pleiades 4.4°N of Moon
04 18:43 Moon at Apogee: 405162 km
05 02 Mercury 3.2°S of Saturn
05 02:58 Aldebaran 4.3°S of Moon
05 14:50 Jupiter 0.9°N of Moon: Occn.
08 01:33 LAST QUARTER MOON
15 06:02 NEW MOON
16 19:02 Moon at Perigee: 360673 km
16 19:43 Mercury 1.3°S of Moon
17 12:27 Moon at Ascending Node
18 07:06 Mars 2.0°S of Moon
20 14:07 Mars 3.5°N of Antares
20 22 Orionid Meteor Shower
21 21:32 FIRST QUARTER MOON
25 02 Saturn in Conjunction with Sun
26 16 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 24.1°E
29 13:50 FULL MOON
31 04:36 Moon at Descending Node
31 10:28 Pleiades 4.5°N of Moon
31 12 Venus at Perihelion
Nov 01 09:30 Moon at Apogee: 406050 km
01 09:49 Aldebaran 4.2°S of Moon
01 18:58 Jupiter 0.9°N of Moon: Occn.
04 23 S Taurid Meteor Shower
06 18:36 LAST QUARTER MOON
11 19:42 Spica 0.8°N of Moon
11 22 N Taurid Meteor Shower
12 15:04 Saturn 4.3°N of Moon
13 16:08 NEW MOON
13 16:12 Total Solar Eclipse; mag=1.050
13 22:37 Moon at Ascending Node
14 04:21 Moon at Perigee: 357361 km
16 03:40 Mars 4.0°S of Moon
16 19:22 Venus 3.6°N of Spica
17 04 Leonid Meteor Shower
17 10 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
20 08:31 FIRST QUARTER MOON
20 21 Mercury at Perihelion
26 23 Venus 0.5°S of Saturn
27 11:05 Moon at Descending Node
27 16:46 Pleiades 4.5°N of Moon
28 08:33 Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.915
28 08:46 FULL MOON
28 13:35 Moon at Apogee: 406366 km
28 16:06 Aldebaran 4.2°S of Moon
28 18:46 Jupiter 0.6°N of Moon: Occn.
Dec 02 19 Jupiter at Opposition
04 17 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 20.6°W
06 09:32 LAST QUARTER MOON
09 06:04 Spica 0.8°N of Moon
10 06:46 Saturn 4.0°N of Moon
11 07:48 Venus 1.6°N of Moon
11 09:57 Moon at Ascending Node
11 18:44 Mercury 1.1°N of Moon: Occn.
12 17:14 Moon at Perigee: 357074 km
12 23:18 Jupiter 4.7°N of Aldebaran
13 02:42 NEW MOON
13 17 Geminid Meteor Shower
19 23:19 FIRST QUARTER MOON
21 05:12 Winter Solstice
22 02 Ursid Meteor Shower
24 16:27 Moon at Descending Node
24 23:00 Pleiades 4.5°N of Moon
25 15:19 Moon at Apogee: 406101 km
25 18:02 Jupiter 0.4°N of Moon: Occn.
25 22:23 Aldebaran 4.2°S of Moon
28 04:21 FULL 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
2012 Phases of the Moon
Central Standard Time
The following table gives the date and time of the Moon's phases for the year. The times listed are for Central Standard Time (Coordinated Universal Time − 6 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 | |||
| Central Standard Time | |||
| New Moon | First Quarter | Full Moon | Last Quarter |
| - | Jan 01 00:15 | Jan 09 01:30 | Jan 16 03:08 |
| Jan 23 01:39 | Jan 30 22:10 | Feb 07 15:54 | Feb 14 11:04 |
| Feb 21 16:35 | Feb 29 19:22 | Mar 08 03:40 | Mar 14 19:25 |
| Mar 22 08:37 | Mar 30 13:41 | Apr 06 13:19 | Apr 13 04:50 |
| Apr 21 01:18 | Apr 29 03:58 | May 05 21:35 | May 12 15:47 |
| May 20 17:47 A | May 28 14:16 | Jun 04 05:12 p | Jun 11 04:41 |
| Jun 19 09:02 | Jun 26 21:30 | Jul 03 12:52 | Jul 10 19:48 |
| Jul 18 22:24 | Jul 26 02:56 | Aug 01 21:27 | Aug 09 12:55 |
| Aug 17 09:54 | Aug 24 07:54 | Aug 31 07:58 | Sep 08 07:15 |
| Sep 15 20:11 | Sep 22 13:41 | Sep 29 21:19 | Oct 08 01:33 |
| Oct 15 06:02 | Oct 21 21:32 | Oct 29 13:50 | Nov 06 18:36 |
| Nov 13 16:08 T | Nov 20 08:31 | Nov 28 08:46 n | Dec 06 09:32 |
| Dec 13 02:42 | Dec 19 23:19 | Dec 28 04:21 | - |
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)