2012 Sky Event Almanac
Eastern Standard Time
The following table gives the date and time of the important astronomical events for the year. The times listed are for Eastern Standard Time (Coordinated Universal Time − 5 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 | ||||||||
| Eastern Standard Time | ||||||||
| January - June | July - December | |||||||
Date EST Event
(h:m)
Jan 01 01:15 FIRST QUARTER MOON
02 15:19 Moon at Apogee: 404580 km
04 02 Quadrantid Meteor Shower
04 20 Earth at Perihelion: 0.98328 AU
05 04:17 Pleiades 2.8°N of Moon
06 09:30 Moon at Descending Node
09 02:30 FULL MOON
16 02:21 Spica 2.0°N of Moon
16 04:08 LAST QUARTER MOON
17 16:28 Moon at Perigee: 369883 km
18 01 Mercury at Aphelion
19 05:59 Antares 4.2°S of Moon
19 13:26 Moon at Ascending Node
23 02:39 NEW MOON
30 12:42 Moon at Apogee: 404325 km
30 23:10 FIRST QUARTER MOON
Feb 01 12:42 Pleiades 3.0°N of Moon
02 15:02 Moon at Descending Node
07 04 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
07 16:54 FULL MOON
11 13:32 Moon at Perigee: 367920 km
12 07:47 Spica 1.8°N of Moon
14 12:04 LAST QUARTER MOON
15 11:35 Antares 4.4°S of Moon
15 15:16 Moon at Ascending Node
15 16 Mars at Aphelion: 1.66598 AU
19 15 Neptune in Conjunction with Sun
21 17:35 NEW MOON
25 16:44 Venus 3.3°S of Moon
27 01:16 Jupiter 3.8°S of Moon
27 09:01 Moon at Apogee: 404864 km
28 20:46 Pleiades 3.3°N of Moon
29 17:37 Moon at Descending Node
29 20:22 FIRST QUARTER MOON
Mar 02 00 Mercury at Perihelion
03 14 Mars at Opposition
05 04 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.2°E
08 04:40 FULL MOON
10 05:02 Moon at Perigee: 362401 km
10 15:20 Spica 1.5°N of Moon
13 15:41 Moon at Ascending Node
13 17 Venus 3.0°N of Jupiter
13 17:10 Antares 4.7°S of Moon
14 20:25 LAST QUARTER MOON
20 00:15 Vernal Equinox
20 20 Venus at Perihelion
21 14 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
22 09:37 NEW MOON
24 13 Uranus in Conjunction with Sun
25 18:57 Jupiter 3.1°S of Moon
26 01:04 Moon at Apogee: 405780 km
26 13:21 Venus 1.8°N of Moon
27 02 Venus at Greatest Elong: 46.0°E
27 03:56 Pleiades 3.5°N of Moon
27 19:19 Moon at Descending Node
30 14:41 FIRST QUARTER MOON
Apr 03 08:18 Venus 0.4°S of Pleiades
06 14:19 FULL MOON
07 01:24 Spica 1.5°N of Moon
07 11:59 Moon at Perigee: 358314 km
09 19:47 Moon at Ascending Node
10 00:54 Antares 4.9°S of Moon
13 05:50 LAST QUARTER MOON
15 13 Saturn at Opposition
15 21:18 Mars 0.7°N of Regulus
18 12 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 27.5°W
21 02:18 NEW MOON
22 00 Lyrid Meteor Shower
22 08:49 Moon at Apogee: 406422 km
22 13:30 Jupiter 2.4°S of Moon
23 10:15 Pleiades 3.6°N of Moon
23 22:43 Moon at Descending Node
29 04:58 FIRST QUARTER MOON
May 04 12:26 Spica 1.5°N of Moon
04 13 Eta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
05 22:33 Moon at Perigee: 356954 km
05 22:35 FULL MOON
07 04:43 Moon at Ascending Node
07 10:57 Antares 5.0°S of Moon
12 16:47 LAST QUARTER MOON
13 08 Jupiter in Conjunction with Sun
19 11:13 Moon at Apogee: 406451 km
20 18:47 NEW MOON
20 18:53 Annular Solar Eclipse; mag=0.944
21 04:20 Moon at Descending Node
27 06 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
28 15:16 FIRST QUARTER MOON
29 00 Mercury at Perihelion
31 22:24 Spica 1.5°N of Moon
Jun 03 08:19 Moon at Perigee: 358483 km
03 15:38 Moon at Ascending Node
03 21:51 Antares 5.0°S of Moon
04 06:03 Partial Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.370
04 06:12 FULL MOON
05 20 Venus at Inferior Conjunction
11 04:30 Jupiter 4.7°S of Pleiades
11 05:41 LAST QUARTER MOON
15 20:24 Moon at Apogee: 405791 km
16 22:34 Pleiades 3.6°N of Moon
17 03:23 Jupiter 1.1°S of Moon: Occn.
17 10:43 Moon at Descending Node
17 19:47 Venus 2.1°S of Moon
19 10:02 NEW MOON
20 18:08 Summer Solstice
21 05:33 Venus 2.2°N of Aldebaran
26 22:30 FIRST QUARTER MOON
28 06:04 Spica 1.4°N of Moon
30 21 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 25.7°E
|
Date EST Event
(h:m)
Jul 01 00:45 Moon at Ascending Node
01 03 Venus 4.8°S of Jupiter
01 07:42 Antares 5.0°S of Moon
01 13:01 Moon at Perigee: 362363 km
03 13:52 FULL MOON
04 23 Earth at Aphelion: 1.01668 AU
08 23:13 Venus 0.9°N of Aldebaran
10 20:48 LAST QUARTER MOON
11 05 Venus at Aphelion
11 23 Mercury at Aphelion
13 11:47 Moon at Apogee: 404783 km
14 05:34 Pleiades 3.7°N of Moon
14 15:55 Moon at Descending Node
14 22:02 Jupiter 0.5°S of Moon: Occn.
15 10:29 Venus 3.8°S of Moon
18 23:24 NEW MOON
24 17:07 Mars 4.2°N of Moon
25 11:43 Spica 1.2°N of Moon
26 03:56 FIRST QUARTER MOON
27 15 Delta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
28 05:34 Moon at Ascending Node
28 15 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
29 03:30 Moon at Perigee: 367318 km
29 06:45 Jupiter 4.6°N of Aldebaran
Aug 01 22:27 FULL MOON
02 08:36 Saturn 4.0°N of Spica
09 13:55 LAST QUARTER MOON
10 05:52 Moon at Apogee: 404125 km
10 13:12 Pleiades 3.9°N of Moon
10 19:04 Moon at Descending Node
11 15:25 Jupiter 0.1°N of Moon: Occn.
12 07 Perseid Meteor Shower
13 14:41 Venus 0.6°S of Moon: Occn.
13 17:45 Mars 1.6°N of Spica
15 05 Venus at Greatest Elong: 45.8°W
15 13 Mars 2.7°S of Saturn
16 00:06 Mercury 3.6°N of Moon
16 07 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.7°W
17 10:55 NEW MOON
21 17:04 Spica 1.0°N of Moon
22 02:50 Mars 2.3°N of Moon
23 14:39 Moon at Perigee: 369731 km
24 06 Neptune at Opposition
24 06:38 Moon at Ascending Node
24 08:54 FIRST QUARTER MOON
24 23 Mercury at Perihelion
31 08:58 FULL MOON
Sep 06 21:04 Pleiades 4.2°N of Moon
06 21:08 Moon at Descending Node
07 01:00 Moon at Apogee: 404296 km
07 20:23 Aldebaran 4.5°S of Moon
08 05:59 Jupiter 0.6°N of Moon: Occn.
08 08:15 LAST QUARTER MOON
10 08 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
12 12:09 Venus 3.7°N of Moon
15 21:11 NEW MOON
18 00:05 Spica 0.8°N of Moon
18 09:45 Saturn 5.0°N of Moon
18 21:52 Moon at Perigee: 365749 km
19 15:36 Mars 0.2°N of Moon: Occn.
20 07:54 Moon at Ascending Node
22 09:49 Autumnal Equinox
22 14:41 FIRST QUARTER MOON
29 02 Uranus at Opposition
29 22:19 FULL MOON
Oct 01 05:56 Mercury 1.5°N of Spica
02 22:35 Venus 0.1°S of Regulus
04 00:15 Moon at Descending Node
04 04:36 Pleiades 4.4°N of Moon
04 19:43 Moon at Apogee: 405162 km
05 03 Mercury 3.2°S of Saturn
05 03:58 Aldebaran 4.3°S of Moon
05 15:50 Jupiter 0.9°N of Moon: Occn.
08 02:33 LAST QUARTER MOON
15 07:02 NEW MOON
16 20:02 Moon at Perigee: 360673 km
16 20:43 Mercury 1.3°S of Moon
17 13:27 Moon at Ascending Node
18 08:06 Mars 2.0°S of Moon
20 15:07 Mars 3.5°N of Antares
20 23 Orionid Meteor Shower
21 22:32 FIRST QUARTER MOON
25 03 Saturn in Conjunction with Sun
26 17 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 24.1°E
29 14:50 FULL MOON
31 05:36 Moon at Descending Node
31 11:28 Pleiades 4.5°N of Moon
31 13 Venus at Perihelion
Nov 01 10:30 Moon at Apogee: 406050 km
01 10:49 Aldebaran 4.2°S of Moon
01 19:58 Jupiter 0.9°N of Moon: Occn.
05 00 S Taurid Meteor Shower
06 19:36 LAST QUARTER MOON
11 20:42 Spica 0.8°N of Moon
11 23 N Taurid Meteor Shower
12 16:04 Saturn 4.3°N of Moon
13 17:08 NEW MOON
13 17:12 Total Solar Eclipse; mag=1.050
13 23:37 Moon at Ascending Node
14 05:21 Moon at Perigee: 357361 km
16 04:40 Mars 4.0°S of Moon
16 20:22 Venus 3.6°N of Spica
17 05 Leonid Meteor Shower
17 11 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
20 09:31 FIRST QUARTER MOON
20 22 Mercury at Perihelion
27 00 Venus 0.5°S of Saturn
27 12:05 Moon at Descending Node
27 17:46 Pleiades 4.5°N of Moon
28 09:33 Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.915
28 09:46 FULL MOON
28 14:35 Moon at Apogee: 406366 km
28 17:06 Aldebaran 4.2°S of Moon
28 19:46 Jupiter 0.6°N of Moon: Occn.
Dec 02 20 Jupiter at Opposition
04 18 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 20.6°W
06 10:32 LAST QUARTER MOON
09 07:04 Spica 0.8°N of Moon
10 07:46 Saturn 4.0°N of Moon
11 08:48 Venus 1.6°N of Moon
11 10:57 Moon at Ascending Node
11 19:44 Mercury 1.1°N of Moon: Occn.
12 18:14 Moon at Perigee: 357074 km
13 00:18 Jupiter 4.7°N of Aldebaran
13 03:42 NEW MOON
13 18 Geminid Meteor Shower
20 00:19 FIRST QUARTER MOON
21 06:12 Winter Solstice
22 03 Ursid Meteor Shower
24 17:27 Moon at Descending Node
25 00:00 Pleiades 4.5°N of Moon
25 16:19 Moon at Apogee: 406101 km
25 19:02 Jupiter 0.4°N of Moon: Occn.
25 23:23 Aldebaran 4.2°S of Moon
28 05:21 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
Eastern Standard Time
The following table gives the date and time of the Moon's phases for the year. The times listed are for Eastern Standard Time (Coordinated Universal Time − 5 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 | |||
| Eastern Standard Time | |||
| New Moon | First Quarter | Full Moon | Last Quarter |
| - | Jan 01 01:15 | Jan 09 02:30 | Jan 16 04:08 |
| Jan 23 02:39 | Jan 30 23:10 | Feb 07 16:54 | Feb 14 12:04 |
| Feb 21 17:35 | Feb 29 20:22 | Mar 08 04:40 | Mar 14 20:25 |
| Mar 22 09:37 | Mar 30 14:41 | Apr 06 14:19 | Apr 13 05:50 |
| Apr 21 02:18 | Apr 29 04:58 | May 05 22:35 | May 12 16:47 |
| May 20 18:47 A | May 28 15:16 | Jun 04 06:12 p | Jun 11 05:41 |
| Jun 19 10:02 | Jun 26 22:30 | Jul 03 13:52 | Jul 10 20:48 |
| Jul 18 23:24 | Jul 26 03:56 | Aug 01 22:27 | Aug 09 13:55 |
| Aug 17 10:54 | Aug 24 08:54 | Aug 31 08:58 | Sep 08 08:15 |
| Sep 15 21:11 | Sep 22 14:41 | Sep 29 22:19 | Oct 08 02:33 |
| Oct 15 07:02 | Oct 21 22:32 | Oct 29 14:50 | Nov 06 19:36 |
| Nov 13 17:08 T | Nov 20 09:31 | Nov 28 09:46 n | Dec 06 10:32 |
| Dec 13 03:42 | Dec 20 00:19 | Dec 28 05:21 | - |
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)