2015 Sky Event Almanac

New Zealand Standard Time

The following table gives the date and time of the important astronomical events for the year. The times listed are for New Zealand Standard Time (Coordinated Universal Time + 12 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.

2015 Sky Event Almanac
New Zealand Standard Time
January - June July - December
Date     NZST   Even
        (h:m)

Jan 02  23:35  Aldebaran 1.4°S of Moon
    04  14     Quadrantid Meteor Shower
    04  18     Earth at Perihelion: 0.98328 AU
    05  16:53  FULL MOON 
    09  13:34  Regulus 4.1°N of Moon
    10  06:17  Moon at Apogee: 405411 km
    11  13     Mercury 0.6°N of Venus
    13  03:33  Moon at Ascending Node 
    13  21:27  Spica 3.1°S of Moon
    13  21:47  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    15  08     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.9°E
    16  23:52  Saturn 1.9°S of Moon
    21  01:14  NEW MOON 
    22  05:39  Mercury 3.0°S of Moon
    22  08:06  Moon at Perigee: 359643 km
    22  09     Mercury at Perihelion 
    23  16:40  Mars 3.9°S of Moon
    25  22:23  Moon at Descending Node 
    27  16:48  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    30  05:07  Aldebaran 1.2°S of Moon
    31  02     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction 

Feb 04  11:09  FULL MOON 
    05  20:17  Regulus 4.0°N of Moon
    06  18:25  Moon at Apogee: 406155 km
    07  05     Jupiter at Opposition 
    09  05:10  Moon at Ascending Node 
    10  04:23  Spica 3.3°S of Moon
    12  15:50  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    13  12:10  Saturn 2.1°S of Moon
    17  18:20  Mercury 3.5°S of Moon
    19  11:47  NEW MOON 
    19  19:29  Moon at Perigee: 356992 km
    21  12:56  Venus 2.0°S of Moon
    21  13:28  Mars 1.5°S of Moon
    22  04:05  Moon at Descending Node 
    22  17     Venus 0.4°S of Mars
    25  04     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 26.7°W
    26  05:14  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    26  11:02  Aldebaran 1.0°S of Moon
    26  16     Neptune in Conjunction with Sun 

Mar 05  02:29  Regulus 4.0°N of Moon
    05  19:35  Moon at Apogee: 406386 km
    06  06:05  FULL MOON 
    07  08     Mercury at Aphelion 
    08  09:04  Moon at Ascending Node 
    09  10:21  Spica 3.4°S of Moon
    12  20:25  Saturn 2.3°S of Moon
    14  05:48  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    20  07:38  Moon at Perigee: 357584 km
    20  21:36  NEW MOON 
    20  21:46  Total Solar Eclipse; mag=1.045
    21  10:45  Vernal Equinox 
    21  14:19  Moon at Descending Node 
    22  10:13  Mars 1.0°N of Moon: Occn.
    23  07:51  Venus 2.8°N of Moon
    25  18:55  Aldebaran 0.9°S of Moon
    27  19:43  FIRST QUARTER MOON 

Apr 01  08:45  Regulus 4.0°N of Moon
    02  00:59  Moon at Apogee: 406012 km
    04  15:17  Moon at Ascending Node 
    05  00:00  Total Lunar Eclipse; mag=1.001
    05  00:06  FULL MOON 
    05  16:21  Spica 3.5°S of Moon
    07  02     Uranus in Conjunction with Sun 
    09  01:08  Saturn 2.2°S of Moon
    10  16     Mercury at Superior Conjunction 
    12  03:28  Venus 2.5°S of Pleiades
    12  15:44  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    17  15:53  Moon at Perigee: 361026 km
    18  01:07  Moon at Descending Node 
    19  01     Venus at Perihelion 
    19  06:57  NEW MOON 
    20  08     Mercury at Perihelion 
    22  04:35  Aldebaran 0.9°S of Moon
    23  11     Lyrid Meteor Shower
    26  11:55  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    28  15:38  Regulus 4.0°N of Moon
    29  15:55  Moon at Apogee: 405085 km

May 01  13:29  Mercury 1.6°S of Pleiades
    01  21:50  Moon at Ascending Node 
    02  23:10  Spica 3.5°S of Moon
    04  15:42  FULL MOON 
    06  01     Eta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
    06  04:19  Saturn 2.0°S of Moon
    07  17     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 21.2°E
    11  22:36  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    15  08:37  Moon at Descending Node 
    15  12:23  Moon at Perigee: 366024 km
    18  16:13  NEW MOON 
    23  13     Saturn at Opposition 
    25  23:14  Regulus 3.8°N of Moon
    26  05:19  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    27  10:12  Moon at Apogee: 404246 km
    29  02:40  Moon at Ascending Node 
    30  05:27  Venus 3.9°S of Pollux
    30  06:52  Spica 3.6°S of Moon
    31  05     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction 

Jun 02  08:02  Saturn 1.9°S of Moon
    03  04:19  FULL MOON 
    07  07     Venus at Greatest Elong: 45.4°E
    10  03:42  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    10  16:39  Moon at Perigee: 369713 km
    11  11:30  Moon at Descending Node 
    15  03     Mars in Conjunction with Sun 
    15  14:26  Mercury 0.0°N of Moon: Occn.
    15  23:11  Aldebaran 1.0°S of Moon
    17  02:05  NEW MOON 
    22  04:38  Summer Solstice 
    22  07:10  Regulus 3.6°N of Moon
    23  21:37  Mercury 1.8°N of Aldebaran
    24  05:01  Moon at Apogee: 404134 km
    24  23:03  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    25  05     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 22.5°W
    25  05:23  Moon at Ascending Node 
    26  14:58  Spica 3.8°S of Moon
    29  13:27  Saturn 2.0°S of Moon

Date     NZST   Even
        (h:m)

Jul 01  14     Venus 0.3°S of Jupiter
    02  14:20  FULL MOON 
    06  06:54  Moon at Perigee: 367095 km
    07  07     Earth at Aphelion: 1.01668 AU
    08  12:07  Moon at Descending Node 
    09  08:24  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    13  05:55  Aldebaran 0.9°S of Moon
    15  09:15  Venus 1.5°S of Regulus
    16  13:24  NEW MOON 
    17  07     Mercury at Perihelion 
    19  05:34  Jupiter 4.1°N of Moon
    19  13:06  Venus 0.4°N of Moon: Occn.
    19  14:49  Regulus 3.4°N of Moon
    21  23:02  Moon at Apogee: 404837 km
    22  07:32  Moon at Ascending Node 
    23  22:45  Spica 4.0°S of Moon
    24  07     Mercury at Superior Conjunction 
    24  16:04  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    26  20:43  Saturn 2.2°S of Moon
    29  02     Delta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
    31  22:43  FULL MOON 

Aug 02  22:11  Moon at Perigee: 362135 km
    04  14:53  Moon at Descending Node 
    07  14:03  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    08  05:25  Mercury 0.8°N of Regulus
    09  10     Venus at Aphelion 
    09  11:22  Aldebaran 0.7°S of Moon
    13  18     Perseid Meteor Shower
    15  02:54  NEW MOON 
    16  07     Venus at Inferior Conjunction 
    17  02:34  Mercury 2.0°N of Moon
    18  11:05  Moon at Ascending Node 
    18  14:33  Moon at Apogee: 405852 km
    20  05:46  Spica 4.2°S of Moon
    23  05:21  Saturn 2.6°S of Moon
    23  07:31  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    27  09     Jupiter in Conjunction with Sun 
    30  06:35  FULL MOON 
    30  07     Mercury at Aphelion 
    31  03:24  Moon at Perigee: 358289 km
    31  22:16  Moon at Descending Node 

Sep 01  14     Neptune at Opposition 
    04  22     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 27.1°E
    05  17:09  Aldebaran 0.6°S of Moon
    05  21:54  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    10  17:53  Venus 2.7°S of Moon
    12  03:56  Regulus 3.3°N of Moon
    13  18:41  NEW MOON 
    13  18:54  Partial Solar Eclipse; mag=0.788
    14  16:38  Moon at Ascending Node 
    14  23:28  Moon at Apogee: 406466 km
    16  12:00  Spica 4.3°S of Moon
    19  14:54  Saturn 2.8°S of Moon
    21  20:59  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    23  20:20  Autumnal Equinox 
    25  07:38  Mars 0.7°N of Regulus
    28  09:04  Moon at Descending Node 
    28  13:46  Moon at Perigee: 356877 km
    28  14:47  Total Lunar Eclipse; mag=1.276
    28  14:50  FULL MOON 

Oct 01  03     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction 
    03  00:51  Aldebaran 0.5°S of Moon
    05  09:06  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    09  08:32  Venus 0.7°N of Moon: Occn.
    09  09:52  Regulus 3.3°N of Moon
    09  12:26  Venus 2.5°S of Regulus
    10  04:51  Mars 3.4°N of Moon
    10  11:30  Jupiter 2.7°N of Moon
    11  22:54  Moon at Ascending Node 
    12  00:00  Mercury 1.0°N of Moon: Occn.
    12  01:17  Moon at Apogee: 406389 km
    12  15     Uranus at Opposition 
    13  06     Mercury at Perihelion 
    13  12:06  NEW MOON 
    16  15     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.1°W
    17  01:20  Saturn 3.0°S of Moon
    18  09     Mars 0.4°N of Jupiter
    21  08:31  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    22  11     Orionid Meteor Shower
    25  19:36  Moon at Descending Node 
    26  11     Venus 1.0°S of Jupiter
    26  19     Venus at Greatest Elong: 46.4°W
    27  00:59  Moon at Perigee: 358464 km
    28  00:05  FULL MOON 
    30  10:45  Aldebaran 0.6°S of Moon

Nov 03  19     Venus 0.7°S of Mars
    04  00:24  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    05  16:19  Regulus 3.2°N of Moon
    06  11     S Taurid Meteor Shower
    07  03:49  Jupiter 2.3°N of Moon
    07  21:56  Mars 1.8°N of Moon
    08  01:54  Venus 1.2°N of Moon
    08  03:53  Moon at Ascending Node 
    08  09:48  Moon at Apogee: 405724 km
    10  00:27  Spica 4.3°S of Moon
    12  05:47  NEW MOON 
    13  10     N Taurid Meteor Shower
    13  13:05  Saturn 3.0°S of Moon
    18  03     Mercury at Superior Conjunction 
    18  17     Leonid Meteor Shower
    19  18:27  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    21  11     Mars at Aphelion:  1.66606 AU
    22  01:56  Moon at Descending Node 
    24  08:06  Moon at Perigee: 362818 km
    26  10:44  FULL MOON 
    26  21:33  Aldebaran 0.7°S of Moon
    29  18     Venus at Perihelion 
    30  07:20  Venus 3.9°N of Spica
    30  12     Saturn in Conjunction with Sun 

Dec 02  23:53  Regulus 3.0°N of Moon
    03  19:40  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    04  18:21  Jupiter 1.8°N of Moon
    05  06:33  Moon at Ascending Node 
    06  02:56  Moon at Apogee: 404800 km
    06  14:40  Mars 0.1°N of Moon: Occn.
    07  07:42  Spica 4.4°S of Moon
    08  04:55  Venus 0.7°S of Moon: Occn.
    11  22:29  NEW MOON 
    15  06     Geminid Meteor Shower
    19  03:13  Moon at Descending Node 
    19  03:14  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    21  20:53  Moon at Perigee: 368418 km
    22  16:48  Winter Solstice 
    23  14     Ursid Meteor Shower
    24  02:18  Mars 3.3°N of Spica
    24  07:09  Aldebaran 0.7°S of Moon
    25  23:11  FULL MOON 
    29  15     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 19.7°E
    30  08:30  Regulus 2.7°N 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

2015 Phases of the Moon

New Zealand Standard Time

The following table gives the date and time of the Moon's phases for the year. The times listed are for New Zealand Standard Time (Coordinated Universal Time + 12 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.

2015 Phases of the Moon
New Zealand Standard Time
New Moon First Quarter Full Moon Last Quarter
-- Jan 05 16:53 Jan 13 21:47
Jan 21 01:14 Jan 27 16:48 Feb 04 11:09 Feb 12 15:50
Feb 19 11:47 Feb 26 05:14 Mar 06 06:06 Mar 14 05:48
Mar 20 21:36 T Mar 27 19:43 Apr 05 00:06 p Apr 12 15:44
Apr 19 06:57 Apr 26 11:55 May 04 15:42 May 11 22:36
May 18 16:13 May 26 05:19 Jun 03 04:19 Jun 10 03:42
Jun 17 02:05 Jun 24 23:03 Jul 02 14:20 Jul 09 08:24
Jul 16 13:24 Jul 24 16:04 Jul 31 22:43 Aug 07 14:03
Aug 15 02:54 Aug 23 07:31 Aug 30 06:35 Sep 05 21:54
Sep 13 18:41 P Sep 21 20:59 Sep 28 14:50 t Oct 05 09:06
Oct 13 12:06 Oct 21 08:31 Oct 28 00:05 Nov 04 00:24
Nov 12 05:47 Nov 19 18:27 Nov 26 10:44 Dec 03 19:40
Dec 11 22:29 Dec 19 03:14 Dec 25 23:11 -

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

Asia & Oceania

Below are links to sky event almanacs from 2011 to 2020 for ten time zones in Asia & Oceania.
Choose a time zone and click on a year to get a sky event almanac for that year.

Sky Event Almanacs - Asia & Oceania
PKT 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
IST 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
BST 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
ICT 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
AWST 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
JST 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
ACT 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
AEST 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
NCT 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
NZST 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

        Time Zones Abbreviations
        • PKT = Pakistan Standard Time (= UTC + 5 hours)
        • IST = Indian Standard Time (= UTC + 5.5 hours)
        • BST = Bangladesh Standard Time (= UTC + 6 hours)
        • ICT = Indochina Time (= UTC + 7 hours)
        • AWST = Australian Western Standard Time (= UTC + 8 hours)
        • JST = Japan Standard Time (= UTC + 9 hours)
        • ACT = Australian Central Time (= UTC + 9.5 hours)
        • AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time (= UTC + 10 hours)
        • NCT = New Caledonia Time (= UTC + 11 hours)
        • NZST = New Zealand Standard Time (= UTC + 12 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


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)