2018 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.
| 2018 Sky Event Almanac | ||||||||
| Central Standard Time | ||||||||
| January - June | July - December | |||||||
Date CST Event
(h:m)
Jan 01 14 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 22.7°W
01 15:54 Moon at Perigee: 356566 km
01 20:24 FULL MOON
03 00 Earth at Perihelion: 0.98329 AU
03 14 Quadrantid Meteor Shower
04 01:48 Moon at Ascending Node
05 01:24 Regulus 0.9°S of Moon
06 19 Mars 0.2°S of Jupiter
08 16:25 LAST QUARTER MOON
09 00 Venus at Superior Conjunction
10 23:59 Jupiter 4.3°S of Moon
13 02 Mercury 0.7°S of Saturn
14 20:10 Moon at Apogee: 406461 km
14 20:13 Saturn 2.6°S of Moon
15 01:24 Mercury 3.4°S of Moon
16 20:17 NEW MOON
18 08:28 Moon at Descending Node
23 11 Venus at Aphelion
24 16:20 FIRST QUARTER MOON
25 05 Mercury at Aphelion
27 04:09 Aldebaran 0.7°S of Moon
30 03:54 Moon at Perigee: 358995 km
31 07:27 FULL MOON
31 07:30 Total Lunar Eclipse; mag=1.315
31 12:46 Moon at Ascending Node
Feb 01 12:24 Regulus 0.9°S of Moon
07 09:54 LAST QUARTER MOON
07 13:47 Jupiter 4.3°S of Moon
08 23:12 Mars 4.4°S of Moon
11 08:16 Moon at Apogee: 405701 km
11 08:46 Saturn 2.5°S of Moon
14 15:11 Moon at Descending Node
15 14:51 Partial Solar Eclipse; mag=0.599
15 15:05 NEW MOON
17 06 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
23 02:09 FIRST QUARTER MOON
23 11:07 Aldebaran 0.7°S of Moon
27 08:48 Moon at Perigee: 363938 km
27 23:03 Moon at Ascending Node
28 23:09 Regulus 0.9°S of Moon
Mar 01 18:51 FULL MOON
04 08 Neptune in Conjunction with Sun
07 00:57 Jupiter 4.1°S of Moon
09 05:20 LAST QUARTER MOON
09 18:37 Mars 3.8°S of Moon
10 05 Mercury at Perihelion
10 20:37 Saturn 2.2°S of Moon
11 03:13 Moon at Apogee: 404682 km
13 21:47 Moon at Descending Node
15 09 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.4°E
17 07:12 NEW MOON
18 13:07 Venus 3.7°N of Moon
19 02 Mercury 3.8°N of Venus
20 10:15 Vernal Equinox
22 16:33 Aldebaran 0.9°S of Moon
24 09:35 FIRST QUARTER MOON
26 11:17 Moon at Perigee: 369104 km
27 04:56 Moon at Ascending Node
28 07:38 Regulus 1.0°S of Moon
31 06:37 FULL MOON
Apr 01 12 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
02 13 Mars 1.3°S of Saturn
03 08:14 Jupiter 3.9°S of Moon
07 06:50 Saturn 1.9°S of Moon
07 12:15 Mars 3.1°S of Moon
07 23:32 Moon at Apogee: 404145 km
08 01:18 LAST QUARTER MOON
10 02:09 Moon at Descending Node
14 03:24 Mercury 3.9°N of Moon
15 19:57 NEW MOON
17 06 Saturn at Aphelion: 10.06564 AU
18 09 Uranus in Conjunction with Sun
18 22:45 Aldebaran 1.1°S of Moon
20 08:44 Moon at Perigee: 368713 km
22 12 Lyrid Meteor Shower
22 15:46 FIRST QUARTER MOON
23 06:19 Moon at Ascending Node
24 10:47 Venus 3.4°S of Pleiades
24 13:39 Regulus 1.2°S of Moon
29 12 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 27.0°W
29 18:58 FULL MOON
30 11:16 Jupiter 3.8°S of Moon
May 04 14:31 Saturn 1.7°S of Moon
05 01 Eta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
05 18:35 Moon at Apogee: 404458 km
06 01:24 Mars 2.7°S of Moon
07 04:23 Moon at Descending Node
07 20:09 LAST QUARTER MOON
08 18 Jupiter at Opposition
13 11:21 Mercury 2.4°N of Moon
15 05:48 NEW MOON
15 19 Venus at Perihelion
16 07:04 Aldebaran 1.2°S of Moon
17 12:11 Venus 4.8°N of Moon
17 15:06 Moon at Perigee: 363777 km
20 07:13 Moon at Ascending Node
21 18:53 Regulus 1.4°S of Moon
21 21:49 FIRST QUARTER MOON
27 11:39 Jupiter 4.0°S of Moon
29 08:20 FULL MOON
31 19:20 Saturn 1.6°S of Moon
Jun 02 10:34 Moon at Apogee: 405316 km
03 05:58 Mars 3.2°S of Moon
03 06:39 Moon at Descending Node
05 20 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
06 04 Mercury at Perihelion
06 12:32 LAST QUARTER MOON
07 21:37 Venus 4.6°S of Pollux
13 13:43 NEW MOON
14 17:55 Moon at Perigee: 359507 km
16 07:13 Venus 2.3°N of Moon
16 11:50 Moon at Ascending Node
18 01:25 Regulus 1.7°S of Moon
20 04:51 FIRST QUARTER MOON
21 04:07 Summer Solstice
23 12:47 Jupiter 4.2°S of Moon
24 15:37 Mercury 4.7°S of Pollux
27 06 Saturn at Opposition
27 21:59 Saturn 1.8°S of Moon
27 22:53 FULL MOON
29 20:43 Moon at Apogee: 406061 km
30 10:44 Moon at Descending Node
|
Date CST Event
(h:m)
Jul 06 01:51 LAST QUARTER MOON
06 11 Earth at Aphelion: 1.01670 AU
09 17:34 Venus 0.9°N of Regulus
10 03:30 Aldebaran 1.1°S of Moon
11 23 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 26.4°E
12 20:48 NEW MOON
12 21:01 Partial Solar Eclipse; mag=0.337
13 02:28 Moon at Perigee: 357432 km
13 20:50 Moon at Ascending Node
14 16:04 Mercury 2.2°S of Moon
15 10:14 Regulus 1.7°S of Moon
15 21:31 Venus 1.6°S of Moon
19 13:52 FIRST QUARTER MOON
20 04 Mercury at Aphelion
20 17:57 Jupiter 4.4°S of Moon
25 00:10 Saturn 2.0°S of Moon
27 00 Mars at Opposition
26 23:44 Moon at Apogee: 406223 km
27 14:20 FULL MOON
27 14:22 Total Lunar Eclipse; mag=1.609
27 16:40 Moon at Descending Node
28 03 Delta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
Aug 04 12:18 LAST QUARTER MOON
06 12:35 Aldebaran 1.1°S of Moon
08 20 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
10 07:40 Moon at Ascending Node
10 12:05 Moon at Perigee: 358083 km
11 03:46 Partial Solar Eclipse; mag=0.737
11 03:58 NEW MOON
12 19 Perseid Meteor Shower
17 04:38 Jupiter 4.5°S of Moon
17 10 Venus at Greatest Elong: 45.9°E
18 01:49 FIRST QUARTER MOON
21 03:55 Saturn 2.1°S of Moon
23 05:23 Moon at Apogee: 405744 km
23 22:51 Moon at Descending Node
26 05:56 FULL MOON
26 14 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.3°W
31 22:45 Venus 1.0°S of Spica
Sep 02 04 Mercury at Perihelion
02 19:34 Aldebaran 1.2°S of Moon
02 20:37 LAST QUARTER MOON
06 16:42 Moon at Ascending Node
07 11 Neptune at Opposition
07 19:21 Moon at Perigee: 361355 km
08 07:13 Regulus 1.7°S of Moon
09 12:01 NEW MOON
13 20:21 Jupiter 4.4°S of Moon
16 07 Mars at Perihelion: 1.38144 AU
16 17:15 FIRST QUARTER MOON
17 10:46 Saturn 2.1°S of Moon
19 18:54 Moon at Apogee: 404875 km
20 03:30 Moon at Descending Node
20 20 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
22 19:54 Autumnal Equinox
24 20:52 FULL MOON
30 01:06 Aldebaran 1.4°S of Moon
Oct 02 03:45 LAST QUARTER MOON
03 21:10 Moon at Ascending Node
05 15:58 Regulus 1.8°S of Moon
05 16:29 Moon at Perigee: 366396 km
08 21:47 NEW MOON
11 15:21 Jupiter 4.1°S of Moon
14 21:01 Saturn 1.8°S of Moon
16 12:02 FIRST QUARTER MOON
17 06:03 Moon at Descending Node
17 13:16 Moon at Apogee: 404227 km
18 07:01 Mars 1.9°S of Moon
21 11 Orionid Meteor Shower
23 19 Uranus at Opposition
24 10:45 FULL MOON
26 08 Venus at Inferior Conjunction
27 07:04 Aldebaran 1.6°S of Moon
29 00 Mercury 3.1°S of Jupiter
30 21:46 Moon at Ascending Node
31 10:40 LAST QUARTER MOON
31 14:05 Moon at Perigee: 370201 km
Nov 01 22:16 Regulus 2.1°S of Moon
05 12 S Taurid Meteor Shower
06 09 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 23.3°E
07 10:02 NEW MOON
08 22:58 Mercury 1.8°N of Antares
11 09:46 Saturn 1.4°S of Moon
12 11 N Taurid Meteor Shower
13 08:04 Moon at Descending Node
14 09:57 Moon at Apogee: 404341 km
14 17:14 Venus 0.2°S of Spica
15 08:54 FIRST QUARTER MOON
15 22:16 Mars 1.0°N of Moon: Occn.
17 17 Leonid Meteor Shower
22 23:39 FULL MOON
23 15:11 Aldebaran 1.7°S of Moon
26 00 Jupiter in Conjunction with Sun
26 06:10 Moon at Perigee: 366623 km
26 23:18 Moon at Ascending Node
27 03 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
29 03 Mercury at Perihelion
29 03:27 Regulus 2.3°S of Moon
29 18:19 LAST QUARTER MOON
Dec 03 12:42 Venus 3.6°S of Moon
05 15:06 Mercury 1.9°S of Moon
07 01:20 NEW MOON
08 23:30 Saturn 1.1°S of Moon: Occn.
10 11:57 Moon at Descending Node
12 06:25 Moon at Apogee: 405177 km
14 06 Geminid Meteor Shower
14 17:21 Mars 3.6°N of Moon
15 05 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 21.3°W
15 05:49 FIRST QUARTER MOON
21 01:31 Aldebaran 1.7°S of Moon
21 14 Mercury 0.8°N of Jupiter
21 16:22 Winter Solstice
22 11:49 FULL MOON
22 15 Ursid Meteor Shower
24 03:52 Moon at Perigee: 361060 km
24 05:54 Moon at Ascending Node
26 10:06 Regulus 2.5°S of Moon
26 12 Venus at Perihelion
29 03:34 LAST QUARTER 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
2018 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.
| 2018 Phases of the Moon | |||
| Central Standard Time | |||
| New Moon | First Quarter | Full Moon | Last Quarter |
| - | - | Jan 01 20:24 | Jan 08 16:25 |
| Jan 16 20:17 | Jan 24 16:20 | Jan 31 07:27 t | Feb 07 09:54 |
| Feb 15 15:05 P | Feb 23 02:09 | Mar 01 18:51 | Mar 09 05:20 |
| Mar 17 07:12 | Mar 24 09:35 | Mar 31 06:37 | Apr 08 01:18 |
| Apr 15 19:57 | Apr 22 15:46 | Apr 29 18:58 | May 07 20:09 |
| May 15 05:48 | May 21 21:49 | May 29 08:20 | Jun 06 12:32 |
| Jun 13 13:43 | Jun 20 04:51 | Jun 27 22:53 | Jul 06 01:51 |
| Jul 12 20:48 P | Jul 19 13:52 | Jul 27 14:20 t | Aug 04 12:18 |
| Aug 11 03:58 P | Aug 18 01:49 | Aug 26 05:56 | Sep 02 20:37 |
| Sep 09 12:01 | Sep 16 17:15 | Sep 24 20:53 | Oct 02 03:45 |
| Oct 08 21:47 | Oct 16 12:02 | Oct 24 10:45 | Oct 31 10:40 |
| Nov 07 10:02 | Nov 15 08:54 | Nov 22 23:39 | Nov 29 18:19 |
| Dec 07 01:20 | Dec 15 05:49 | Dec 22 11:49 | Dec 29 03:34 |
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)