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