2018 Sky Event Almanac
Gulf Standard Time
The following table gives the date and time of the important astronomical events for the year. The times listed are for Gulf Standard Time (Coordinated Universal Time + 4 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 | ||||||||
| Gulf Standard Time | ||||||||
| January - June | July - December | |||||||
Date GST Event
(h:m)
Jan 02 00 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 22.7°W
02 01:54 Moon at Perigee: 356566 km
02 06:24 FULL MOON
03 10 Earth at Perihelion: 0.98329 AU
04 00 Quadrantid Meteor Shower
04 11:48 Moon at Ascending Node
05 11:24 Regulus 0.9°S of Moon
07 05 Mars 0.2°S of Jupiter
09 02:25 LAST QUARTER MOON
09 10 Venus at Superior Conjunction
11 09:59 Jupiter 4.3°S of Moon
13 12 Mercury 0.7°S of Saturn
15 06:10 Moon at Apogee: 406461 km
15 06:13 Saturn 2.6°S of Moon
15 11:24 Mercury 3.4°S of Moon
17 06:17 NEW MOON
18 18:28 Moon at Descending Node
23 21 Venus at Aphelion
25 02:20 FIRST QUARTER MOON
25 15 Mercury at Aphelion
27 14:09 Aldebaran 0.7°S of Moon
30 13:54 Moon at Perigee: 358995 km
31 17:27 FULL MOON
31 17:30 Total Lunar Eclipse; mag=1.315
31 22:46 Moon at Ascending Node
Feb 01 22:24 Regulus 0.9°S of Moon
07 19:54 LAST QUARTER MOON
07 23:47 Jupiter 4.3°S of Moon
09 09:12 Mars 4.4°S of Moon
11 18:16 Moon at Apogee: 405701 km
11 18:46 Saturn 2.5°S of Moon
15 01:11 Moon at Descending Node
16 00:51 Partial Solar Eclipse; mag=0.599
16 01:05 NEW MOON
17 16 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
23 12:09 FIRST QUARTER MOON
23 21:07 Aldebaran 0.7°S of Moon
27 18:48 Moon at Perigee: 363938 km
28 09:03 Moon at Ascending Node
Mar 01 09:09 Regulus 0.9°S of Moon
02 04:51 FULL MOON
04 18 Neptune in Conjunction with Sun
07 10:57 Jupiter 4.1°S of Moon
09 15:20 LAST QUARTER MOON
10 04:37 Mars 3.8°S of Moon
10 15 Mercury at Perihelion
11 06:37 Saturn 2.2°S of Moon
11 13:13 Moon at Apogee: 404682 km
14 07:47 Moon at Descending Node
15 19 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.4°E
17 17:12 NEW MOON
18 23:07 Venus 3.7°N of Moon
19 12 Mercury 3.8°N of Venus
20 20:15 Vernal Equinox
23 02:33 Aldebaran 0.9°S of Moon
24 19:35 FIRST QUARTER MOON
26 21:17 Moon at Perigee: 369104 km
27 14:56 Moon at Ascending Node
28 17:38 Regulus 1.0°S of Moon
31 16:37 FULL MOON
Apr 01 22 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
02 23 Mars 1.3°S of Saturn
03 18:14 Jupiter 3.9°S of Moon
07 16:50 Saturn 1.9°S of Moon
07 22:15 Mars 3.1°S of Moon
08 09:32 Moon at Apogee: 404145 km
08 11:18 LAST QUARTER MOON
10 12:09 Moon at Descending Node
14 13:24 Mercury 3.9°N of Moon
16 05:57 NEW MOON
17 16 Saturn at Aphelion: 10.06564 AU
18 19 Uranus in Conjunction with Sun
19 08:45 Aldebaran 1.1°S of Moon
20 18:44 Moon at Perigee: 368713 km
22 22 Lyrid Meteor Shower
23 01:46 FIRST QUARTER MOON
23 16:19 Moon at Ascending Node
24 20:47 Venus 3.4°S of Pleiades
24 23:39 Regulus 1.2°S of Moon
29 22 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 27.0°W
30 04:58 FULL MOON
30 21:16 Jupiter 3.8°S of Moon
May 05 00:31 Saturn 1.7°S of Moon
05 11 Eta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
06 04:35 Moon at Apogee: 404458 km
06 11:24 Mars 2.7°S of Moon
07 14:23 Moon at Descending Node
08 06:09 LAST QUARTER MOON
09 04 Jupiter at Opposition
13 21:21 Mercury 2.4°N of Moon
15 15:48 NEW MOON
16 05 Venus at Perihelion
16 17:04 Aldebaran 1.2°S of Moon
17 22:11 Venus 4.8°N of Moon
18 01:06 Moon at Perigee: 363777 km
20 17:13 Moon at Ascending Node
22 04:53 Regulus 1.4°S of Moon
22 07:49 FIRST QUARTER MOON
27 21:39 Jupiter 4.0°S of Moon
29 18:20 FULL MOON
Jun 01 05:20 Saturn 1.6°S of Moon
02 20:34 Moon at Apogee: 405316 km
03 15:58 Mars 3.2°S of Moon
03 16:39 Moon at Descending Node
06 06 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
06 14 Mercury at Perihelion
06 22:32 LAST QUARTER MOON
08 07:37 Venus 4.6°S of Pollux
13 23:43 NEW MOON
15 03:55 Moon at Perigee: 359507 km
16 17:13 Venus 2.3°N of Moon
16 21:50 Moon at Ascending Node
18 11:25 Regulus 1.7°S of Moon
20 14:51 FIRST QUARTER MOON
21 14:07 Summer Solstice
23 22:47 Jupiter 4.2°S of Moon
25 01:37 Mercury 4.7°S of Pollux
27 16 Saturn at Opposition
28 07:59 Saturn 1.8°S of Moon
28 08:53 FULL MOON
30 06:43 Moon at Apogee: 406061 km
30 20:44 Moon at Descending Node
|
Date GST Event
(h:m)
Jul 06 11:51 LAST QUARTER MOON
06 21 Earth at Aphelion: 1.01670 AU
10 03:34 Venus 0.9°N of Regulus
10 13:30 Aldebaran 1.1°S of Moon
12 09 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 26.4°E
13 06:48 NEW MOON
13 07:01 Partial Solar Eclipse; mag=0.337
13 12:28 Moon at Perigee: 357432 km
14 06:50 Moon at Ascending Node
15 02:04 Mercury 2.2°S of Moon
15 20:14 Regulus 1.7°S of Moon
16 07:31 Venus 1.6°S of Moon
19 23:52 FIRST QUARTER MOON
20 14 Mercury at Aphelion
21 03:57 Jupiter 4.4°S of Moon
25 10:10 Saturn 2.0°S of Moon
27 10 Mars at Opposition
27 09:44 Moon at Apogee: 406223 km
28 00:20 FULL MOON
28 00:22 Total Lunar Eclipse; mag=1.609
28 02:40 Moon at Descending Node
28 13 Delta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
Aug 04 22:18 LAST QUARTER MOON
06 22:35 Aldebaran 1.1°S of Moon
09 06 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
10 17:40 Moon at Ascending Node
10 22:05 Moon at Perigee: 358083 km
11 13:46 Partial Solar Eclipse; mag=0.737
11 13:58 NEW MOON
13 05 Perseid Meteor Shower
17 14:38 Jupiter 4.5°S of Moon
17 20 Venus at Greatest Elong: 45.9°E
18 11:49 FIRST QUARTER MOON
21 13:55 Saturn 2.1°S of Moon
23 15:23 Moon at Apogee: 405744 km
24 08:51 Moon at Descending Node
26 15:56 FULL MOON
27 00 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.3°W
Sep 01 08:45 Venus 1.0°S of Spica
02 14 Mercury at Perihelion
03 05:34 Aldebaran 1.2°S of Moon
03 06:37 LAST QUARTER MOON
07 02:42 Moon at Ascending Node
07 21 Neptune at Opposition
08 05:21 Moon at Perigee: 361355 km
08 17:13 Regulus 1.7°S of Moon
09 22:01 NEW MOON
14 06:21 Jupiter 4.4°S of Moon
16 17 Mars at Perihelion: 1.38144 AU
17 03:15 FIRST QUARTER MOON
17 20:46 Saturn 2.1°S of Moon
20 04:54 Moon at Apogee: 404875 km
20 13:30 Moon at Descending Node
21 06 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
23 05:54 Autumnal Equinox
25 06:52 FULL MOON
30 11:06 Aldebaran 1.4°S of Moon
Oct 02 13:45 LAST QUARTER MOON
04 07:10 Moon at Ascending Node
06 01:58 Regulus 1.8°S of Moon
06 02:29 Moon at Perigee: 366396 km
09 07:47 NEW MOON
12 01:21 Jupiter 4.1°S of Moon
15 07:01 Saturn 1.8°S of Moon
16 22:02 FIRST QUARTER MOON
17 16:03 Moon at Descending Node
17 23:16 Moon at Apogee: 404227 km
18 17:01 Mars 1.9°S of Moon
21 21 Orionid Meteor Shower
24 05 Uranus at Opposition
24 20:45 FULL MOON
26 18 Venus at Inferior Conjunction
27 17:04 Aldebaran 1.6°S of Moon
29 10 Mercury 3.1°S of Jupiter
31 07:46 Moon at Ascending Node
31 20:40 LAST QUARTER MOON
Nov 01 00:05 Moon at Perigee: 370201 km
02 08:16 Regulus 2.1°S of Moon
05 22 S Taurid Meteor Shower
06 19 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 23.3°E
07 20:02 NEW MOON
09 08:58 Mercury 1.8°N of Antares
11 19:46 Saturn 1.4°S of Moon
12 21 N Taurid Meteor Shower
13 18:04 Moon at Descending Node
14 19:57 Moon at Apogee: 404341 km
15 03:14 Venus 0.2°S of Spica
15 18:54 FIRST QUARTER MOON
16 08:16 Mars 1.0°N of Moon: Occn.
18 03 Leonid Meteor Shower
23 09:39 FULL MOON
24 01:11 Aldebaran 1.7°S of Moon
26 10 Jupiter in Conjunction with Sun
26 16:10 Moon at Perigee: 366623 km
27 09:18 Moon at Ascending Node
27 13 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
29 13 Mercury at Perihelion
29 13:27 Regulus 2.3°S of Moon
30 04:19 LAST QUARTER MOON
Dec 03 22:42 Venus 3.6°S of Moon
06 01:06 Mercury 1.9°S of Moon
07 11:20 NEW MOON
09 09:30 Saturn 1.1°S of Moon: Occn.
10 21:57 Moon at Descending Node
12 16:25 Moon at Apogee: 405177 km
14 16 Geminid Meteor Shower
15 03:21 Mars 3.6°N of Moon
15 15 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 21.3°W
15 15:49 FIRST QUARTER MOON
21 11:31 Aldebaran 1.7°S of Moon
22 00 Mercury 0.8°N of Jupiter
22 02:22 Winter Solstice
22 21:49 FULL MOON
23 01 Ursid Meteor Shower
24 13:52 Moon at Perigee: 361060 km
24 15:54 Moon at Ascending Node
26 20:06 Regulus 2.5°S of Moon
26 22 Venus at Perihelion
29 13:34 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
Gulf Standard Time
The following table gives the date and time of the Moon's phases for the year. The times listed are for Gulf Standard Time (Coordinated Universal Time + 4 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 | |||
| Gulf Standard Time | |||
| New Moon | First Quarter | Full Moon | Last Quarter |
| - | - | Jan 02 06:24 | Jan 09 02:25 |
| Jan 17 06:17 | Jan 25 02:20 | Jan 31 17:27 t | Feb 07 19:54 |
| Feb 16 01:05 P | Feb 23 12:09 | Mar 02 04:51 | Mar 09 15:20 |
| Mar 17 17:12 | Mar 24 19:35 | Mar 31 16:37 | Apr 08 11:18 |
| Apr 16 05:57 | Apr 23 01:46 | Apr 30 04:58 | May 08 06:09 |
| May 15 15:48 | May 22 07:49 | May 29 18:20 | Jun 06 22:32 |
| Jun 13 23:43 | Jun 20 14:51 | Jun 28 08:53 | Jul 06 11:51 |
| Jul 13 06:48 P | Jul 19 23:52 | Jul 28 00:20 t | Aug 04 22:18 |
| Aug 11 13:58 P | Aug 18 11:49 | Aug 26 15:56 | Sep 03 06:37 |
| Sep 09 22:01 | Sep 17 03:15 | Sep 25 06:53 | Oct 02 13:45 |
| Oct 09 07:47 | Oct 16 22:02 | Oct 24 20:45 | Oct 31 20:40 |
| Nov 07 20:02 | Nov 15 18:54 | Nov 23 09:39 | Nov 30 04:19 |
| Dec 07 11:20 | Dec 15 15:49 | Dec 22 21:49 | Dec 29 13:34 |
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
Europe, Africa, and the Middle East
Below are links to sky event almanacs from 2011 to 2020 for six time zones
in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
Choose a time zone and click on a year to get a sky event almanac for that year.
| Sky Event Almanac - Europe, Africa, & Middle East | |||||||||||||||
| CVT | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |||||
| GMT | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |||||
| CET | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |||||
| EET | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |||||
| MSK | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |||||
| GST | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |||||
- CVT = Cape Verde Time (= UTC - 1 hour)
- GMT = Greenwich Mean Time (= UTC + 0 hour)
- CET = Central European Time (= UTC + 1 hour)
- EET = Eastern European Time (= UTC + 2 hours)
- MSK = Moscow Time (= UTC + 3 hours)
- GST = Gulf Standard Time (= UTC + 4 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)