2020 Sky Event Almanac

Australian Eastern Standard Time

The following table gives the date and time of the important astronomical events for the year. The times listed are for Australian Eastern Standard Time (Coordinated Universal Time + 10 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.

2020 Sky Event Almanac
Australian Eastern Standard Time
January - June July - December
Date     AEST   Even
        (h:m)

Jan 02  11:30  Moon at Apogee: 404580 km
    03  14:45  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    04  19     Quadrantid Meteor Shower
    05  18     Earth at Perihelion: 0.98324 AU
    08  07:09  Aldebaran 3.0°S of Moon
    10  09:29  Moon at Ascending Node 
    11  01     Mercury at Superior Conjunction 
    11  05:10  Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.896
    11  05:21  FULL MOON 
    13  21:37  Regulus 3.8°S of Moon
    14  00     Saturn in Conjunction with Sun 
    14  06:20  Moon at Perigee: 365964 km
    17  22:58  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    18  09:03  Mars 4.7°N of Antares
    21  05:13  Mars 2.3°S of Moon
    23  06:31  Moon at Descending Node 
    23  12:42  Jupiter 0.4°N of Moon: Occn.
    25  07:42  NEW MOON 
    28  17:29  Venus 4.1°N of Moon
    30  07:28  Moon at Apogee: 405390 km

Feb 02  11:42  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    04  16:53  Aldebaran 3.1°S of Moon
    06  18:59  Moon at Ascending Node 
    09  17:33  FULL MOON 
    10  07:15  Regulus 3.8°S of Moon
    11  00     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.2°E
    11  06:31  Moon at Perigee: 360464 km
    12  15     Mercury at Perihelion 
    16  08:17  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    18  23:18  Mars 0.8°S of Moon: Occn.
    19  10:12  Moon at Descending Node 
    20  05:36  Jupiter 0.9°N of Moon: Occn.
    20  23:47  Saturn 1.7°N of Moon
    24  01:32  NEW MOON 
    26  12     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction 
    26  21:35  Moon at Apogee: 406277 km

Mar 03  01:16  Aldebaran 3.3°S of Moon
    03  05:57  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    05  00:58  Moon at Ascending Node 
    08  18:23  Regulus 3.8°S of Moon
    08  22     Neptune in Conjunction with Sun 
    10  03:48  FULL MOON 
    10  16:33  Moon at Perigee: 357123 km
    16  19:34  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    17  11:00  Moon at Descending Node 
    18  18:19  Mars 0.7°N of Moon: Occn.
    18  20:18  Jupiter 1.5°N of Moon
    19  10:04  Saturn 2.1°N of Moon
    20  13:50  Vernal Equinox 
    20  14     Venus at Perihelion 
    20  20     Mars 0.7°S of Jupiter
    22  03:48  Mercury 3.6°N of Moon
    24  12     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 27.8°W
    24  19:28  NEW MOON 
    25  01:23  Moon at Apogee: 406690 km
    25  08     Venus at Greatest Elong: 46.1°E
    27  15     Mercury at Aphelion 
    30  07:52  Aldebaran 3.6°S of Moon

Apr 01  02:51  Moon at Ascending Node 
    01  06     Mars 0.9°S of Saturn
    01  20:21  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    04  00:36  Venus 0.3°S of Pleiades
    05  04:45  Regulus 3.9°S of Moon
    08  04:08  Moon at Perigee: 356909 km
    08  12:35  FULL MOON 
    13  12:58  Moon at Descending Node 
    15  08:56  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    15  09:04  Jupiter 2.0°N of Moon
    15  19:26  Saturn 2.5°N of Moon
    16  14:33  Mars 2.0°N of Moon
    21  05:01  Moon at Apogee: 406463 km
    22  16     Lyrid Meteor Shower
    23  12:26  NEW MOON 
    26  13:34  Aldebaran 3.8°S of Moon
    26  20     Uranus in Conjunction with Sun 
    28  03:54  Moon at Ascending Node 
    30  00:19  Pollux 4.7°N of Moon

May 01  06:38  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    02  12:49  Regulus 4.2°S of Moon
    05  05     Eta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
    05  07     Mercury at Superior Conjunction 
    06  13:03  Moon at Perigee: 359656 km
    07  20:45  FULL MOON 
    10  14     Mercury at Perihelion 
    10  19:01  Moon at Descending Node 
    12  19:40  Jupiter 2.3°N of Moon
    13  04:18  Saturn 2.7°N of Moon
    15  00:03  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    15  12:00  Mars 2.8°N of Moon
    18  12     Jupiter 4.8°S of Saturn
    18  17:45  Moon at Apogee: 405584 km
    22  20     Mercury 0.9°S of Venus
    23  03:39  NEW MOON 
    24  12:40  Venus 3.7°N of Moon
    24  20:53  Mercury 2.8°N of Moon
    25  07:34  Moon at Ascending Node 
    27  05:43  Pollux 4.6°N of Moon
    29  18:44  Regulus 4.3°S of Moon
    30  13:30  FIRST QUARTER MOON 

Jun 03  13:36  Moon at Perigee: 364366 km
    04  04     Venus at Inferior Conjunction 
    04  23     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 23.6°E
    06  05:12  FULL MOON 
    06  05:25  Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.568
    07  04:10  Moon at Descending Node 
    09  03:19  Jupiter 2.2°N of Moon
    09  12:19  Saturn 2.7°N of Moon
    13  09:53  Mars 2.7°N of Moon
    13  16:24  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    15  10:56  Moon at Apogee: 404597 km
    19  18:52  Venus 0.7°S of Moon: Occn.
    20  02:56  Aldebaran 3.8°S of Moon
    21  07:43  Summer Solstice 
    21  14:24  Moon at Ascending Node 
    21  16:40  Annular Solar Eclipse; mag=0.994
    21  16:41  NEW MOON 
    23  11:53  Pollux 4.5°N of Moon
    26  00:09  Regulus 4.3°S of Moon
    28  18:16  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    30  12:09  Moon at Perigee: 368958 km

Date     AEST   Even
        (h:m)

Jul 01  13     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction 
    04  13:18  Moon at Descending Node 
    04  23     Earth at Aphelion: 1.01669 AU
    05  14:30  Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.355
    05  14:44  FULL MOON 
    06  07:37  Jupiter 1.9°N of Moon
    06  18:45  Saturn 2.5°N of Moon
    10  22     Venus at Aphelion 
    11  22:10  Venus 1.0°N of Aldebaran
    12  05:36  Mars 2.0°N of Moon
    13  05:27  Moon at Apogee: 404201 km
    13  09:29  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    14  17     Jupiter at Opposition 
    17  11:21  Aldebaran 3.8°S of Moon
    17  17:26  Venus 3.1°S of Moon
    18  22:33  Moon at Ascending Node 
    19  13:54  Mercury 3.9°S of Moon
    21  03:33  NEW MOON 
    21  08     Saturn at Opposition 
    23  01     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 20.1°W
    23  06:50  Regulus 4.3°S of Moon
    25  14:54  Moon at Perigee: 368367 km
    27  22:32  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    28  07     Delta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
    31  19:32  Moon at Descending Node 

Aug 02  09:30  Jupiter 1.5°N of Moon
    02  23:17  Saturn 2.3°N of Moon
    03  19     Mars at Perihelion:  1.38138 AU
    04  01:59  FULL MOON 
    06  14     Mercury at Perihelion 
    09  17:57  Mars 0.8°N of Moon: Occn.
    09  23:51  Moon at Apogee: 404658 km
    12  02:45  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    12  23     Perseid Meteor Shower
    13  11     Venus at Greatest Elong: 45.8°W
    13  20:06  Aldebaran 4.0°S of Moon
    15  05:22  Moon at Ascending Node 
    15  23:01  Venus 4.0°S of Moon
    17  05:10  Pollux 4.5°N of Moon
    18  01     Mercury at Superior Conjunction 
    19  12:41  NEW MOON 
    21  20:59  Moon at Perigee: 363513 km
    26  03:58  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    27  21:52  Moon at Descending Node 
    29  11:33  Jupiter 1.4°N of Moon
    30  02:40  Saturn 2.2°N of Moon

Sep 02  15:22  FULL MOON 
    06  14:42  Mars 0.0°S of Moon: Occn.
    06  16:31  Moon at Apogee: 405606 km
    10  04:12  Aldebaran 4.2°S of Moon
    10  19:26  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    11  09:05  Moon at Ascending Node 
    12  05     Neptune at Opposition 
    13  14:50  Pollux 4.3°N of Moon
    14  14:43  Venus 4.5°S of Moon
    16  01:51  Regulus 4.3°S of Moon
    17  21:00  NEW MOON 
    18  23:44  Moon at Perigee: 359081 km
    19  13     Mercury at Aphelion 
    22  16:06  Mercury 0.3°N of Spica
    22  23:31  Autumnal Equinox 
    23  22:33  Moon at Descending Node 
    24  11:55  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    25  16:46  Jupiter 1.6°N of Moon
    26  06:46  Saturn 2.3°N of Moon

Oct 02  02     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 25.8°E
    02  07:05  FULL MOON 
    03  03:09  Venus 0.1°S of Regulus
    03  13:21  Mars 0.7°N of Moon: Occn.
    04  03:22  Moon at Apogee: 406321 km
    07  11:02  Aldebaran 4.5°S of Moon
    08  10:29  Moon at Ascending Node 
    10  10:39  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    10  23:18  Pollux 4.1°N of Moon
    13  11:59  Regulus 4.5°S of Moon
    14  09     Mars at Opposition 
    14  09:57  Venus 4.3°S of Moon
    17  05:31  NEW MOON 
    17  09:46  Moon at Perigee: 356913 km
    21  01:53  Moon at Descending Node 
    21  15     Orionid Meteor Shower
    23  03:10  Jupiter 2.0°N of Moon
    23  13:49  Saturn 2.6°N of Moon
    23  23:23  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    26  04     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction 
    30  02:13  Mars 3.0°N of Moon
    31  04:46  Moon at Apogee: 406393 km
    31  07     Venus at Perihelion 

Nov 01  00:49  FULL MOON 
    01  02     Uranus at Opposition 
    02  13     Mercury at Perihelion 
    04  12:39  Moon at Ascending Node 
    05  16     S Taurid Meteor Shower
    07  05:52  Pollux 3.9°N of Moon
    08  23:46  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    09  20:20  Regulus 4.7°S of Moon
    11  03     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 19.1°W
    12  15     N Taurid Meteor Shower
    13  07:30  Venus 3.1°S of Moon
    14  06:45  Mercury 1.7°S of Moon
    14  21:48  Moon at Perigee: 357839 km
    15  15:07  NEW MOON 
    16  23:27  Venus 3.6°N of Spica
    17  10:07  Moon at Descending Node 
    17  21     Leonid Meteor Shower
    19  18:54  Jupiter 2.5°N of Moon
    20  00:57  Saturn 2.9°N of Moon
    22  14:45  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    27  10:29  Moon at Apogee: 405891 km
    30  19:30  FULL MOON 
    30  19:43  Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.829

Dec 01  17:46  Moon at Ascending Node 
    04  11:24  Pollux 3.8°N of Moon
    07  02:28  Regulus 4.8°S of Moon
    08  10:37  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    13  06:40  Venus 0.8°S of Moon: Occn.
    13  06:42  Moon at Perigee: 361777 km
    14  11     Geminid Meteor Shower
    14  21:03  Moon at Descending Node 
    15  02:13  Total Solar Eclipse; mag=1.025
    15  02:17  NEW MOON 
    17  14:28  Jupiter 2.9°N of Moon
    17  15:25  Saturn 3.1°N of Moon
    20  13     Mercury at Superior Conjunction 
    21  20:03  Winter Solstice 
    22  09:41  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    22  19     Ursid Meteor Shower
    22  19     Jupiter 0.1°S of Saturn
    25  02:32  Moon at Apogee: 405010 km
    29  01:03  Moon at Ascending Node 
    30  13:28  FULL MOON 
    31  17:41  Pollux 3.8°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

2020 Phases of the Moon

Australian Eastern Standard Time

The following table gives the date and time of the Moon's phases for the year. The times listed are for Australian Eastern Standard Time (Coordinated Universal Time + 10 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.

2020 Phases of the Moon
Australian Eastern Standard Time
New Moon First Quarter Full Moon Last Quarter
- Jan 03 14:45 Jan 11 05:21 n Jan 17 22:58
Jan 25 07:42 Feb 02 11:42 Feb 09 17:33 Feb 16 08:17
Feb 24 01:32 Mar 03 05:57 Mar 10 03:48 Mar 16 19:34
Mar 24 19:28 Apr 01 20:21 Apr 08 12:35 Apr 15 08:56
Apr 23 12:26 May 01 06:38 May 07 20:45 May 15 00:03
May 23 03:39 May 30 13:30 Jun 06 05:12 n Jun 13 16:24
Jun 21 16:41 A Jun 28 18:16 Jul 05 14:44 n Jul 13 09:29
Jul 21 03:33 Jul 27 22:32 Aug 04 01:59 Aug 12 02:45
Aug 19 12:41 Aug 26 03:58 Sep 02 15:22 Sep 10 19:26
Sep 17 21:00 Sep 24 11:55 Oct 02 07:05 Oct 10 10:39
Oct 17 05:31 Oct 23 23:23 Nov 01 00:49 Nov 08 23:46
Nov 15 15:07 Nov 22 14:45 Nov 30 19:30 n Dec 08 10:37
Dec 15 02:17 T Dec 22 09:41 Dec 30 13:28 -

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)