2020 Sky Event Almanac
Alaska Standard Time
The following table gives the date and time of the important astronomical events for the year. The times listed are for Alaska Standard Time (Coordinated Universal Time − 9 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 | ||||||||
| Alaska Standard Time | ||||||||
| January - June | July - December | |||||||
Date AKST Even
(h:m)
Jan 01 16:30 Moon at Apogee: 404580 km
02 19:45 FIRST QUARTER MOON
04 00 Quadrantid Meteor Shower
04 23 Earth at Perihelion: 0.98324 AU
07 12:09 Aldebaran 3.0°S of Moon
09 14:29 Moon at Ascending Node
10 06 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
10 10:10 Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.896
10 10:21 FULL MOON
13 02:37 Regulus 3.8°S of Moon
13 05 Saturn in Conjunction with Sun
13 11:20 Moon at Perigee: 365964 km
17 03:58 LAST QUARTER MOON
17 14:03 Mars 4.7°N of Antares
20 10:13 Mars 2.3°S of Moon
22 11:31 Moon at Descending Node
22 17:42 Jupiter 0.4°N of Moon: Occn.
24 12:42 NEW MOON
27 22:29 Venus 4.1°N of Moon
29 12:28 Moon at Apogee: 405390 km
Feb 01 16:42 FIRST QUARTER MOON
03 21:53 Aldebaran 3.1°S of Moon
05 23:59 Moon at Ascending Node
08 22:33 FULL MOON
09 12:15 Regulus 3.8°S of Moon
10 05 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.2°E
10 11:31 Moon at Perigee: 360464 km
11 20 Mercury at Perihelion
15 13:17 LAST QUARTER MOON
18 04:18 Mars 0.8°S of Moon: Occn.
18 15:12 Moon at Descending Node
19 10:36 Jupiter 0.9°N of Moon: Occn.
20 04:47 Saturn 1.7°N of Moon
23 06:32 NEW MOON
25 17 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
26 02:35 Moon at Apogee: 406277 km
Mar 02 06:16 Aldebaran 3.3°S of Moon
02 10:57 FIRST QUARTER MOON
04 05:58 Moon at Ascending Node
07 23:23 Regulus 3.8°S of Moon
08 03 Neptune in Conjunction with Sun
09 08:48 FULL MOON
09 21:33 Moon at Perigee: 357123 km
16 00:34 LAST QUARTER MOON
16 16:00 Moon at Descending Node
17 23:19 Mars 0.7°N of Moon: Occn.
18 01:18 Jupiter 1.5°N of Moon
18 15:04 Saturn 2.1°N of Moon
19 18:50 Vernal Equinox
19 19 Venus at Perihelion
20 01 Mars 0.7°S of Jupiter
21 08:48 Mercury 3.6°N of Moon
23 17 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 27.8°W
24 00:28 NEW MOON
24 06:23 Moon at Apogee: 406690 km
24 13 Venus at Greatest Elong: 46.1°E
26 20 Mercury at Aphelion
29 12:52 Aldebaran 3.6°S of Moon
31 07:51 Moon at Ascending Node
31 11 Mars 0.9°S of Saturn
Apr 01 01:21 FIRST QUARTER MOON
03 05:36 Venus 0.3°S of Pleiades
04 09:45 Regulus 3.9°S of Moon
07 09:08 Moon at Perigee: 356909 km
07 17:35 FULL MOON
12 17:58 Moon at Descending Node
14 13:56 LAST QUARTER MOON
14 14:04 Jupiter 2.0°N of Moon
15 00:26 Saturn 2.5°N of Moon
15 19:33 Mars 2.0°N of Moon
20 10:01 Moon at Apogee: 406463 km
21 21 Lyrid Meteor Shower
22 17:26 NEW MOON
25 18:34 Aldebaran 3.8°S of Moon
26 01 Uranus in Conjunction with Sun
27 08:54 Moon at Ascending Node
29 05:19 Pollux 4.7°N of Moon
30 11:38 FIRST QUARTER MOON
May 01 17:49 Regulus 4.2°S of Moon
04 10 Eta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
04 12 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
05 18:03 Moon at Perigee: 359656 km
07 01:45 FULL MOON
09 19 Mercury at Perihelion
10 00:01 Moon at Descending Node
12 00:40 Jupiter 2.3°N of Moon
12 09:18 Saturn 2.7°N of Moon
14 05:03 LAST QUARTER MOON
14 17:00 Mars 2.8°N of Moon
17 17 Jupiter 4.8°S of Saturn
17 22:45 Moon at Apogee: 405584 km
22 01 Mercury 0.9°S of Venus
22 08:39 NEW MOON
23 17:40 Venus 3.7°N of Moon
24 01:53 Mercury 2.8°N of Moon
24 12:34 Moon at Ascending Node
26 10:43 Pollux 4.6°N of Moon
28 23:44 Regulus 4.3°S of Moon
29 18:30 FIRST QUARTER MOON
Jun 02 18:36 Moon at Perigee: 364366 km
03 09 Venus at Inferior Conjunction
04 04 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 23.6°E
05 10:12 FULL MOON
05 10:25 Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.568
06 09:10 Moon at Descending Node
08 08:19 Jupiter 2.2°N of Moon
08 17:19 Saturn 2.7°N of Moon
12 14:53 Mars 2.7°N of Moon
12 21:24 LAST QUARTER MOON
14 15:56 Moon at Apogee: 404597 km
18 23:52 Venus 0.7°S of Moon: Occn.
19 07:56 Aldebaran 3.8°S of Moon
20 12:43 Summer Solstice
20 19:24 Moon at Ascending Node
20 21:40 Annular Solar Eclipse; mag=0.994
20 21:41 NEW MOON
22 16:53 Pollux 4.5°N of Moon
25 05:09 Regulus 4.3°S of Moon
27 23:16 FIRST QUARTER MOON
29 17:09 Moon at Perigee: 368958 km
30 18 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
|
Date AKST Even
(h:m)
Jul 03 18:18 Moon at Descending Node
04 04 Earth at Aphelion: 1.01669 AU
04 19:30 Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.355
04 19:44 FULL MOON
05 12:37 Jupiter 1.9°N of Moon
05 23:45 Saturn 2.5°N of Moon
10 03 Venus at Aphelion
11 03:10 Venus 1.0°N of Aldebaran
11 10:36 Mars 2.0°N of Moon
12 10:27 Moon at Apogee: 404201 km
12 14:29 LAST QUARTER MOON
13 22 Jupiter at Opposition
16 16:21 Aldebaran 3.8°S of Moon
16 22:26 Venus 3.1°S of Moon
18 03:33 Moon at Ascending Node
18 18:54 Mercury 3.9°S of Moon
20 08:33 NEW MOON
20 13 Saturn at Opposition
22 06 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 20.1°W
22 11:50 Regulus 4.3°S of Moon
24 19:54 Moon at Perigee: 368367 km
27 03:32 FIRST QUARTER MOON
27 12 Delta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
31 00:32 Moon at Descending Node
Aug 01 14:30 Jupiter 1.5°N of Moon
02 04:17 Saturn 2.3°N of Moon
03 00 Mars at Perihelion: 1.38138 AU
03 06:59 FULL MOON
05 19 Mercury at Perihelion
08 22:57 Mars 0.8°N of Moon: Occn.
09 04:51 Moon at Apogee: 404658 km
11 07:45 LAST QUARTER MOON
12 04 Perseid Meteor Shower
12 16 Venus at Greatest Elong: 45.8°W
13 01:06 Aldebaran 4.0°S of Moon
14 10:22 Moon at Ascending Node
15 04:01 Venus 4.0°S of Moon
16 10:10 Pollux 4.5°N of Moon
17 06 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
18 17:41 NEW MOON
21 01:59 Moon at Perigee: 363513 km
25 08:58 FIRST QUARTER MOON
27 02:52 Moon at Descending Node
28 16:33 Jupiter 1.4°N of Moon
29 07:40 Saturn 2.2°N of Moon
Sep 01 20:22 FULL MOON
05 19:42 Mars 0.0°S of Moon: Occn.
05 21:31 Moon at Apogee: 405606 km
09 09:12 Aldebaran 4.2°S of Moon
10 00:26 LAST QUARTER MOON
10 14:05 Moon at Ascending Node
11 10 Neptune at Opposition
12 19:50 Pollux 4.3°N of Moon
13 19:43 Venus 4.5°S of Moon
15 06:51 Regulus 4.3°S of Moon
17 02:00 NEW MOON
18 04:44 Moon at Perigee: 359081 km
18 18 Mercury at Aphelion
21 21:06 Mercury 0.3°N of Spica
22 04:31 Autumnal Equinox
23 03:33 Moon at Descending Node
23 16:55 FIRST QUARTER MOON
24 21:46 Jupiter 1.6°N of Moon
25 11:46 Saturn 2.3°N of Moon
Oct 01 07 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 25.8°E
01 12:05 FULL MOON
02 08:09 Venus 0.1°S of Regulus
02 18:21 Mars 0.7°N of Moon: Occn.
03 08:22 Moon at Apogee: 406321 km
06 16:02 Aldebaran 4.5°S of Moon
07 15:29 Moon at Ascending Node
09 15:39 LAST QUARTER MOON
10 04:18 Pollux 4.1°N of Moon
12 16:59 Regulus 4.5°S of Moon
13 14 Mars at Opposition
13 14:57 Venus 4.3°S of Moon
16 10:31 NEW MOON
16 14:46 Moon at Perigee: 356913 km
20 06:53 Moon at Descending Node
20 20 Orionid Meteor Shower
22 08:10 Jupiter 2.0°N of Moon
22 18:49 Saturn 2.6°N of Moon
23 04:23 FIRST QUARTER MOON
25 09 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
29 07:13 Mars 3.0°N of Moon
30 09:46 Moon at Apogee: 406393 km
30 12 Venus at Perihelion
31 05:49 FULL MOON
31 07 Uranus at Opposition
Nov 01 18 Mercury at Perihelion
03 17:39 Moon at Ascending Node
04 21 S Taurid Meteor Shower
06 10:52 Pollux 3.9°N of Moon
08 04:46 LAST QUARTER MOON
09 01:20 Regulus 4.7°S of Moon
10 08 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 19.1°W
11 20 N Taurid Meteor Shower
12 12:30 Venus 3.1°S of Moon
13 11:45 Mercury 1.7°S of Moon
14 02:48 Moon at Perigee: 357839 km
14 20:07 NEW MOON
16 04:27 Venus 3.6°N of Spica
16 15:07 Moon at Descending Node
17 02 Leonid Meteor Shower
18 23:54 Jupiter 2.5°N of Moon
19 05:57 Saturn 2.9°N of Moon
21 19:45 FIRST QUARTER MOON
26 15:29 Moon at Apogee: 405891 km
30 00:30 FULL MOON
30 00:43 Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.829
30 22:46 Moon at Ascending Node
Dec 03 16:24 Pollux 3.8°N of Moon
06 07:28 Regulus 4.8°S of Moon
07 15:37 LAST QUARTER MOON
12 11:40 Venus 0.8°S of Moon: Occn.
12 11:42 Moon at Perigee: 361777 km
13 16 Geminid Meteor Shower
14 02:03 Moon at Descending Node
14 07:13 Total Solar Eclipse; mag=1.025
14 07:17 NEW MOON
16 19:28 Jupiter 2.9°N of Moon
16 20:25 Saturn 3.1°N of Moon
19 18 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
21 01:03 Winter Solstice
21 14:41 FIRST QUARTER MOON
22 00 Ursid Meteor Shower
22 00 Jupiter 0.1°S of Saturn
24 07:32 Moon at Apogee: 405010 km
28 06:03 Moon at Ascending Node
29 18:28 FULL MOON
30 22:41 Pollux 3.8°N of 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
2020 Phases of the Moon
Alaska Standard Time
The following table gives the date and time of the Moon's phases for the year. The times listed are for Alaska Standard Time (Coordinated Universal Time − 9 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 | |||
| Alaska Standard Time | |||
| New Moon | First Quarter | Full Moon | Last Quarter |
| - | Jan 02 19:45 | Jan 10 10:21 n | Jan 17 03:58 |
| Jan 24 12:42 | Feb 01 16:42 | Feb 08 22:33 | Feb 15 13:17 |
| Feb 23 06:32 | Mar 02 10:57 | Mar 09 08:48 | Mar 16 00:34 |
| Mar 24 00:28 | Apr 01 01:21 | Apr 07 17:35 | Apr 14 13:56 |
| Apr 22 17:26 | Apr 30 11:38 | May 07 01:45 | May 14 05:03 |
| May 22 08:39 | May 29 18:30 | Jun 05 10:12 n | Jun 12 21:24 |
| Jun 20 21:41 A | Jun 27 23:16 | Jul 04 19:44 n | Jul 12 14:29 |
| Jul 20 08:33 | Jul 27 03:32 | Aug 03 06:59 | Aug 11 07:45 |
| Aug 18 17:41 | Aug 25 08:58 | Sep 01 20:22 | Sep 10 00:26 |
| Sep 17 02:00 | Sep 23 16:55 | Oct 01 12:05 | Oct 09 15:39 |
| Oct 16 10:31 | Oct 23 04:23 | Oct 31 05:49 | Nov 08 04:46 |
| Nov 14 20:07 | Nov 21 19:45 | Nov 30 00:30 n | Dec 07 15:37 |
| Dec 14 07:17 T | Dec 21 14:41 | Dec 29 18:28 | - |
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
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)