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