2020 Sky Event Almanac
Central Standard Time
The following table gives the date and time of the important astronomical events for the year. The times listed are for Central Standard Time (Coordinated Universal Time − 6 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 | ||||||||
| Central Standard Time | ||||||||
| January - June | July - December | |||||||
Date CST Event
(h:m)
Jan 01 19:30 Moon at Apogee: 404580 km
02 22:45 FIRST QUARTER MOON
04 03 Quadrantid Meteor Shower
05 02 Earth at Perihelion: 0.98324 AU
07 15:09 Aldebaran 3.0°S of Moon
09 17:29 Moon at Ascending Node
10 09 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
10 13:10 Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.896
10 13:21 FULL MOON
13 05:37 Regulus 3.8°S of Moon
13 08 Saturn in Conjunction with Sun
13 14:20 Moon at Perigee: 365964 km
17 06:58 LAST QUARTER MOON
17 17:03 Mars 4.7°N of Antares
20 13:13 Mars 2.3°S of Moon
22 14:31 Moon at Descending Node
22 20:42 Jupiter 0.4°N of Moon: Occn.
24 15:42 NEW MOON
28 01:29 Venus 4.1°N of Moon
29 15:28 Moon at Apogee: 405390 km
Feb 01 19:42 FIRST QUARTER MOON
04 00:53 Aldebaran 3.1°S of Moon
06 02:59 Moon at Ascending Node
09 01:33 FULL MOON
09 15:15 Regulus 3.8°S of Moon
10 08 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.2°E
10 14:31 Moon at Perigee: 360464 km
11 23 Mercury at Perihelion
15 16:17 LAST QUARTER MOON
18 07:18 Mars 0.8°S of Moon: Occn.
18 18:12 Moon at Descending Node
19 13:36 Jupiter 0.9°N of Moon: Occn.
20 07:47 Saturn 1.7°N of Moon
23 09:32 NEW MOON
25 20 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
26 05:35 Moon at Apogee: 406277 km
Mar 02 09:16 Aldebaran 3.3°S of Moon
02 13:57 FIRST QUARTER MOON
04 08:58 Moon at Ascending Node
08 02:23 Regulus 3.8°S of Moon
08 06 Neptune in Conjunction with Sun
09 11:48 FULL MOON
10 00:33 Moon at Perigee: 357123 km
16 03:34 LAST QUARTER MOON
16 19:00 Moon at Descending Node
18 02:19 Mars 0.7°N of Moon: Occn.
18 04:18 Jupiter 1.5°N of Moon
18 18:04 Saturn 2.1°N of Moon
19 21:50 Vernal Equinox
19 22 Venus at Perihelion
20 04 Mars 0.7°S of Jupiter
21 11:48 Mercury 3.6°N of Moon
23 20 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 27.8°W
24 03:28 NEW MOON
24 09:23 Moon at Apogee: 406690 km
24 16 Venus at Greatest Elong: 46.1°E
26 23 Mercury at Aphelion
29 15:52 Aldebaran 3.6°S of Moon
31 10:51 Moon at Ascending Node
31 14 Mars 0.9°S of Saturn
Apr 01 04:21 FIRST QUARTER MOON
03 08:36 Venus 0.3°S of Pleiades
04 12:45 Regulus 3.9°S of Moon
07 12:08 Moon at Perigee: 356909 km
07 20:35 FULL MOON
12 20:58 Moon at Descending Node
14 16:56 LAST QUARTER MOON
14 17:04 Jupiter 2.0°N of Moon
15 03:26 Saturn 2.5°N of Moon
15 22:33 Mars 2.0°N of Moon
20 13:01 Moon at Apogee: 406463 km
22 00 Lyrid Meteor Shower
22 20:26 NEW MOON
25 21:34 Aldebaran 3.8°S of Moon
26 04 Uranus in Conjunction with Sun
27 11:54 Moon at Ascending Node
29 08:19 Pollux 4.7°N of Moon
30 14:38 FIRST QUARTER MOON
May 01 20:49 Regulus 4.2°S of Moon
04 13 Eta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
04 15 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
05 21:03 Moon at Perigee: 359656 km
07 04:45 FULL MOON
09 22 Mercury at Perihelion
10 03:01 Moon at Descending Node
12 03:40 Jupiter 2.3°N of Moon
12 12:18 Saturn 2.7°N of Moon
14 08:03 LAST QUARTER MOON
14 20:00 Mars 2.8°N of Moon
17 20 Jupiter 4.8°S of Saturn
18 01:45 Moon at Apogee: 405584 km
22 04 Mercury 0.9°S of Venus
22 11:39 NEW MOON
23 20:40 Venus 3.7°N of Moon
24 04:53 Mercury 2.8°N of Moon
24 15:34 Moon at Ascending Node
26 13:43 Pollux 4.6°N of Moon
29 02:44 Regulus 4.3°S of Moon
29 21:30 FIRST QUARTER MOON
Jun 02 21:36 Moon at Perigee: 364366 km
03 12 Venus at Inferior Conjunction
04 07 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 23.6°E
05 13:12 FULL MOON
05 13:25 Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.568
06 12:10 Moon at Descending Node
08 11:19 Jupiter 2.2°N of Moon
08 20:19 Saturn 2.7°N of Moon
12 17:53 Mars 2.7°N of Moon
13 00:24 LAST QUARTER MOON
14 18:56 Moon at Apogee: 404597 km
19 02:52 Venus 0.7°S of Moon: Occn.
19 10:56 Aldebaran 3.8°S of Moon
20 15:43 Summer Solstice
20 22:24 Moon at Ascending Node
21 00:40 Annular Solar Eclipse; mag=0.994
21 00:41 NEW MOON
22 19:53 Pollux 4.5°N of Moon
25 08:09 Regulus 4.3°S of Moon
28 02:16 FIRST QUARTER MOON
29 20:09 Moon at Perigee: 368958 km
30 21 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
|
Date CST Event
(h:m)
Jul 03 21:18 Moon at Descending Node
04 07 Earth at Aphelion: 1.01669 AU
04 22:30 Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.355
04 22:44 FULL MOON
05 15:37 Jupiter 1.9°N of Moon
06 02:45 Saturn 2.5°N of Moon
10 06 Venus at Aphelion
11 06:10 Venus 1.0°N of Aldebaran
11 13:36 Mars 2.0°N of Moon
12 13:27 Moon at Apogee: 404201 km
12 17:29 LAST QUARTER MOON
14 01 Jupiter at Opposition
16 19:21 Aldebaran 3.8°S of Moon
17 01:26 Venus 3.1°S of Moon
18 06:33 Moon at Ascending Node
18 21:54 Mercury 3.9°S of Moon
20 11:33 NEW MOON
20 16 Saturn at Opposition
22 09 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 20.1°W
22 14:50 Regulus 4.3°S of Moon
24 22:54 Moon at Perigee: 368367 km
27 06:32 FIRST QUARTER MOON
27 15 Delta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
31 03:32 Moon at Descending Node
Aug 01 17:30 Jupiter 1.5°N of Moon
02 07:17 Saturn 2.3°N of Moon
03 03 Mars at Perihelion: 1.38138 AU
03 09:59 FULL MOON
05 22 Mercury at Perihelion
09 01:57 Mars 0.8°N of Moon: Occn.
09 07:51 Moon at Apogee: 404658 km
11 10:45 LAST QUARTER MOON
12 07 Perseid Meteor Shower
12 19 Venus at Greatest Elong: 45.8°W
13 04:06 Aldebaran 4.0°S of Moon
14 13:22 Moon at Ascending Node
15 07:01 Venus 4.0°S of Moon
16 13:10 Pollux 4.5°N of Moon
17 09 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
18 20:41 NEW MOON
21 04:59 Moon at Perigee: 363513 km
25 11:58 FIRST QUARTER MOON
27 05:52 Moon at Descending Node
28 19:33 Jupiter 1.4°N of Moon
29 10:40 Saturn 2.2°N of Moon
Sep 01 23:22 FULL MOON
05 22:42 Mars 0.0°S of Moon: Occn.
06 00:31 Moon at Apogee: 405606 km
09 12:12 Aldebaran 4.2°S of Moon
10 03:26 LAST QUARTER MOON
10 17:05 Moon at Ascending Node
11 13 Neptune at Opposition
12 22:50 Pollux 4.3°N of Moon
13 22:43 Venus 4.5°S of Moon
15 09:51 Regulus 4.3°S of Moon
17 05:00 NEW MOON
18 07:44 Moon at Perigee: 359081 km
18 21 Mercury at Aphelion
22 00:06 Mercury 0.3°N of Spica
22 07:31 Autumnal Equinox
23 06:33 Moon at Descending Node
23 19:55 FIRST QUARTER MOON
25 00:46 Jupiter 1.6°N of Moon
25 14:46 Saturn 2.3°N of Moon
Oct 01 10 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 25.8°E
01 15:05 FULL MOON
02 11:09 Venus 0.1°S of Regulus
02 21:21 Mars 0.7°N of Moon: Occn.
03 11:22 Moon at Apogee: 406321 km
06 19:02 Aldebaran 4.5°S of Moon
07 18:29 Moon at Ascending Node
09 18:39 LAST QUARTER MOON
10 07:18 Pollux 4.1°N of Moon
12 19:59 Regulus 4.5°S of Moon
13 17 Mars at Opposition
13 17:57 Venus 4.3°S of Moon
16 13:31 NEW MOON
16 17:46 Moon at Perigee: 356913 km
20 09:53 Moon at Descending Node
20 23 Orionid Meteor Shower
22 11:10 Jupiter 2.0°N of Moon
22 21:49 Saturn 2.6°N of Moon
23 07:23 FIRST QUARTER MOON
25 12 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
29 10:13 Mars 3.0°N of Moon
30 12:46 Moon at Apogee: 406393 km
30 15 Venus at Perihelion
31 08:49 FULL MOON
31 10 Uranus at Opposition
Nov 01 21 Mercury at Perihelion
03 20:39 Moon at Ascending Node
05 00 S Taurid Meteor Shower
06 13:52 Pollux 3.9°N of Moon
08 07:46 LAST QUARTER MOON
09 04:20 Regulus 4.7°S of Moon
10 11 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 19.1°W
11 23 N Taurid Meteor Shower
12 15:30 Venus 3.1°S of Moon
13 14:45 Mercury 1.7°S of Moon
14 05:48 Moon at Perigee: 357839 km
14 23:07 NEW MOON
16 07:27 Venus 3.6°N of Spica
16 18:07 Moon at Descending Node
17 05 Leonid Meteor Shower
19 02:54 Jupiter 2.5°N of Moon
19 08:57 Saturn 2.9°N of Moon
21 22:45 FIRST QUARTER MOON
26 18:29 Moon at Apogee: 405891 km
30 03:30 FULL MOON
30 03:43 Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.829
Dec 01 01:46 Moon at Ascending Node
03 19:24 Pollux 3.8°N of Moon
06 10:28 Regulus 4.8°S of Moon
07 18:37 LAST QUARTER MOON
12 14:40 Venus 0.8°S of Moon: Occn.
12 14:42 Moon at Perigee: 361777 km
13 19 Geminid Meteor Shower
14 05:03 Moon at Descending Node
14 10:13 Total Solar Eclipse; mag=1.025
14 10:17 NEW MOON
16 22:28 Jupiter 2.9°N of Moon
16 23:25 Saturn 3.1°N of Moon
19 21 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
21 04:03 Winter Solstice
21 17:41 FIRST QUARTER MOON
22 03 Ursid Meteor Shower
22 03 Jupiter 0.1°S of Saturn
24 10:32 Moon at Apogee: 405010 km
28 09:03 Moon at Ascending Node
29 21:28 FULL MOON
31 01:41 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
Central Standard Time
The following table gives the date and time of the Moon's phases for the year. The times listed are for Central Standard Time (Coordinated Universal Time − 6 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 | |||
| Central Standard Time | |||
| New Moon | First Quarter | Full Moon | Last Quarter |
| - | Jan 02 22:45 | Jan 10 13:21 n | Jan 17 06:58 |
| Jan 24 15:42 | Feb 01 19:42 | Feb 09 01:33 | Feb 15 16:17 |
| Feb 23 09:32 | Mar 02 13:57 | Mar 09 11:48 | Mar 16 03:34 |
| Mar 24 03:28 | Apr 01 04:21 | Apr 07 20:35 | Apr 14 16:56 |
| Apr 22 20:26 | Apr 30 14:38 | May 07 04:45 | May 14 08:03 |
| May 22 11:39 | May 29 21:30 | Jun 05 13:12 n | Jun 13 00:24 |
| Jun 21 00:41 A | Jun 28 02:16 | Jul 04 22:44 n | Jul 12 17:29 |
| Jul 20 11:33 | Jul 27 06:32 | Aug 03 09:59 | Aug 11 10:45 |
| Aug 18 20:41 | Aug 25 11:58 | Sep 01 23:22 | Sep 10 03:26 |
| Sep 17 05:00 | Sep 23 19:55 | Oct 01 15:05 | Oct 09 18:39 |
| Oct 16 13:31 | Oct 23 07:23 | Oct 31 08:49 | Nov 08 07:46 |
| Nov 14 23:07 | Nov 21 22:45 | Nov 30 03:30 n | Dec 07 18:37 |
| Dec 14 10:17 T | Dec 21 17:41 | Dec 29 21:28 | - |
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)