2020 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.
| 2020 Sky Event Almanac | ||||||||
| Gulf Standard Time | ||||||||
| January - June | July - December | |||||||
Date GST Event
(h:m)
Jan 02 05:30 Moon at Apogee: 404580 km
03 08:45 FIRST QUARTER MOON
04 13 Quadrantid Meteor Shower
05 12 Earth at Perihelion: 0.98324 AU
08 01:09 Aldebaran 3.0°S of Moon
10 03:29 Moon at Ascending Node
10 19 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
10 23:10 Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.896
10 23:21 FULL MOON
13 15:37 Regulus 3.8°S of Moon
13 18 Saturn in Conjunction with Sun
14 00:20 Moon at Perigee: 365964 km
17 16:58 LAST QUARTER MOON
18 03:03 Mars 4.7°N of Antares
20 23:13 Mars 2.3°S of Moon
23 00:31 Moon at Descending Node
23 06:42 Jupiter 0.4°N of Moon: Occn.
25 01:42 NEW MOON
28 11:29 Venus 4.1°N of Moon
30 01:28 Moon at Apogee: 405390 km
Feb 02 05:42 FIRST QUARTER MOON
04 10:53 Aldebaran 3.1°S of Moon
06 12:59 Moon at Ascending Node
09 11:33 FULL MOON
10 01:15 Regulus 3.8°S of Moon
10 18 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.2°E
11 00:31 Moon at Perigee: 360464 km
12 09 Mercury at Perihelion
16 02:17 LAST QUARTER MOON
18 17:18 Mars 0.8°S of Moon: Occn.
19 04:12 Moon at Descending Node
19 23:36 Jupiter 0.9°N of Moon: Occn.
20 17:47 Saturn 1.7°N of Moon
23 19:32 NEW MOON
26 06 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
26 15:35 Moon at Apogee: 406277 km
Mar 02 19:16 Aldebaran 3.3°S of Moon
02 23:57 FIRST QUARTER MOON
04 18:58 Moon at Ascending Node
08 12:23 Regulus 3.8°S of Moon
08 16 Neptune in Conjunction with Sun
09 21:48 FULL MOON
10 10:33 Moon at Perigee: 357123 km
16 13:34 LAST QUARTER MOON
17 05:00 Moon at Descending Node
18 12:19 Mars 0.7°N of Moon: Occn.
18 14:18 Jupiter 1.5°N of Moon
19 04:04 Saturn 2.1°N of Moon
20 07:50 Vernal Equinox
20 08 Venus at Perihelion
20 14 Mars 0.7°S of Jupiter
21 21:48 Mercury 3.6°N of Moon
24 06 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 27.8°W
24 13:28 NEW MOON
24 19:23 Moon at Apogee: 406690 km
25 02 Venus at Greatest Elong: 46.1°E
27 09 Mercury at Aphelion
30 01:52 Aldebaran 3.6°S of Moon
31 20:51 Moon at Ascending Node
Apr 01 00 Mars 0.9°S of Saturn
01 14:21 FIRST QUARTER MOON
03 18:36 Venus 0.3°S of Pleiades
04 22:45 Regulus 3.9°S of Moon
07 22:08 Moon at Perigee: 356909 km
08 06:35 FULL MOON
13 06:58 Moon at Descending Node
15 02:56 LAST QUARTER MOON
15 03:04 Jupiter 2.0°N of Moon
15 13:26 Saturn 2.5°N of Moon
16 08:33 Mars 2.0°N of Moon
20 23:01 Moon at Apogee: 406463 km
22 10 Lyrid Meteor Shower
23 06:26 NEW MOON
26 07:34 Aldebaran 3.8°S of Moon
26 14 Uranus in Conjunction with Sun
27 21:54 Moon at Ascending Node
29 18:19 Pollux 4.7°N of Moon
May 01 00:38 FIRST QUARTER MOON
02 06:49 Regulus 4.2°S of Moon
04 23 Eta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
05 01 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
06 07:03 Moon at Perigee: 359656 km
07 14:45 FULL MOON
10 08 Mercury at Perihelion
10 13:01 Moon at Descending Node
12 13:40 Jupiter 2.3°N of Moon
12 22:18 Saturn 2.7°N of Moon
14 18:03 LAST QUARTER MOON
15 06:00 Mars 2.8°N of Moon
18 06 Jupiter 4.8°S of Saturn
18 11:45 Moon at Apogee: 405584 km
22 14 Mercury 0.9°S of Venus
22 21:39 NEW MOON
24 06:40 Venus 3.7°N of Moon
24 14:53 Mercury 2.8°N of Moon
25 01:34 Moon at Ascending Node
26 23:43 Pollux 4.6°N of Moon
29 12:44 Regulus 4.3°S of Moon
30 07:30 FIRST QUARTER MOON
Jun 03 07:36 Moon at Perigee: 364366 km
03 22 Venus at Inferior Conjunction
04 17 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 23.6°E
05 23:12 FULL MOON
05 23:25 Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.568
06 22:10 Moon at Descending Node
08 21:19 Jupiter 2.2°N of Moon
09 06:19 Saturn 2.7°N of Moon
13 03:53 Mars 2.7°N of Moon
13 10:24 LAST QUARTER MOON
15 04:56 Moon at Apogee: 404597 km
19 12:52 Venus 0.7°S of Moon: Occn.
19 20:56 Aldebaran 3.8°S of Moon
21 01:43 Summer Solstice
21 08:24 Moon at Ascending Node
21 10:40 Annular Solar Eclipse; mag=0.994
21 10:41 NEW MOON
23 05:53 Pollux 4.5°N of Moon
25 18:09 Regulus 4.3°S of Moon
28 12:16 FIRST QUARTER MOON
30 06:09 Moon at Perigee: 368958 km
|
Date GST Event
(h:m)
Jul 01 07 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
04 07:18 Moon at Descending Node
04 17 Earth at Aphelion: 1.01669 AU
05 08:30 Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.355
05 08:44 FULL MOON
06 01:37 Jupiter 1.9°N of Moon
06 12:45 Saturn 2.5°N of Moon
10 16 Venus at Aphelion
11 16:10 Venus 1.0°N of Aldebaran
11 23:36 Mars 2.0°N of Moon
12 23:27 Moon at Apogee: 404201 km
13 03:29 LAST QUARTER MOON
14 11 Jupiter at Opposition
17 05:21 Aldebaran 3.8°S of Moon
17 11:26 Venus 3.1°S of Moon
18 16:33 Moon at Ascending Node
19 07:54 Mercury 3.9°S of Moon
20 21:33 NEW MOON
21 02 Saturn at Opposition
22 19 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 20.1°W
23 00:50 Regulus 4.3°S of Moon
25 08:54 Moon at Perigee: 368367 km
27 16:32 FIRST QUARTER MOON
28 01 Delta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
31 13:32 Moon at Descending Node
Aug 02 03:30 Jupiter 1.5°N of Moon
02 17:17 Saturn 2.3°N of Moon
03 13 Mars at Perihelion: 1.38138 AU
03 19:59 FULL MOON
06 08 Mercury at Perihelion
09 11:57 Mars 0.8°N of Moon: Occn.
09 17:51 Moon at Apogee: 404658 km
11 20:45 LAST QUARTER MOON
12 17 Perseid Meteor Shower
13 05 Venus at Greatest Elong: 45.8°W
13 14:06 Aldebaran 4.0°S of Moon
14 23:22 Moon at Ascending Node
15 17:01 Venus 4.0°S of Moon
16 23:10 Pollux 4.5°N of Moon
17 19 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
19 06:41 NEW MOON
21 14:59 Moon at Perigee: 363513 km
25 21:58 FIRST QUARTER MOON
27 15:52 Moon at Descending Node
29 05:33 Jupiter 1.4°N of Moon
29 20:40 Saturn 2.2°N of Moon
Sep 02 09:22 FULL MOON
06 08:42 Mars 0.0°S of Moon: Occn.
06 10:31 Moon at Apogee: 405606 km
09 22:12 Aldebaran 4.2°S of Moon
10 13:26 LAST QUARTER MOON
11 03:05 Moon at Ascending Node
11 23 Neptune at Opposition
13 08:50 Pollux 4.3°N of Moon
14 08:43 Venus 4.5°S of Moon
15 19:51 Regulus 4.3°S of Moon
17 15:00 NEW MOON
18 17:44 Moon at Perigee: 359081 km
19 07 Mercury at Aphelion
22 10:06 Mercury 0.3°N of Spica
22 17:31 Autumnal Equinox
23 16:33 Moon at Descending Node
24 05:55 FIRST QUARTER MOON
25 10:46 Jupiter 1.6°N of Moon
26 00:46 Saturn 2.3°N of Moon
Oct 01 20 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 25.8°E
02 01:05 FULL MOON
02 21:09 Venus 0.1°S of Regulus
03 07:21 Mars 0.7°N of Moon: Occn.
03 21:22 Moon at Apogee: 406321 km
07 05:02 Aldebaran 4.5°S of Moon
08 04:29 Moon at Ascending Node
10 04:39 LAST QUARTER MOON
10 17:18 Pollux 4.1°N of Moon
13 05:59 Regulus 4.5°S of Moon
14 03 Mars at Opposition
14 03:57 Venus 4.3°S of Moon
16 23:31 NEW MOON
17 03:46 Moon at Perigee: 356913 km
20 19:53 Moon at Descending Node
21 09 Orionid Meteor Shower
22 21:10 Jupiter 2.0°N of Moon
23 07:49 Saturn 2.6°N of Moon
23 17:23 FIRST QUARTER MOON
25 22 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
29 20:13 Mars 3.0°N of Moon
30 22:46 Moon at Apogee: 406393 km
31 01 Venus at Perihelion
31 18:49 FULL MOON
31 20 Uranus at Opposition
Nov 02 07 Mercury at Perihelion
04 06:39 Moon at Ascending Node
05 10 S Taurid Meteor Shower
06 23:52 Pollux 3.9°N of Moon
08 17:46 LAST QUARTER MOON
09 14:20 Regulus 4.7°S of Moon
10 21 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 19.1°W
12 09 N Taurid Meteor Shower
13 01:30 Venus 3.1°S of Moon
14 00:45 Mercury 1.7°S of Moon
14 15:48 Moon at Perigee: 357839 km
15 09:07 NEW MOON
16 17:27 Venus 3.6°N of Spica
17 04:07 Moon at Descending Node
17 15 Leonid Meteor Shower
19 12:54 Jupiter 2.5°N of Moon
19 18:57 Saturn 2.9°N of Moon
22 08:45 FIRST QUARTER MOON
27 04:29 Moon at Apogee: 405891 km
30 13:30 FULL MOON
30 13:43 Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.829
Dec 01 11:46 Moon at Ascending Node
04 05:24 Pollux 3.8°N of Moon
06 20:28 Regulus 4.8°S of Moon
08 04:37 LAST QUARTER MOON
13 00:40 Venus 0.8°S of Moon: Occn.
13 00:42 Moon at Perigee: 361777 km
14 05 Geminid Meteor Shower
14 15:03 Moon at Descending Node
14 20:13 Total Solar Eclipse; mag=1.025
14 20:17 NEW MOON
17 08:28 Jupiter 2.9°N of Moon
17 09:25 Saturn 3.1°N of Moon
20 07 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
21 14:03 Winter Solstice
22 03:41 FIRST QUARTER MOON
22 13 Ursid Meteor Shower
22 13 Jupiter 0.1°S of Saturn
24 20:32 Moon at Apogee: 405010 km
28 19:03 Moon at Ascending Node
30 07:28 FULL MOON
31 11:41 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
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.
| 2020 Phases of the Moon | |||
| Gulf Standard Time | |||
| New Moon | First Quarter | Full Moon | Last Quarter |
| - | Jan 03 08:45 | Jan 10 23:21 n | Jan 17 16:58 |
| Jan 25 01:42 | Feb 02 05:42 | Feb 09 11:33 | Feb 16 02:17 |
| Feb 23 19:32 | Mar 02 23:57 | Mar 09 21:48 | Mar 16 13:34 |
| Mar 24 13:28 | Apr 01 14:21 | Apr 08 06:35 | Apr 15 02:56 |
| Apr 23 06:26 | May 01 00:38 | May 07 14:45 | May 14 18:03 |
| May 22 21:39 | May 30 07:30 | Jun 05 23:12 n | Jun 13 10:24 |
| Jun 21 10:41 A | Jun 28 12:16 | Jul 05 08:44 n | Jul 13 03:29 |
| Jul 20 21:33 | Jul 27 16:32 | Aug 03 19:59 | Aug 11 20:45 |
| Aug 19 06:41 | Aug 25 21:58 | Sep 02 09:22 | Sep 10 13:26 |
| Sep 17 15:00 | Sep 24 05:55 | Oct 02 01:05 | Oct 10 04:39 |
| Oct 16 23:31 | Oct 23 17:23 | Oct 31 18:49 | Nov 08 17:46 |
| Nov 15 09:07 | Nov 22 08:45 | Nov 30 13:30 n | Dec 08 04:37 |
| Dec 14 20:17 T | Dec 22 03:41 | Dec 30 07:28 | - |
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
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)