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