2020 Sky Event Almanac
Pacific Standard Time
The following table gives the date and time of the important astronomical events for the year. The times listed are for Pacific Standard Time (Coordinated Universal Time − 8 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 | ||||||||
| Pacific Standard Time | ||||||||
| January - June | July - December | |||||||
Date PST Event
(h:m)
Jan 01 17:30 Moon at Apogee: 404580 km
02 20:45 FIRST QUARTER MOON
04 01 Quadrantid Meteor Shower
05 00 Earth at Perihelion: 0.98324 AU
07 13:09 Aldebaran 3.0°S of Moon
09 15:29 Moon at Ascending Node
10 07 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
10 11:10 Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.896
10 11:21 FULL MOON
13 03:37 Regulus 3.8°S of Moon
13 06 Saturn in Conjunction with Sun
13 12:20 Moon at Perigee: 365964 km
17 04:58 LAST QUARTER MOON
17 15:03 Mars 4.7°N of Antares
20 11:13 Mars 2.3°S of Moon
22 12:31 Moon at Descending Node
22 18:42 Jupiter 0.4°N of Moon: Occn.
24 13:42 NEW MOON
27 23:29 Venus 4.1°N of Moon
29 13:28 Moon at Apogee: 405390 km
Feb 01 17:42 FIRST QUARTER MOON
03 22:53 Aldebaran 3.1°S of Moon
06 00:59 Moon at Ascending Node
08 23:33 FULL MOON
09 13:15 Regulus 3.8°S of Moon
10 06 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.2°E
10 12:31 Moon at Perigee: 360464 km
11 21 Mercury at Perihelion
15 14:17 LAST QUARTER MOON
18 05:18 Mars 0.8°S of Moon: Occn.
18 16:12 Moon at Descending Node
19 11:36 Jupiter 0.9°N of Moon: Occn.
20 05:47 Saturn 1.7°N of Moon
23 07:32 NEW MOON
25 18 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
26 03:35 Moon at Apogee: 406277 km
Mar 02 07:16 Aldebaran 3.3°S of Moon
02 11:57 FIRST QUARTER MOON
04 06:58 Moon at Ascending Node
08 00:23 Regulus 3.8°S of Moon
08 04 Neptune in Conjunction with Sun
09 09:48 FULL MOON
09 22:33 Moon at Perigee: 357123 km
16 01:34 LAST QUARTER MOON
16 17:00 Moon at Descending Node
18 00:19 Mars 0.7°N of Moon: Occn.
18 02:18 Jupiter 1.5°N of Moon
18 16:04 Saturn 2.1°N of Moon
19 19:50 Vernal Equinox
19 20 Venus at Perihelion
20 02 Mars 0.7°S of Jupiter
21 09:48 Mercury 3.6°N of Moon
23 18 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 27.8°W
24 01:28 NEW MOON
24 07:23 Moon at Apogee: 406690 km
24 14 Venus at Greatest Elong: 46.1°E
26 21 Mercury at Aphelion
29 13:52 Aldebaran 3.6°S of Moon
31 08:51 Moon at Ascending Node
31 12 Mars 0.9°S of Saturn
Apr 01 02:21 FIRST QUARTER MOON
03 06:36 Venus 0.3°S of Pleiades
04 10:45 Regulus 3.9°S of Moon
07 10:08 Moon at Perigee: 356909 km
07 18:35 FULL MOON
12 18:58 Moon at Descending Node
14 14:56 LAST QUARTER MOON
14 15:04 Jupiter 2.0°N of Moon
15 01:26 Saturn 2.5°N of Moon
15 20:33 Mars 2.0°N of Moon
20 11:01 Moon at Apogee: 406463 km
21 22 Lyrid Meteor Shower
22 18:26 NEW MOON
25 19:34 Aldebaran 3.8°S of Moon
26 02 Uranus in Conjunction with Sun
27 09:54 Moon at Ascending Node
29 06:19 Pollux 4.7°N of Moon
30 12:38 FIRST QUARTER MOON
May 01 18:49 Regulus 4.2°S of Moon
04 11 Eta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
04 13 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
05 19:03 Moon at Perigee: 359656 km
07 02:45 FULL MOON
09 20 Mercury at Perihelion
10 01:01 Moon at Descending Node
12 01:40 Jupiter 2.3°N of Moon
12 10:18 Saturn 2.7°N of Moon
14 06:03 LAST QUARTER MOON
14 18:00 Mars 2.8°N of Moon
17 18 Jupiter 4.8°S of Saturn
17 23:45 Moon at Apogee: 405584 km
22 02 Mercury 0.9°S of Venus
22 09:39 NEW MOON
23 18:40 Venus 3.7°N of Moon
24 02:53 Mercury 2.8°N of Moon
24 13:34 Moon at Ascending Node
26 11:43 Pollux 4.6°N of Moon
29 00:44 Regulus 4.3°S of Moon
29 19:30 FIRST QUARTER MOON
Jun 02 19:36 Moon at Perigee: 364366 km
03 10 Venus at Inferior Conjunction
04 05 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 23.6°E
05 11:12 FULL MOON
05 11:25 Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.568
06 10:10 Moon at Descending Node
08 09:19 Jupiter 2.2°N of Moon
08 18:19 Saturn 2.7°N of Moon
12 15:53 Mars 2.7°N of Moon
12 22:24 LAST QUARTER MOON
14 16:56 Moon at Apogee: 404597 km
19 00:52 Venus 0.7°S of Moon: Occn.
19 08:56 Aldebaran 3.8°S of Moon
20 13:43 Summer Solstice
20 20:24 Moon at Ascending Node
20 22:40 Annular Solar Eclipse; mag=0.994
20 22:41 NEW MOON
22 17:53 Pollux 4.5°N of Moon
25 06:09 Regulus 4.3°S of Moon
28 00:16 FIRST QUARTER MOON
29 18:09 Moon at Perigee: 368958 km
30 19 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
|
Date PST Event
(h:m)
Jul 03 19:18 Moon at Descending Node
04 05 Earth at Aphelion: 1.01669 AU
04 20:30 Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.355
04 20:44 FULL MOON
05 13:37 Jupiter 1.9°N of Moon
06 00:45 Saturn 2.5°N of Moon
10 04 Venus at Aphelion
11 04:10 Venus 1.0°N of Aldebaran
11 11:36 Mars 2.0°N of Moon
12 11:27 Moon at Apogee: 404201 km
12 15:29 LAST QUARTER MOON
13 23 Jupiter at Opposition
16 17:21 Aldebaran 3.8°S of Moon
16 23:26 Venus 3.1°S of Moon
18 04:33 Moon at Ascending Node
18 19:54 Mercury 3.9°S of Moon
20 09:33 NEW MOON
20 14 Saturn at Opposition
22 07 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 20.1°W
22 12:50 Regulus 4.3°S of Moon
24 20:54 Moon at Perigee: 368367 km
27 04:32 FIRST QUARTER MOON
27 13 Delta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
31 01:32 Moon at Descending Node
Aug 01 15:30 Jupiter 1.5°N of Moon
02 05:17 Saturn 2.3°N of Moon
03 01 Mars at Perihelion: 1.38138 AU
03 07:59 FULL MOON
05 20 Mercury at Perihelion
08 23:57 Mars 0.8°N of Moon: Occn.
09 05:51 Moon at Apogee: 404658 km
11 08:45 LAST QUARTER MOON
12 05 Perseid Meteor Shower
12 17 Venus at Greatest Elong: 45.8°W
13 02:06 Aldebaran 4.0°S of Moon
14 11:22 Moon at Ascending Node
15 05:01 Venus 4.0°S of Moon
16 11:10 Pollux 4.5°N of Moon
17 07 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
18 18:41 NEW MOON
21 02:59 Moon at Perigee: 363513 km
25 09:58 FIRST QUARTER MOON
27 03:52 Moon at Descending Node
28 17:33 Jupiter 1.4°N of Moon
29 08:40 Saturn 2.2°N of Moon
Sep 01 21:22 FULL MOON
05 20:42 Mars 0.0°S of Moon: Occn.
05 22:31 Moon at Apogee: 405606 km
09 10:12 Aldebaran 4.2°S of Moon
10 01:26 LAST QUARTER MOON
10 15:05 Moon at Ascending Node
11 11 Neptune at Opposition
12 20:50 Pollux 4.3°N of Moon
13 20:43 Venus 4.5°S of Moon
15 07:51 Regulus 4.3°S of Moon
17 03:00 NEW MOON
18 05:44 Moon at Perigee: 359081 km
18 19 Mercury at Aphelion
21 22:06 Mercury 0.3°N of Spica
22 05:31 Autumnal Equinox
23 04:33 Moon at Descending Node
23 17:55 FIRST QUARTER MOON
24 22:46 Jupiter 1.6°N of Moon
25 12:46 Saturn 2.3°N of Moon
Oct 01 08 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 25.8°E
01 13:05 FULL MOON
02 09:09 Venus 0.1°S of Regulus
02 19:21 Mars 0.7°N of Moon: Occn.
03 09:22 Moon at Apogee: 406321 km
06 17:02 Aldebaran 4.5°S of Moon
07 16:29 Moon at Ascending Node
09 16:39 LAST QUARTER MOON
10 05:18 Pollux 4.1°N of Moon
12 17:59 Regulus 4.5°S of Moon
13 15 Mars at Opposition
13 15:57 Venus 4.3°S of Moon
16 11:31 NEW MOON
16 15:46 Moon at Perigee: 356913 km
20 07:53 Moon at Descending Node
20 21 Orionid Meteor Shower
22 09:10 Jupiter 2.0°N of Moon
22 19:49 Saturn 2.6°N of Moon
23 05:23 FIRST QUARTER MOON
25 10 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
29 08:13 Mars 3.0°N of Moon
30 10:46 Moon at Apogee: 406393 km
30 13 Venus at Perihelion
31 06:49 FULL MOON
31 08 Uranus at Opposition
Nov 01 19 Mercury at Perihelion
03 18:39 Moon at Ascending Node
04 22 S Taurid Meteor Shower
06 11:52 Pollux 3.9°N of Moon
08 05:46 LAST QUARTER MOON
09 02:20 Regulus 4.7°S of Moon
10 09 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 19.1°W
11 21 N Taurid Meteor Shower
12 13:30 Venus 3.1°S of Moon
13 12:45 Mercury 1.7°S of Moon
14 03:48 Moon at Perigee: 357839 km
14 21:07 NEW MOON
16 05:27 Venus 3.6°N of Spica
16 16:07 Moon at Descending Node
17 03 Leonid Meteor Shower
19 00:54 Jupiter 2.5°N of Moon
19 06:57 Saturn 2.9°N of Moon
21 20:45 FIRST QUARTER MOON
26 16:29 Moon at Apogee: 405891 km
30 01:30 FULL MOON
30 01:43 Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.829
30 23:46 Moon at Ascending Node
Dec 03 17:24 Pollux 3.8°N of Moon
06 08:28 Regulus 4.8°S of Moon
07 16:37 LAST QUARTER MOON
12 12:40 Venus 0.8°S of Moon: Occn.
12 12:42 Moon at Perigee: 361777 km
13 17 Geminid Meteor Shower
14 03:03 Moon at Descending Node
14 08:13 Total Solar Eclipse; mag=1.025
14 08:17 NEW MOON
16 20:28 Jupiter 2.9°N of Moon
16 21:25 Saturn 3.1°N of Moon
19 19 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
21 02:03 Winter Solstice
21 15:41 FIRST QUARTER MOON
22 01 Ursid Meteor Shower
22 01 Jupiter 0.1°S of Saturn
24 08:32 Moon at Apogee: 405010 km
28 07:03 Moon at Ascending Node
29 19:28 FULL MOON
30 23:41 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
Pacific Standard Time
The following table gives the date and time of the Moon's phases for the year. The times listed are for Pacific Standard Time (Coordinated Universal Time − 8 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 | |||
| Pacific Standard Time | |||
| New Moon | First Quarter | Full Moon | Last Quarter |
| - | Jan 02 20:45 | Jan 10 11:21 n | Jan 17 04:58 |
| Jan 24 13:42 | Feb 01 17:42 | Feb 08 23:33 | Feb 15 14:17 |
| Feb 23 07:32 | Mar 02 11:57 | Mar 09 09:48 | Mar 16 01:34 |
| Mar 24 01:28 | Apr 01 02:21 | Apr 07 18:35 | Apr 14 14:56 |
| Apr 22 18:26 | Apr 30 12:38 | May 07 02:45 | May 14 06:03 |
| May 22 09:39 | May 29 19:30 | Jun 05 11:12 n | Jun 12 22:24 |
| Jun 20 22:41 A | Jun 28 00:16 | Jul 04 20:44 n | Jul 12 15:29 |
| Jul 20 09:33 | Jul 27 04:32 | Aug 03 07:59 | Aug 11 08:45 |
| Aug 18 18:41 | Aug 25 09:58 | Sep 01 21:22 | Sep 10 01:26 |
| Sep 17 03:00 | Sep 23 17:55 | Oct 01 13:05 | Oct 09 16:39 |
| Oct 16 11:31 | Oct 23 05:23 | Oct 31 06:49 | Nov 08 05:46 |
| Nov 14 21:07 | Nov 21 20:45 | Nov 30 01:30 n | Dec 07 16:37 |
| Dec 14 08:17 T | Dec 21 15:41 | Dec 29 19:28 | - |
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)