2018Calendar of Astronomical Events

    
2018Phases of the Moon
Greenwich Mean Time
The following table gives the date and time of the Moon's phases for the year. The times listed are for Greenwich Mean Time.If Daylight Saving Time is in effect, add one hour to the times listed. 
   
      2018 Phases of the Moon   
      Greenwich Mean Time
 New Moon  First Quarter  Full Moon  Last Quarter 
-- Jan  2  02:24    Jan  8  22:25   
 Jan 17  02:17    Jan 24  22:20    Jan 31  13:27 t  Feb  7  15:54   
 Feb 15  21:05 P  Feb 23  08:09    Mar  2  00:51    Mar  9  11:20   
 Mar 17  13:12    Mar 24  15:35    Mar 31  12:37    Apr  8  07:18   
 Apr 16  01:57    Apr 22  21:46    Apr 30  00:58    May  8  02:09   
 May 15  11:48    May 22  03:49    May 29  14:20    Jun  6  18:32   
 Jun 13  19:43    Jun 20  10:51    Jun 28  04:53    Jul  6  07:51   
 Jul 13  02:48 P  Jul 19  19:52    Jul 27  20:20 t  Aug  4  18:18   
 Aug 11  09:58 P  Aug 18  07:49    Aug 26  11:56    Sep  3  02:37   
 Sep  9  18:01    Sep 16  23:15    Sep 25  02:53    Oct  2  09:45   
 Oct  9  03:47    Oct 16  18:02    Oct 24  16:45    Oct 31  16:40   
 Nov  7  16:02    Nov 15  14:54    Nov 23  05:39    Nov 30  00:19   
 Dec  7  07:20    Dec 15  11:49    Dec 22  17:49    Dec 29  09:34   
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 table above. 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. 
Phases of the Moon Photo Gallery is an image collection showing the Moon's phases over a complete synodic month.
2018Calendar of Astronomical Events
Greenwich Mean Time
The following table gives the date and time of the important astronomical events for the year. The times listed are for Greenwich Mean Time.If Daylight Saving Time is in effect, add one hour to the times listed. A key to astronomical terms appears below the calendar.
   
      2018Calendar of Astronomical Events   
   Greenwich Mean Time  
 January - June   July - December 
Date     GMT   Event        (h:m)Jan 01  20     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 22.7°W    01  21:54  Moon at Perigee: 356566 km    02  02:24  FULL MOON     03  06     Earth at Perihelion: 0.98329 AU    03  19:50  Beehive 2.3°N of Moon    03  20     Quadrantid Meteor Shower    04  07:48  Moon at Ascending Node     05  07:24  Regulus 0.9°S of Moon    07  01     Mars 0.2°S of Jupiter    08  22:25  LAST QUARTER MOON     09  06     Venus at Superior Conjunction     11  05:59  Jupiter 4.3°S of Moon    11  10:03  Mars 4.6°S of Moon    13  08     Mercury 0.7°S of Saturn    15  02:10  Moon at Apogee: 406461 km    15  02:13  Saturn 2.6°S of Moon    15  07:24  Mercury 3.4°S of Moon    17  02:17  NEW MOON     18  14:28  Moon at Descending Node     23  17     Venus at Aphelion     24  22:20  FIRST QUARTER MOON     25  11     Mercury at Aphelion     27  10:09  Aldebaran 0.7°S of Moon    30  09:54  Moon at Perigee: 358995 km    31  07:19  Beehive 2.3°N of Moon    31  13:27  FULL MOON     31  13:30  Total Lunar Eclipse; mag=1.315    31  18:46  Moon at Ascending Node Feb 01  18:24  Regulus 0.9°S of Moon    07  15:54  LAST QUARTER MOON     07  19:47  Jupiter 4.3°S of Moon    09  05:12  Mars 4.4°S of Moon    11  14:16  Moon at Apogee: 405701 km    11  14:46  Saturn 2.5°S of Moon    11  16:40  Mars 5.0°N of Antares    14  21:11  Moon at Descending Node     15  20:51  Partial Solar Eclipse; mag=0.599    15  21:05  NEW MOON     17  12     Mercury at Superior Conjunction     23  08:09  FIRST QUARTER MOON     23  17:07  Aldebaran 0.7°S of Moon    27  14:48  Moon at Perigee: 363938 km    27  17:28  Beehive 2.3°N of Moon    28  05:03  Moon at Ascending Node Mar 01  05:09  Regulus 0.9°S of Moon    02  00:51  FULL MOON     04  06     Mercury 1.1°N of Venus    04  14     Neptune in Conjunction with Sun     07  06:57  Jupiter 4.1°S of Moon    09  11:20  LAST QUARTER MOON     10  00:37  Mars 3.8°S of Moon    10  11     Mercury at Perihelion     11  02:37  Saturn 2.2°S of Moon    11  09:13  Moon at Apogee: 404682 km    14  03:47  Moon at Descending Node     15  15     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.4°E    17  13:12  NEW MOON     18  19:07  Venus 3.7°N of Moon    19  08     Mercury 3.8°N of Venus    20  16:15  Vernal Equinox     22  22:33  Aldebaran 0.9°S of Moon    24  15:35  FIRST QUARTER MOON     26  17:17  Moon at Perigee: 369104 km    27  00:52  Beehive 2.2°N of Moon    27  10:56  Moon at Ascending Node     28  13:38  Regulus 1.0°S of Moon    31  12:37  FULL MOON Apr 01  18     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction     02  19     Mars 1.3°S of Saturn    03  14:14  Jupiter 3.9°S of Moon    07  12:50  Saturn 1.9°S of Moon    07  18:15  Mars 3.1°S of Moon    08  05:32  Moon at Apogee: 404145 km    08  07:18  LAST QUARTER MOON     10  08:09  Moon at Descending Node     14  09:24  Mercury 3.9°N of Moon    16  01:57  NEW MOON     17  12     Saturn at Aphelion: 10.06564 AU    17  19:29  Venus 5.4°N of Moon    18  15     Uranus in Conjunction with Sun     19  04:45  Aldebaran 1.1°S of Moon    20  14:44  Moon at Perigee: 368713 km    22  18     Lyrid Meteor Shower    22  21:46  FIRST QUARTER MOON     23  06:17  Beehive 1.9°N of Moon    23  12:19  Moon at Ascending Node     24  16:47  Venus 3.4°S of Pleiades    24  19:39  Regulus 1.2°S of Moon    29  18     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 27.0°W    30  00:58  FULL MOON     30  17:16  Jupiter 3.8°S of MoonMay 02  13:29  Venus 6.3°N of Aldebaran    04  20:31  Saturn 1.7°S of Moon    05  07     Eta-Aquarid Meteor Shower    06  00:35  Moon at Apogee: 404458 km    06  07:24  Mars 2.7°S of Moon    07  10:23  Moon at Descending Node     08  02:09  LAST QUARTER MOON     09  00     Jupiter at Opposition     13  17:21  Mercury 2.4°N of Moon    15  11:48  NEW MOON     16  01     Venus at Perihelion     17  18:11  Venus 4.8°N of Moon    17  21:06  Moon at Perigee: 363777 km    20  11:57  Beehive 1.7°N of Moon    20  13:13  Moon at Ascending Node     22  00:53  Regulus 1.4°S of Moon    22  03:49  FIRST QUARTER MOON     27  17:39  Jupiter 4.0°S of Moon    29  14:20  FULL MOON Jun 01  01:20  Saturn 1.6°S of Moon    02  16:34  Moon at Apogee: 405316 km    03  11:58  Mars 3.2°S of Moon    03  12:39  Moon at Descending Node     06  02     Mercury at Superior Conjunction     06  10     Mercury at Perihelion     06  18:32  LAST QUARTER MOON     08  03:37  Venus 4.6°S of Pollux    13  19:43  NEW MOON     14  23:55  Moon at Perigee: 359507 km    16  13:13  Venus 2.3°N of Moon    16  17:50  Moon at Ascending Node     16  19:38  Beehive 1.5°N of Moon    18  07:25  Regulus 1.7°S of Moon    20  02:21  Venus 0.4°N of Beehive    20  10:51  FIRST QUARTER MOON     21  10:07  Summer Solstice     23  18:47  Jupiter 4.2°S of Moon    24  21:37  Mercury 4.7°S of Pollux    27  12     Saturn at Opposition     28  03:59  Saturn 1.8°S of Moon    28  04:53  FULL MOON     30  02:43  Moon at Apogee: 406061 km    30  16:44  Moon at Descending Node 
Date     GMT   Event        (h:m)Jul 01  01:43  Mars 4.8°S of Moon    04  05:39  Mercury 0.6°S of Beehive    06  07:51  LAST QUARTER MOON     06  17     Earth at Aphelion: 1.01670 AU    09  23:34  Venus 0.9°N of Regulus    10  09:30  Aldebaran 1.1°S of Moon    12  05     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 26.4°E    13  02:48  NEW MOON     13  03:01  Partial Solar Eclipse; mag=0.337    13  08:28  Moon at Perigee: 357432 km    14  02:50  Moon at Ascending Node     14  22:04  Mercury 2.2°S of Moon    15  16:14  Regulus 1.7°S of Moon    16  03:31  Venus 1.6°S of Moon    19  19:52  FIRST QUARTER MOON     20  10     Mercury at Aphelion     20  23:57  Jupiter 4.4°S of Moon    24  16:49  Mercury 1.2°S of Regulus    25  06:10  Saturn 2.0°S of Moon    27  06     Mars at Opposition     27  05:44  Moon at Apogee: 406223 km    27  20:20  FULL MOON     27  20:22  Total Lunar Eclipse; mag=1.609    27  22:40  Moon at Descending Node     28  09     Delta-Aquarid Meteor ShowerAug 04  18:18  LAST QUARTER MOON     06  18:35  Aldebaran 1.1°S of Moon    09  02     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction     10  13:40  Moon at Ascending Node     10  18:05  Moon at Perigee: 358083 km    11  09:46  Partial Solar Eclipse; mag=0.737    11  09:58  NEW MOON     13  01     Perseid Meteor Shower    14  13:35  Venus 6.3°S of Moon    17  10:38  Jupiter 4.5°S of Moon    17  16     Venus at Greatest Elong: 45.9°E    18  07:49  FIRST QUARTER MOON     21  02:09  Mercury 4.8°S of Beehive    21  09:55  Saturn 2.1°S of Moon    23  11:23  Moon at Apogee: 405744 km    24  04:51  Moon at Descending Node     26  11:56  FULL MOON     26  20     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.3°WSep 01  04:45  Venus 1.0°S of Spica    02  10     Mercury at Perihelion     03  01:34  Aldebaran 1.2°S of Moon    03  02:37  LAST QUARTER MOON     06  22:42  Moon at Ascending Node     07  02:13  Beehive 1.4°N of Moon    07  17     Neptune at Opposition     08  01:21  Moon at Perigee: 361355 km    09  18:01  NEW MOON     14  02:21  Jupiter 4.4°S of Moon    16  13     Mars at Perihelion:  1.38144 AU    16  23:15  FIRST QUARTER MOON     17  16:46  Saturn 2.1°S of Moon    20  00:54  Moon at Apogee: 404875 km    20  06:38  Mars 4.8°S of Moon    20  09:30  Moon at Descending Node     21  02     Mercury at Superior Conjunction     23  01:54  Autumnal Equinox     25  02:52  FULL MOON     30  07:06  Aldebaran 1.4°S of MoonOct 02  09:45  LAST QUARTER MOON     04  03:10  Moon at Ascending Node     04  09:51  Beehive 1.3°N of Moon    05  21:58  Regulus 1.8°S of Moon    05  22:29  Moon at Perigee: 366396 km    09  03:47  NEW MOON     11  21:21  Jupiter 4.1°S of Moon    15  03:01  Saturn 1.8°S of Moon    16  03     Mercury 6.2°N of Venus    16  18:02  FIRST QUARTER MOON     17  12:03  Moon at Descending Node     17  19:16  Moon at Apogee: 404227 km    18  13:01  Mars 1.9°S of Moon    21  17     Orionid Meteor Shower    24  01     Uranus at Opposition     24  16:45  FULL MOON     26  14     Venus at Inferior Conjunction     27  13:04  Aldebaran 1.6°S of Moon    29  06     Mercury 3.1°S of Jupiter    31  03:46  Moon at Ascending Node     31  15:24  Beehive 1.0°N of Moon    31  16:40  LAST QUARTER MOON     31  20:05  Moon at Perigee: 370201 kmNov 02  04:16  Regulus 2.1°S of Moon    05  18     S Taurid Meteor Shower    06  15     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 23.3°E    07  16:02  NEW MOON     09  04:58  Mercury 1.8°N of Antares    11  15:46  Saturn 1.4°S of Moon    12  17     N Taurid Meteor Shower    13  14:04  Moon at Descending Node     14  15:57  Moon at Apogee: 404341 km    14  23:14  Venus 0.2°S of Spica    15  14:54  FIRST QUARTER MOON     16  04:16  Mars 1.0°N of Moon: Occn.    17  23     Leonid Meteor Shower    23  05:39  FULL MOON     23  21:11  Aldebaran 1.7°S of Moon    26  06     Jupiter in Conjunction with Sun     26  12:10  Moon at Perigee: 366623 km    27  05:18  Moon at Ascending Node     27  09     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction     27  20:57  Beehive 0.8°N of Moon    29  09     Mercury at Perihelion     29  09:27  Regulus 2.3°S of Moon    30  00:19  LAST QUARTER MOON Dec 03  18:42  Venus 3.6°S of Moon    05  21:06  Mercury 1.9°S of Moon    07  07:20  NEW MOON     09  05:30  Saturn 1.1°S of Moon: Occn.    10  17:57  Moon at Descending Node     12  12:25  Moon at Apogee: 405177 km    14  12     Geminid Meteor Shower    14  23:21  Mars 3.6°N of Moon    15  11     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 21.3°W    15  11:49  FIRST QUARTER MOON     21  07:31  Aldebaran 1.7°S of Moon    21  20     Mercury 0.8°N of Jupiter    21  22:22  Winter Solstice     22  08:05  Mercury 5.8°N of Antares    22  15:03  Jupiter 5.1°N of Antares    22  17:49  FULL MOON     22  21     Ursid Meteor Shower    24  09:52  Moon at Perigee: 361060 km    24  11:54  Moon at Ascending Node     25  04:52  Beehive 0.6°N of Moon    26  16:06  Regulus 2.5°S of Moon    26  18     Venus at Perihelion     29  09:34  LAST QUARTER MOON     

 Terms Used in Astronomical Events Calendar 
  • 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
  • Beehive - bright star cluster in the constellation Cancer
Calendars of Astronomical Events: 2011 to 2020
Europe, Africa, and the Middle East
Below are links to calendars of astronomical events from 2011 to 2020 for five time zones 
in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. 
Choose a time zone and click on a year to get a calendar of astronomical events for that year.
   Calendar of Astronomical Events - Europe, Africa, & Middle East
   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 
        Time Zones Abbreviations
        • GMT = Greenwich Mean Time 
        • CET = Central European Time (= GMT + 1 hour)
        • EET = Eastern European Time (= GMT + 2 hours)
        • MSK = Moscow Time (= GMT + 3 hours)
        • GST = Gulf Standard Time (= GMT + 4 hours)
A time zone may have a different name in different countries. Note the difference in hours between a given time zone and Greenwich Mean Time to help in identification.
For other years and other time zones, visit: Calendars of Astronomical Events.
 
Accuracy of the Astronomical Events Calendars
The goal of the Astronomical Events Calendars 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 Astronomical Events Calendars
 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 

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: 

Return to: Calendars of Astronomical Events
Return to: Planetary Ephemeris Data