2008 Sky Event Almanac

Mountain Standard Time

The following table gives the date and time of the important astronomical events for the year. The times listed are for Mountain Standard Time (Coordinated Universal Time − 7 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.

2008 Sky Event Almanac
Mountain Standard Time
January - June July - December
Date     MST   Event
        (h:m)

Jan 01  07:51  Spica 2.4°N of Moon
    02  17     Earth at Perihelion: 0.98328 AU
    03  01:06  Moon at Apogee: 405328 km
    04  00     Quadrantid Meteor Shower
    05  02:55  Antares 0.5°N of Moon
    08  04:37  NEW MOON 
    11  08:17  Moon at Ascending Node 
    15  12:46  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    17  23:43  Pleiades 1.1°S of Moon
    19  01:39  Moon at Perigee: 366436 km
    19  16:40  Mars 1.1°S of Moon: Occn.
    21  17:00  Pollux 3.8°N of Moon
    21  22     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.6°E
    22  06:35  FULL MOON 
    24  03:49  Moon at Descending Node 
    24  07:57  Regulus 0.7°N of Moon
    24  23:25  Saturn 3.0°N of Moon
    27  11     Mercury at Perihelion 
    28  16:09  Spica 2.5°N of Moon
    29  22:03  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    30  21:26  Moon at Apogee: 404532 km

Feb 01  06     Venus 0.6°N of Jupiter
    01  10:57  Antares 0.6°N of Moon
    03  22:52  Jupiter 4.0°N of Moon
    04  04:35  Venus 4.3°N of Moon
    06  11     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction 
    06  20:44  NEW MOON 
    06  20:55  Annular Solar Eclipse; mag=0.965
    07  14:39  Moon at Ascending Node 
    10  19     Neptune in Conjunction with Sun 
    13  18:07  Moon at Perigee: 370216 km
    13  20:34  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    14  05:35  Pleiades 1.2°S of Moon
    16  00:53  Mars 1.6°S of Moon
    18  01:15  Pollux 3.8°N of Moon
    20  13:01  Moon at Descending Node 
    20  17:16  Regulus 0.7°N of Moon
    20  20:26  Total Lunar Eclipse; mag=1.106
    20  20:31  FULL MOON 
    21  05:01  Saturn 2.9°N of Moon
    24  02     Saturn at Opposition 
    25  00:47  Spica 2.6°N of Moon
    27  01     Mercury 1.1°N of Venus
    27  18:27  Moon at Apogee: 404442 km
    28  19:16  Antares 0.6°N of Moon
    28  19:18  LAST QUARTER MOON 

Mar 02  17:56  Jupiter 3.6°N of Moon
    03  04     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 27.1°W
    05  06:59  Mercury 0.2°N of Moon: Occn.
    05  12:20  Venus 0.2°S of Moon: Occn.
    05  23:52  Moon at Ascending Node 
    07  10:14  NEW MOON 
    08  13     Uranus in Conjunction with Sun 
    10  14:39  Moon at Perigee: 366302 km
    11  11     Mercury at Aphelion 
    12  11:09  Pleiades 1.2°S of Moon
    14  03:46  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    14  19:58  Mars 1.7°S of Moon
    16  07:16  Pollux 3.8°N of Moon
    18  19:53  Moon at Descending Node 
    19  00:35  Regulus 0.7°N of Moon
    19  08:31  Saturn 2.7°N of Moon
    19  22:49  Vernal Equinox 
    21  05     Venus at Aphelion 
    21  11:40  FULL MOON 
    23  08:47  Spica 2.5°N of Moon
    24  06     Mercury 1.0°S of Venus
    26  13:13  Moon at Apogee: 405094 km
    27  03:04  Antares 0.5°N of Moon
    29  14:47  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    30  10:23  Jupiter 3.2°N of Moon

Apr 02  08:18  Moon at Ascending Node 
    04  18:09  Venus 4.7°S of Moon
    05  20:55  NEW MOON 
    07  12:28  Moon at Perigee: 361083 km
    08  18:38  Pleiades 1.0°S of Moon
    11  22:35  Mars 1.2°S of Moon: Occn.
    12  11:32  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    12  12:47  Pollux 4.0°N of Moon
    14  22:48  Moon at Descending Node 
    15  06:23  Regulus 0.9°N of Moon
    15  11:42  Saturn 2.6°N of Moon
    16  00     Mercury at Superior Conjunction 
    19  15:36  Spica 2.4°N of Moon
    20  03:25  FULL MOON 
    21  21     Lyrid Meteor Shower
    23  02:34  Moon at Apogee: 405945 km
    23  09:57  Antares 0.3°N of Moon
    24  10     Mercury at Perihelion 
    26  09:24  Mars 4.7°S of Pollux
    26  22:11  Jupiter 2.8°N of Moon
    28  07:12  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    29  13:07  Moon at Ascending Node 

May 02  13:07  Mercury 2.0°S of Pleiades
    03  14:12  Saturn 0.6°N of Regulus
    04  11     Eta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
    05  05:18  NEW MOON 
    05  20:22  Moon at Perigee: 357772 km
    06  15:17  Mercury 2.5°S of Moon
    09  19:51  Pollux 4.3°N of Moon
    10  06:44  Mars 0.2°S of Moon: Occn.
    11  20:47  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    11  23:37  Moon at Descending Node 
    12  12:14  Regulus 1.1°N of Moon
    12  17:08  Saturn 2.8°N of Moon
    12  19     Mars at Aphelion:  1.66594 AU
    13  21     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 21.8°E
    16  21:35  Spica 2.5°N of Moon
    19  19:11  FULL MOON 
    20  07:27  Moon at Apogee: 406404 km
    20  16:06  Antares 0.2°N of Moon
    24  04:20  Jupiter 2.5°N of Moon
    26  14:45  Moon at Ascending Node 
    27  19:57  LAST QUARTER MOON 

Jun 03  06:08  Moon at Perigee: 357251 km
    03  12:23  NEW MOON 
    06  05:04  Pollux 4.5°N of Moon
    07  08     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction 
    07  19:13  Mars 1.1°N of Moon: Occn.
    08  02:15  Moon at Descending Node 
    08  19:37  Regulus 1.4°N of Moon
    08  21     Venus at Superior Conjunction 
    09  02:26  Saturn 3.1°N of Moon
    10  08:04  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    13  03:37  Spica 2.7°N of Moon
    16  10:33  Moon at Apogee: 406229 km
    16  22:08  Antares 0.2°N of Moon
    18  10:30  FULL MOON 
    19  07:05  Mercury 1.5°N of Aldebaran
    20  05:44  Jupiter 2.4°N of Moon
    20  17:00  Summer Solstice 
    22  16:17  Moon at Ascending Node 
    26  05:10  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    30  01:13  Pleiades 1.0°S of Moon

Date     MST   Event
        (h:m)

Jul 01  03:15  Mars 0.6°N of Regulus
    01  11     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 21.8°W
    01  14:22  Moon at Perigee: 359513 km
    02  19:19  NEW MOON 
    04  01     Earth at Aphelion: 1.01675 AU
    05  08:53  Moon at Descending Node 
    06  04:46  Regulus 1.6°N of Moon
    06  11:03  Mars 2.6°N of Moon
    06  15:27  Saturn 3.5°N of Moon
    09  02     Jupiter at Opposition 
    09  21:35  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    10  10:33  Spica 2.9°N of Moon
    10  16     Mars 0.6°S of Saturn
    11  13     Venus at Perihelion 
    13  21:13  Moon at Apogee: 405452 km
    14  04:40  Antares 0.3°N of Moon
    17  05:27  Jupiter 2.6°N of Moon
    18  00:59  FULL MOON 
    19  20:27  Moon at Ascending Node 
    21  09     Mercury at Perihelion 
    25  11:42  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    27  09:08  Pleiades 1.1°S of Moon
    27  12     Delta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
    29  13     Mercury at Superior Conjunction 
    29  16:24  Moon at Perigee: 363887 km
    31  01:31  Pollux 4.6°N of Moon

Aug 01  03:13  NEW MOON 
    01  03:21  Total Solar Eclipse; mag=1.039
    01  18:21  Moon at Descending Node 
    02  07:49  Venus 2.3°N of Moon
    02  14:42  Regulus 1.7°N of Moon
    03  06:42  Saturn 3.8°N of Moon
    04  05:14  Mars 4.0°N of Moon
    05  17:57  Venus 0.9°N of Regulus
    06  18:38  Spica 3.0°N of Moon
    08  13:20  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    10  12:00  Antares 0.4°N of Moon
    10  13:18  Moon at Apogee: 404558 km
    12  04     Perseid Meteor Shower
    13  07:12  Jupiter 2.8°N of Moon
    13  12     Venus 0.2°S of Saturn
    14  23     Neptune at Opposition 
    15  14     Mercury 0.6°S of Saturn
    16  03:27  Moon at Ascending Node 
    16  14:10  Partial Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.808
    16  14:16  FULL MOON 
    20  14     Mercury 0.9°S of Venus
    23  15:01  Pleiades 1.1°S of Moon
    23  16:50  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    25  20:44  Moon at Perigee: 368693 km
    27  09:45  Pollux 4.6°N of Moon
    29  03:30  Moon at Descending Node 
    30  12:58  NEW MOON 

Sep 01  16:16  Mercury 2.9°N of Moon
    03  03:20  Spica 3.0°N of Moon
    03  09     Mercury at Aphelion 
    03  19     Saturn in Conjunction with Sun 
    06  19:56  Antares 0.3°N of Moon
    06  20     Mercury 2.5°S of Mars
    07  07:04  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    07  07:58  Moon at Apogee: 404210 km
    09  13:26  Jupiter 2.8°N of Moon
    10  21     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 26.9°E
    11  19     Venus 0.3°N of Mars
    12  09     Mercury 3.6°S of Venus
    12  11:24  Moon at Ascending Node 
    12  19     Uranus at Opposition 
    15  02:13  FULL MOON 
    18  20:35  Venus 2.2°N of Spica
    19  20:17  Moon at Perigee: 368890 km
    19  20:27  Pleiades 1.0°S of Moon
    21  22:04  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    22  08:45  Autumnal Equinox 
    22  17     Mercury 4.0°S of Mars
    23  12:51  Mercury 1.2°S of Spica
    23  15:57  Pollux 4.7°N of Moon
    24  18:47  Mars 2.1°N of Spica
    25  09:20  Moon at Descending Node 
    26  07:38  Regulus 1.7°N of Moon
    27  12:53  Saturn 4.6°N of Moon
    29  01:12  NEW MOON 
    30  11:42  Spica 2.9°N of Moon

Oct 04  03:52  Antares 0.1°N of Moon
    05  03:34  Moon at Apogee: 404716 km
    06  14     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction 
    07  00:22  Jupiter 2.5°N of Moon
    07  02:04  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    09  17:38  Moon at Ascending Node 
    14  13:03  FULL MOON 
    16  23:06  Moon at Perigee: 363828 km
    17  03:32  Pleiades 0.8°S of Moon
    17  09     Mercury at Perihelion 
    20  21     Orionid Meteor Shower
    20  21:24  Pollux 4.9°N of Moon
    21  04:55  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    22  02     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.3°W
    22  11:00  Moon at Descending Node 
    23  13:33  Regulus 1.9°N of Moon
    26  15:15  Venus 3.1°N of Antares
    28  16:14  NEW MOON 
    31  11:13  Antares 0.1°S of Moon

Nov 01  01:11  Venus 2.6°N of Moon
    01  21:55  Moon at Apogee: 405723 km
    03  14:54  Jupiter 1.9°N of Moon
    04  21     S Taurid Meteor Shower
    05  20:34  Moon at Ascending Node 
    05  21:03  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    11  20     N Taurid Meteor Shower
    12  23:17  FULL MOON 
    13  13:16  Pleiades 0.7°S of Moon
    14  02:59  Moon at Perigee: 358973 km
    17  03     Leonid Meteor Shower
    18  11:37  Moon at Descending Node 
    19  14:31  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    19  19:17  Regulus 2.2°N of Moon
    24  01:03  Spica 3.0°N of Moon
    25  10     Mercury at Superior Conjunction 
    27  09:55  NEW MOON 
    29  09:55  Moon at Apogee: 406480 km

Dec 01  02     Venus 2.0°S of Jupiter
    01  07:45  Jupiter 1.3°N of Moon
    01  09:01  Venus 0.8°S of Moon: Occn.
    02  21:47  Moon at Ascending Node 
    05  14:26  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    05  15     Mars in Conjunction with Sun 
    11  00:38  Pleiades 0.8°S of Moon
    12  09:37  FULL MOON 
    12  14:37  Moon at Perigee: 356568 km
    13  16     Geminid Meteor Shower
    15  16:02  Moon at Descending Node 
    17  02:47  Regulus 2.4°N of Moon
    19  03:29  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    21  05:04  Winter Solstice 
    21  06:54  Spica 3.2°N of Moon
    22  00     Ursid Meteor Shower
    24  23:53  Antares 0.1°S of Moon
    26  10:50  Moon at Apogee: 406602 km
    27  05:22  NEW MOON 
    28  21:09  Mercury 0.7°S of Moon: Occn.
    29  02:07  Jupiter 0.6°N of Moon: Occn.
    30  00:40  Moon at Ascending Node 
    31  14:03  Venus 3.4°S of Moon

    

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

2008 Phases of the Moon

Mountain Standard Time

The following table gives the date and time of the Moon's phases for the year. The times listed are for Mountain Standard Time (Coordinated Universal Time − 7 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.

2008 Phases of the Moon
Mountain Standard Time
New Moon First Quarter Full Moon Last Quarter
Jan 08 04:37 Jan 15 12:46 Jan 22 06:35 Jan 29 22:03
Feb 06 20:44 A Feb 13 20:34 Feb 20 20:31 t Feb 28 19:18
Mar 07 10:14 Mar 14 03:46 Mar 21 11:40 Mar 29 14:47
Apr 05 20:55 Apr 12 11:32 Apr 20 03:25 Apr 28 07:12
May 05 05:18 May 11 20:47 May 19 19:11 May 27 19:57
Jun 03 12:23 Jun 10 08:04 Jun 18 10:30 Jun 26 05:10
Jul 02 19:19 Jul 09 21:35 Jul 18 00:59 Jul 25 11:42
Aug 01 03:13 T Aug 08 13:20 Aug 16 14:16 p Aug 23 16:50
Aug 30 12:58 Sep 07 07:04 Sep 15 02:13 Sep 21 22:04
Sep 29 01:12 Oct 07 02:04 Oct 14 13:03 Oct 21 04:55
Oct 28 16:14 Nov 05 21:04 Nov 12 23:17 Nov 19 14:31
Nov 27 09:55 Dec 05 14:26 Dec 12 09:37 Dec 19 03:29
Dec 27 05:23 ---

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: 2001 to 2010

The Americas

Below are links to sky event almanacs from 2001 to 2010 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 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
AST 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
EST 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
CST 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
MST 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
PST 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
AKST 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
HST 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

        Time Zones Abbreviations
        • 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)

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

book

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


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