2020 Sky Event Almanac

Central Standard Time

The following table gives the date and time of the important astronomical events for the year. The times listed are for Central Standard Time (Coordinated Universal Time − 6 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
Central Standard Time
January - June July - December
Date     CST   Event
        (h:m)

Jan 01  19:30  Moon at Apogee: 404580 km
    02  22:45  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    04  03     Quadrantid Meteor Shower
    05  02     Earth at Perihelion: 0.98324 AU
    07  15:09  Aldebaran 3.0°S of Moon
    09  17:29  Moon at Ascending Node 
    10  09     Mercury at Superior Conjunction 
    10  13:10  Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.896
    10  13:21  FULL MOON 
    13  05:37  Regulus 3.8°S of Moon
    13  08     Saturn in Conjunction with Sun 
    13  14:20  Moon at Perigee: 365964 km
    17  06:58  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    17  17:03  Mars 4.7°N of Antares
    20  13:13  Mars 2.3°S of Moon
    22  14:31  Moon at Descending Node 
    22  20:42  Jupiter 0.4°N of Moon: Occn.
    24  15:42  NEW MOON 
    28  01:29  Venus 4.1°N of Moon
    29  15:28  Moon at Apogee: 405390 km

Feb 01  19:42  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    04  00:53  Aldebaran 3.1°S of Moon
    06  02:59  Moon at Ascending Node 
    09  01:33  FULL MOON 
    09  15:15  Regulus 3.8°S of Moon
    10  08     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.2°E
    10  14:31  Moon at Perigee: 360464 km
    11  23     Mercury at Perihelion 
    15  16:17  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    18  07:18  Mars 0.8°S of Moon: Occn.
    18  18:12  Moon at Descending Node 
    19  13:36  Jupiter 0.9°N of Moon: Occn.
    20  07:47  Saturn 1.7°N of Moon
    23  09:32  NEW MOON 
    25  20     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction 
    26  05:35  Moon at Apogee: 406277 km

Mar 02  09:16  Aldebaran 3.3°S of Moon
    02  13:57  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    04  08:58  Moon at Ascending Node 
    08  02:23  Regulus 3.8°S of Moon
    08  06     Neptune in Conjunction with Sun 
    09  11:48  FULL MOON 
    10  00:33  Moon at Perigee: 357123 km
    16  03:34  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    16  19:00  Moon at Descending Node 
    18  02:19  Mars 0.7°N of Moon: Occn.
    18  04:18  Jupiter 1.5°N of Moon
    18  18:04  Saturn 2.1°N of Moon
    19  21:50  Vernal Equinox 
    19  22     Venus at Perihelion 
    20  04     Mars 0.7°S of Jupiter
    21  11:48  Mercury 3.6°N of Moon
    23  20     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 27.8°W
    24  03:28  NEW MOON 
    24  09:23  Moon at Apogee: 406690 km
    24  16     Venus at Greatest Elong: 46.1°E
    26  23     Mercury at Aphelion 
    29  15:52  Aldebaran 3.6°S of Moon
    31  10:51  Moon at Ascending Node 
    31  14     Mars 0.9°S of Saturn

Apr 01  04:21  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    03  08:36  Venus 0.3°S of Pleiades
    04  12:45  Regulus 3.9°S of Moon
    07  12:08  Moon at Perigee: 356909 km
    07  20:35  FULL MOON 
    12  20:58  Moon at Descending Node 
    14  16:56  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    14  17:04  Jupiter 2.0°N of Moon
    15  03:26  Saturn 2.5°N of Moon
    15  22:33  Mars 2.0°N of Moon
    20  13:01  Moon at Apogee: 406463 km
    22  00     Lyrid Meteor Shower
    22  20:26  NEW MOON 
    25  21:34  Aldebaran 3.8°S of Moon
    26  04     Uranus in Conjunction with Sun 
    27  11:54  Moon at Ascending Node 
    29  08:19  Pollux 4.7°N of Moon
    30  14:38  FIRST QUARTER MOON 

May 01  20:49  Regulus 4.2°S of Moon
    04  13     Eta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
    04  15     Mercury at Superior Conjunction 
    05  21:03  Moon at Perigee: 359656 km
    07  04:45  FULL MOON 
    09  22     Mercury at Perihelion 
    10  03:01  Moon at Descending Node 
    12  03:40  Jupiter 2.3°N of Moon
    12  12:18  Saturn 2.7°N of Moon
    14  08:03  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    14  20:00  Mars 2.8°N of Moon
    17  20     Jupiter 4.8°S of Saturn
    18  01:45  Moon at Apogee: 405584 km
    22  04     Mercury 0.9°S of Venus
    22  11:39  NEW MOON 
    23  20:40  Venus 3.7°N of Moon
    24  04:53  Mercury 2.8°N of Moon
    24  15:34  Moon at Ascending Node 
    26  13:43  Pollux 4.6°N of Moon
    29  02:44  Regulus 4.3°S of Moon
    29  21:30  FIRST QUARTER MOON 

Jun 02  21:36  Moon at Perigee: 364366 km
    03  12     Venus at Inferior Conjunction 
    04  07     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 23.6°E
    05  13:12  FULL MOON 
    05  13:25  Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.568
    06  12:10  Moon at Descending Node 
    08  11:19  Jupiter 2.2°N of Moon
    08  20:19  Saturn 2.7°N of Moon
    12  17:53  Mars 2.7°N of Moon
    13  00:24  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    14  18:56  Moon at Apogee: 404597 km
    19  02:52  Venus 0.7°S of Moon: Occn.
    19  10:56  Aldebaran 3.8°S of Moon
    20  15:43  Summer Solstice 
    20  22:24  Moon at Ascending Node 
    21  00:40  Annular Solar Eclipse; mag=0.994
    21  00:41  NEW MOON 
    22  19:53  Pollux 4.5°N of Moon
    25  08:09  Regulus 4.3°S of Moon
    28  02:16  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    29  20:09  Moon at Perigee: 368958 km
    30  21     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction 

Date     CST   Event
        (h:m)

Jul 03  21:18  Moon at Descending Node 
    04  07     Earth at Aphelion: 1.01669 AU
    04  22:30  Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.355
    04  22:44  FULL MOON 
    05  15:37  Jupiter 1.9°N of Moon
    06  02:45  Saturn 2.5°N of Moon
    10  06     Venus at Aphelion 
    11  06:10  Venus 1.0°N of Aldebaran
    11  13:36  Mars 2.0°N of Moon
    12  13:27  Moon at Apogee: 404201 km
    12  17:29  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    14  01     Jupiter at Opposition 
    16  19:21  Aldebaran 3.8°S of Moon
    17  01:26  Venus 3.1°S of Moon
    18  06:33  Moon at Ascending Node 
    18  21:54  Mercury 3.9°S of Moon
    20  11:33  NEW MOON 
    20  16     Saturn at Opposition 
    22  09     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 20.1°W
    22  14:50  Regulus 4.3°S of Moon
    24  22:54  Moon at Perigee: 368367 km
    27  06:32  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    27  15     Delta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
    31  03:32  Moon at Descending Node 

Aug 01  17:30  Jupiter 1.5°N of Moon
    02  07:17  Saturn 2.3°N of Moon
    03  03     Mars at Perihelion:  1.38138 AU
    03  09:59  FULL MOON 
    05  22     Mercury at Perihelion 
    09  01:57  Mars 0.8°N of Moon: Occn.
    09  07:51  Moon at Apogee: 404658 km
    11  10:45  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    12  07     Perseid Meteor Shower
    12  19     Venus at Greatest Elong: 45.8°W
    13  04:06  Aldebaran 4.0°S of Moon
    14  13:22  Moon at Ascending Node 
    15  07:01  Venus 4.0°S of Moon
    16  13:10  Pollux 4.5°N of Moon
    17  09     Mercury at Superior Conjunction 
    18  20:41  NEW MOON 
    21  04:59  Moon at Perigee: 363513 km
    25  11:58  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    27  05:52  Moon at Descending Node 
    28  19:33  Jupiter 1.4°N of Moon
    29  10:40  Saturn 2.2°N of Moon

Sep 01  23:22  FULL MOON 
    05  22:42  Mars 0.0°S of Moon: Occn.
    06  00:31  Moon at Apogee: 405606 km
    09  12:12  Aldebaran 4.2°S of Moon
    10  03:26  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    10  17:05  Moon at Ascending Node 
    11  13     Neptune at Opposition 
    12  22:50  Pollux 4.3°N of Moon
    13  22:43  Venus 4.5°S of Moon
    15  09:51  Regulus 4.3°S of Moon
    17  05:00  NEW MOON 
    18  07:44  Moon at Perigee: 359081 km
    18  21     Mercury at Aphelion 
    22  00:06  Mercury 0.3°N of Spica
    22  07:31  Autumnal Equinox 
    23  06:33  Moon at Descending Node 
    23  19:55  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    25  00:46  Jupiter 1.6°N of Moon
    25  14:46  Saturn 2.3°N of Moon

Oct 01  10     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 25.8°E
    01  15:05  FULL MOON 
    02  11:09  Venus 0.1°S of Regulus
    02  21:21  Mars 0.7°N of Moon: Occn.
    03  11:22  Moon at Apogee: 406321 km
    06  19:02  Aldebaran 4.5°S of Moon
    07  18:29  Moon at Ascending Node 
    09  18:39  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    10  07:18  Pollux 4.1°N of Moon
    12  19:59  Regulus 4.5°S of Moon
    13  17     Mars at Opposition 
    13  17:57  Venus 4.3°S of Moon
    16  13:31  NEW MOON 
    16  17:46  Moon at Perigee: 356913 km
    20  09:53  Moon at Descending Node 
    20  23     Orionid Meteor Shower
    22  11:10  Jupiter 2.0°N of Moon
    22  21:49  Saturn 2.6°N of Moon
    23  07:23  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    25  12     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction 
    29  10:13  Mars 3.0°N of Moon
    30  12:46  Moon at Apogee: 406393 km
    30  15     Venus at Perihelion 
    31  08:49  FULL MOON 
    31  10     Uranus at Opposition 

Nov 01  21     Mercury at Perihelion 
    03  20:39  Moon at Ascending Node 
    05  00     S Taurid Meteor Shower
    06  13:52  Pollux 3.9°N of Moon
    08  07:46  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    09  04:20  Regulus 4.7°S of Moon
    10  11     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 19.1°W
    11  23     N Taurid Meteor Shower
    12  15:30  Venus 3.1°S of Moon
    13  14:45  Mercury 1.7°S of Moon
    14  05:48  Moon at Perigee: 357839 km
    14  23:07  NEW MOON 
    16  07:27  Venus 3.6°N of Spica
    16  18:07  Moon at Descending Node 
    17  05     Leonid Meteor Shower
    19  02:54  Jupiter 2.5°N of Moon
    19  08:57  Saturn 2.9°N of Moon
    21  22:45  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    26  18:29  Moon at Apogee: 405891 km
    30  03:30  FULL MOON 
    30  03:43  Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.829

Dec 01  01:46  Moon at Ascending Node 
    03  19:24  Pollux 3.8°N of Moon
    06  10:28  Regulus 4.8°S of Moon
    07  18:37  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    12  14:40  Venus 0.8°S of Moon: Occn.
    12  14:42  Moon at Perigee: 361777 km
    13  19     Geminid Meteor Shower
    14  05:03  Moon at Descending Node 
    14  10:13  Total Solar Eclipse; mag=1.025
    14  10:17  NEW MOON 
    16  22:28  Jupiter 2.9°N of Moon
    16  23:25  Saturn 3.1°N of Moon
    19  21     Mercury at Superior Conjunction 
    21  04:03  Winter Solstice 
    21  17:41  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    22  03     Ursid Meteor Shower
    22  03     Jupiter 0.1°S of Saturn
    24  10:32  Moon at Apogee: 405010 km
    28  09:03  Moon at Ascending Node 
    29  21:28  FULL MOON 
    31  01:41  Pollux 3.8°N 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

2020 Phases of the Moon

Central Standard Time

The following table gives the date and time of the Moon's phases for the year. The times listed are for Central Standard Time (Coordinated Universal Time − 6 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
Central Standard Time
New Moon First Quarter Full Moon Last Quarter
- Jan 02 22:45 Jan 10 13:21 n Jan 17 06:58
Jan 24 15:42 Feb 01 19:42 Feb 09 01:33 Feb 15 16:17
Feb 23 09:32 Mar 02 13:57 Mar 09 11:48 Mar 16 03:34
Mar 24 03:28 Apr 01 04:21 Apr 07 20:35 Apr 14 16:56
Apr 22 20:26 Apr 30 14:38 May 07 04:45 May 14 08:03
May 22 11:39 May 29 21:30 Jun 05 13:12 n Jun 13 00:24
Jun 21 00:41 A Jun 28 02:16 Jul 04 22:44 n Jul 12 17:29
Jul 20 11:33 Jul 27 06:32 Aug 03 09:59 Aug 11 10:45
Aug 18 20:41 Aug 25 11:58 Sep 01 23:22 Sep 10 03:26
Sep 17 05:00 Sep 23 19:55 Oct 01 15:05 Oct 09 18:39
Oct 16 13:31 Oct 23 07:23 Oct 31 08:49 Nov 08 07:46
Nov 14 23:07 Nov 21 22:45 Nov 30 03:30 n Dec 07 18:37
Dec 14 10:17 T Dec 21 17:41 Dec 29 21:28 -

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

        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


Useful External Links

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