Astronomical Calendar - A.D. 2006

Dominical Letter for This Year: "A" - Used in a Perpetual Calendar.


Authored By Glenn A. Walsh *** Sponsored By Friends of the Zeiss
Electronic Mail: < astrocalendar@planetarium.cc > *** Internet Web Cover Page: < http://www.planetarium.cc >
This Internet Web Page: < https://buhlplanetarium4.tripod.com/astrocalendar/2006.html >
Internet Web Site Master Index for the History of
The Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science, Pittsburgh


ASTRONOMICAL/CALENDAR EVENTS --

A.D. 2006

January ** February ** March

April ** May ** June

July ** August ** September

October ** November ** December

A.D. 2005: October ** November ** December

Calendar:
Current Year


Astro Calendar
Current Month

Astro Calendar
Current Year

Astro Calendar
Archives


Constellations
For Year

Moon Phases:
2006 * Today * Next 27.322 Days (Orbital Period)

Planets: 2006

Astronomical Glossary
Click here for links to the Moon, planets, star clusters, stars, and other astronomical terms referred to in this Astronomical Calendar.

NEWS: Astronomy, Space, Science

History of Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science, Pittsburgh


A.D. 2006

2006 January Constellations With Best Visibility This Month to Northern Hemisphere Observers, During Mid-Evening --
Orion, Taurus, Caelum, Dorado, Mensa, Reticulum
More Info

Planets Visible This Month to Northern Hemisphere Observers --
* Morning: Mercury (First few days with difficulty), Venus (End of month), Jupiter, Saturn
* Evening: Mars, Saturn

* Jan. 1 - New Year's Day (Traditional)

* Jan. 4, 10:00 a.m. EST - Earth at perihelion ( Earth's closest approach to the Sun for the year: 147,098,074 kilometers.)

* Jan. 6 - Feast of the Epiphany; the day after the "12th Night" of Christmas (Tradition celebrates as day the Magi arrived in Bethlehem to present gifts to the Christ child.)

* Jan. 6, 1:56 p.m. EST - First Quarter Moon

* Jan. 7 - Orthodox Christmas - As determined by Julian Calendar

* Jan. 14, 4:48 a.m. EST - Full Moon ( Wolf Moon)

* Jan. 15 - Stardust Mission Lands Successfully, Bringing Comet Dust for Scientific Study

* Jan. 16 - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Observed (American Federal observance of the Jan. 15 birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)

* Jan. 17 - 300th Birhday (1706) of Benjamin Franklin !
Scientist, inventor, library founder, and
founding father of America !

* Jan. 17, 11:24 a.m. EST - New Horizons Launch to Pluto and Kuiper Belt

* Jan. 17, 2:00 p.m. EST - Moon at apogee (farthest from Earth: 405,885 km)

* Jan. 18, 1:16 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. EST - Rescheduled Launch (Jan. 17 launch was scrubbed due to excessive ground winds) of New Horizons to Pluto and Kuiper Belt

* Jan. 21, 5:00 p.m. EST - Star Spica 0.6 degree south of Moon ( occultation in Asia)

* Jan. 22, 10:14 a.m. EST - Last Quarter Moon

* Jan. 23, 3:00 p.m. EST - Jupiter 5 degrees north of Moon

* Jan. 24 - Venus at perihelion (closest approach to Sun)

* Jan. 25, 7:00 a.m. EST - Star Antares 0.02 degree south of Moon ( occultation in South America)

* Jan. 26, 5:00 p.m. EST - Mercury in superior conjunction (Sun is between Mercury and Earth; Mercury not visible from Earth)

* Jan. 27 - Thirty-ninth anniversary [1967] of Apollo 1 fire; three astronauts perished.

* Jan. 27, 6:00 p.m. EST - Saturn at opposition ( Earth passes directly between Saturn and Sun; visible in clear sky all night)

* Jan. 27, 7:00 p.m. - Venus 12 degrees north of Moon

* Jan. 28 - Twentieth anniversary [1986] of STS Space Shuttle Challenger explosion; seven astronauts perished.
Viewed at Buhl Planetarium.

* Jan. 29 - Chinese New Year: Beginning of Year of the Dog (Year 4703); ending of Year of the Rooster (Year 4702). Based on lunar calendar.

* Jan. 29, 9:15 a.m. EST - New Moon

* Jan. 30, 3:00 a.m. EST - Moon at perigee (closest to Earth: 357,778 km)

LARGE TIDES predicted for coastal areas.

* Jan. 31, 11:00 p.m. EST - Saturn 0.9 degree south of Beehive Star Cluster (M44)

* Jan. 31 - Islamic New Year ( Muharram): A.H. 1427 - Based on lunar calendar, but the New Moon must be observable. All Islamic holidays begin at sundown on the evening before the date given.

2006 February

Planets Visible This Month to Northern Hemisphere Observers --
* Morning: Venus, Jupiter, Saturn
* Evening: Mercury (Last half of month--best 2006 evening view in Northern Hemisphere), Mars, Saturn

Constellations With Best Visibility This Month to Northern Hemisphere Observers, During Mid-Evening --
Gemini, Canis Major, Auriga, Camelopardalis, Columba, Lepus, Monoceros, Pictor
More Info

Meteor Showers -- No major meteor showers this month.

* Feb. 1 - Third anniversary [2003] of STS Space Shuttle Columbia explosion; seven astronauts perished.

* Feb. 2 - Traditional Astronomical Cross-Quarter Day Candlemas, better known as Groundhog Day (First traditional Astronomical Cross-Quarter Day of year; approximate mid-way point in Winter season.); actual cross-quarter day.
See 2006 results.

* Feb. 3, 6:21 p.m. EST - Actual Astronomical Cross-Quarter Day Candlemas (First actual Astronomical Cross-Quarter Day of year; approximate mid-way point in Winter season.); traditional cross-quarter day.

* Feb. 5, 1:29 a.m. EST - First Quarter Moon

* Feb. 5, 5:00 p.m. EST - Mars 2 degrees south of Moon

* Feb. 6, 3:00 a.m. EST - Moon 0.1 degree north of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45)

* Feb. 11, 10:00 a.m. EST - Saturn 4 degrees south of Moon

* Feb. 12 - Birthday of 16th American President, Abraham Lincoln (1809).

* Feb. 12, 11:44 p.m. EST - Full Moon ( Snow Moon)

* Feb. 13, 8:00 p.m. EST - Moon at apogee (farthest from Earth: 406,359 km)

* Feb. 14 - St. Valentine's Day

* Feb. 15 - Zodiacal Light dimly visible in northern lattitudes in western sky, after evening twilight, for next two weeks.

* Feb. 16, 3:00 p.m. EST - Mars 2 degrees south of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45)

* Feb. 17 - KYW1060.com - CITIZEN SCIENCE:
THIS WEEKEND, Great Backyard Bird Count Underway Across Country
Click Here to learn how you and your family can participate.

* Feb. 17, 3:00 p.m. EST - Venus greatest brilliancy

* Feb. 18, 12:00 Midnight EST - Star Spica 0.4 degree south of Moon ( occultation in extreme eastern North America, Central Africa)

* Feb. 20 - Presidents' Day (American Federal holiday)

* Feb. 20, 3:00 a.m. EST - Jupiter 5 degrees north of Moon

* Feb. 21, 2:17 a.m. EST - Last Quarter Moon

* Feb. 21, 4:00 p.m. EST - Star Antares 0.2 degree north of Moon ( occultation in Indonesia, Australia except NE, New Zealand)

* Feb. 22 - Birthday of first American President, George Washington (1732), according to Gregorian Calendar; according to Julian Calendar (now known as "Old Style Calendar") at use at that time, George Washington's birthday occurred on Feb. 11.

* Feb. 22 - Mercury at perihelion (closest approach to Sun)

* Feb. 24, 4:00 p.m. EST - Venus 10 degrees north of Moon

* Feb. 25, 5:00 a.m. EST - Asteroid Ceres 0.8 degree north of Moon ( occultation at tip of South America, Antarctica)

* Feb. 27 - Centennial of death of Samuel Pierpont Langley, first professional Director of Pittsburgh's Allegheny Observatory and a Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, who conducted early research into heavier-than-air, powered flight.

* Feb. 27, 3:00 p.m. EST - Moon at perigee (closest to Earth in 2006: 356,884 km)

LARGE TIDES predicted for coastal areas.

* Feb. 27, 7:31 p.m. EST - New Moon

* Feb. 28 - Fat Tuesday - Climax of Mardi Gras festivities, which started on January 6, Feast of the Epiphany.

* Feb. 28, 9:00 p.m. EST - Mercury 4 degrees north of Moon

Astronomical Glossary
Click here for links to the Moon, planets, star clusters, stars, and other astronomical terms referred to in this Astronomical Calendar.

2006 March
"March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb."

Planets Visible This Month to Northern Hemisphere Observers --
* Morning: Venus (Visibilty degrades slightly during month; by month's end it is only easily visible during morning twilight low in the east-southeast), Jupiter, Saturn
* Evening: Mercury (Quickly fades in first week of month, as it decends into the bright western twilight sky, for northern observers), Mars (In Constellation Taurus the Bull, stands more than 50 degrees high in the west-southwest at the end of evening twilight and sets near 1:00 a.m. in the northwest), Saturn

Constellations With Best Visibility This Month to Northern Hemisphere Observers, During Mid-Evening --
Cancer, Canis Minor, Carina, Lynx, Puppis, Pyxis, Vela, Volans.
More Info

Meteor Showers -- No major meteor showers this month.

* March 1 - Ash Wednesday

* March 1 - St. David's Day

* March 1 - Beginning of Autumn Season in Australia

* March 2 - 9th Annual Read Across America Day sponsored by the National Education Association on the occasion of the anniversary of the birth of Dr. Seuss in 1904.

* March 4 - Pennsylvania Charter Day: 325th Anniversary - William Penn received charter, for what became the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, from Great Britain's King Charles II on 1681 March 4.

* March 5, 10:00 a.m. EST - Moon 0.3 degree north of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45)

* March 6, 2:00 a.m. EST - Mars 3 degrees south of Moon

* March 6, 3:16 p.m. EST - First Quarter Moon

* March 10, 1:00 p.m. EST - Saturn 4 degrees south of Moon

* March 10, 7:00 p.m. EST - Mars 7 degrees north of Aldebaran (80 degrees east)

* March 11, 10:00 p.m. EST - Mercury in inferior conjunction

* March 12, 9:00 p.m. EST - Moon at apogee (farthest from Earth: 406,278 km)

* March 14, 6:35 p.m. EST - Full Moon ( Worm Moon); Penumbral Lunar Eclipse

* March 15 - " Ides of March"

* March 15 - Buzzards return to Hinckley, Ohio

* March 17 - St. Patrick's Day

* March 17 - Zodiacal Light dimly visible in northern lattitudes in western sky, after evening twilight, for next two weeks.

* March 17, 6:00 a.m. EST - Star Spica 0.3 degree south of Moon (occultation: Hawaiian Islands, extreme western South America)

* March 19 - St. Joseph's Day - Swallows return to Mission San Juan Capistrano, California

* March 19, 9:00 a.m. EST - Jupiter 5 degrees north of Moon

* March 20, 1:26 p.m. EST - Vernal Equinox - Beginning of Spring Season in Northern Hemisphere; beginning of New Year (solar calendar) in Afghanistan and Iran.

* March 20, 10:00 p.m. EST - Star Antares 0.3 degree north of Moon (occultation: northeast tip of South America, southern tip of South Africa)

* March 22, 2:10 p.m. EST - Last Quarter Moon

* March 25 through April 9 - Annual National Cherry Blossom Festival, Washington DC

* March 25, 7:00 a.m. EST - Asteroid Ceres 0.8 degree south of Moon (occultation: Central and east North America, northwest South America, western Europe including British Isles

* March 25, 6:00 p.m. EST - Venus 6 degrees north of Moon

* March 27, 12:00 Noon EST - Mercury 2 degrees north of Moon

* March 28, 2:00 a.m. EST - Moon at perigee (closest to Earth: 359,168 km)

* March 29, 5:15 a.m. EST - New Moon; Total Solar Eclipse
Safe Way to View Solar Eclipse

2006 April
" April showers bring May flowers !"
National Kite Month

Planets Visible This Month to Northern Hemisphere Observers --
*** Morning --
* Mercury: Poor viewing for northern observers; becomes lost in the glare of the Sun by the middle of April, very low in the east before sunrise. However, best morning view for Southern Hemisphere observers, for entire year!
* Venus: Low in east-southeast during morning twilight only; rises 2 hours before sunrise.
* Jupiter (In Constellation Libra): Rises (east-southeast) at the end of evening twilight; reaches its highest in the sky (30 degrees) around 1:30 a.m.; can be seen high (25 degrees) in south-southwest sky at beginning of morning twilight.
*** Evening --
* Mars (Middle of month, moves from Constellation Taurus to Gemini): High in the west (40 degrees) at the end of evening twilight; sets around 12:30 a.m. in the northwest.
* Jupiter (In Constellation Libra): Rises (east-southeast) at the end of evening twilight; reaches its highest in the sky (30 degrees) around 1:30 a.m.; can be seen high (25 degrees) in south-southwest sky at beginning of morning twilight.
* Saturn (In Constellation Cancer): High in the southwest (60 degrees) at the end of evening twilight; sets in the west-northwest around 2:30 a.m.

Constellations With Best Visibility This Month to Northern Hemisphere Observers, During Mid-Evening --
Antlia, Chamaeleon, Crater, Hydra, Leo, Leo Minor, Sextans, Ursa Major (The Great Bear/The Big Dipper).
More Info

Meteor Shower -- Lyrid

* March 25 through April 9 - Annual National Cherry Blossom Festival, Washington DC

* April 1 - April Fool's Day

* April 1, 7:00 p.m. EST - Moon 0.3 degree north of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45)

* April 2, 2:00 a.m. EST - Daylight Saving Time begins and Standard Time ends for civil functions; clocks should be reset to display one hour later than Standard Time.
Don't Be "Foolish" this Weekend -- Protect Your Sleep during Return to Daylight Saving Time
Special Note: In the United States of America, this will be the last time Daylight Saving Time begins on the first Sunday in April. Beginning in 2007, Daylight Saving Time will begin on the second Sunday in March and end on the first Sunday in November.

* April 3, 4:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Saving Time (EDST) - Mars 4 degrees south of Moon

* April 5, 8:01 a.m. EDST - First Quarter Moon

* April 6, 7:00 p.m. EDST - Saturn 4 degrees south of Moon

* April 7 - Mercury at aphelion (farthest from Sun)

* April 9, 9:00 a.m. EDST - Moon at apogee (farthest from Earth: 405,551 km)

* April 9 - Palm Sunday

* April 12 - World-Wide Day in Science

* April 12, Sunset - Passover begins.

* April 13 - Holy Thursday

* April 13, 12:40 p.m. EDST - Full Moon

* April 13, 1:00 p.m. EDST - Star Spica 0.3 degree south of Moon (occultation in southern Asia, northern Australia)

* April 14 - Good Friday

* April 15 - Holy Saturday

* April 15, 11:00 a.m. EDST - Jupiter 5 degrees north of Moon

* April 16 - Easter Sunday (Sunrise in Pittsburgh: 6:41 a.m. EDST)

* April 17 - Tax Day - Deadline for submission of Federal and State income taxes.

* April 17, 5:00 a.m. EDST - Star Antares 0.2 degree north of Moon (occultation in southern South America)

* April 17, 12:00 Noon EDST - Mars 0.7 degree north of M35, open star cluster in Constellation Gemini (64 degrees east)

* April 20, 11:28 p.m. EDST - Last Quarter Moon

* April 21 - Good Friday, as calculated by the Julian Calendar

* April 22 - Earth Day

* April 22, 12:00 Noon EDST - Peak of Lyrid Meteor Shower

* April 23 - Orthodox Easter, as calculated by the Julian Calendar (Sunrise in Pittsburgh: 6:30 a.m. EDST)

* April 23 to 29 - National Volunteer Week

* April 23 to 30 - National Dark-Sky Week
Also see News Article.

* April 24, 10:00 a.m. EDST - Venus 0.5 degree north of Moon (occultation in South America: south, central, and northeast; West Africa: southeast)

* April 25, 7:00 a.m. EDST - Moon at perigee (closest to Earth: 363,732 km)

* April 26, 4:00 a.m. EDST - Mercury 4 degrees south of Moon

* April 27, 3:44 p.m. EDST - New Moon

* April 28 - Arbor Day ( National Arbor Day Foundation)

* April 29 to June 4 - Museums and Galleries Month (United Kingdom)

* April 29, 6:00 a.m. EDST - Moon 0.2 degree north of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45)

2006 May
" April showers bring May flowers !"
Preservation Month

Constellations With Best Visibility This Month to Northern Hemisphere Observers, During Mid-Evening

Meteor Shower visible this month: n-Aquarid

* April 29 to June 4 - Museums and Galleries Month (United Kingdom)

* May 1 - Traditional Astronomical Cross-Quarter Day Beltaine, better known as May Day ( Second traditional Astronomical Cross-Quarter Day of year; approximate mid-way point in Spring season.); actual cross-quarter day.

* May 2, 7:00 a.m. EDST - Mars 4 degrees south of Moon

* May 4, 5:00 a.m. EDST - Saturn 4 degrees south of Moon

* May 4, 11:00 a.m. EDST - Jupiter at opposition

* May 5 - Cinco de Mayo (Mexico)

* May 5, 1:00 a.m. EDST - Peak of n-Aquarid Meteor Shower

* May 5, 1:13 a.m. EDST - First Quarter Moon

* May 5, 11:28 a.m. EDST - Actual Astronomical Cross-Quarter Day Beltaine, better known as May Day ( Second traditional Astronomical Cross-Quarter Day of year; approximate mid-way point in Spring season.); traditional cross-quarter day.

* May 6 - International Astronomy Day

* May 7, 3:00 a.m. EDST - Moon at apogee (farthest from Earth: 404,572 km)

* May 10, 8:00 p.m. EDST - Star Spica 0.3 degree south of Moon (occultation in eastern North America, part of west and central Africa)

* May 12, 12:00 Noon EDST - Jupiter 5 degrees north of Moon

* May 13, 2:51 a.m. EDST - Full Moon

* May 14 - Mothers' Day

* May 14, 11:00 a.m. EDST - Star Antares 0.1 degree north of Moon (occultation in Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand)

* May 17 - Venus at aphelion (farthest from Sun)

* May 18 - International Museum Day

* May 18, 4:00 p.m. EDST - Mercury in superior conjunction

* May 20, 5:20 a.m. EDST - Last Quarter Moon

* May 21 - I Am An American Day (Third Sunday in May)

* May 21 - Mercury at perihelion (closest to Sun)

* May 22, 11:00 a.m. EDST - Moon at perigee (closest to Earth: 368,608 km)

* May 24 - Victoria Day (Canada)

* May 24, 4:00 a.m. EDST - Venus 4 degrees south of Moon

* May 25 - National Missing Children's Day

* May 25, 1:00 a.m. EDST - Mars 5 degrees south of Star Pollux, one of the primary stars of the Gemini Twins (50 degrees east)

* May 27, 1:26 a.m. EDST - New Moon

* May 29 - Memorial Day Observed (USA)

* May 30 - Decoration Day/Memorial Day (USA)

* May 30, 11:00 p.m. EDST - Mars 3 degrees south of Moon

* May 31, 5:00 p.m. EDST - Saturn 4 degrees south of Moon

2006 June

Summer Begins: June 21 (See actual date for exact time of event)

Moon Phases -- New: June 25, First Quarter: June 3, Full Moon: June 11, Last Quarter: June 18 (See actual date for exact time of event)

Constellations With Best Visibility This Month to Northern Hemisphere Observers, During Mid-Evening

Meteor Shower -- Arietid: peaks June 8.

* April 29 to June 4 - Museums and Galleries Month (United Kingdom)

* June 1 - Beginning of Winter Season in Australia

* June 3, 7:06 p.m. EDST - First Quarter Moon

* June 3, 10:00 p.m. EDST - Moon at apogee (404,081 km from Earth)

* June 4, 11:00 a.m. EDST - Mercury 1.2 degrees north of M35, open star cluster in Constellation Gemini (18 degrees east)

* June 5, 2:00 p.m. EDST - Saturn 0.8 degree south of Beehive Star Cluster (M44) (52 degrees east)

* June 7, 5:00 a.m. EDST - Star Spica 0.1 degree south of Moon; occultation: extreme east Asia, most of Japan

* June 8 - Peak of Arietid Meteor Shower
See also: Meteorite impacts in Norway and on the Moon.

* June 8, 3:00 p.m. EDST - Jupiter 5 degrees north of Moon

* June 10 7:00 p.m. EDST - Star Antares 0.1 degree north of Moon; occultation: northeast South America, southern Africa, Madagascar

* June 11, 2:03 p.m. EDST - Full Moon

* June 14 - Flag Day (U.S.A.)

* June 15, 6:00 p.m. EDST - Mars 0.2 degree south of Beehive Star Cluster (M44) (42 degrees east)

* June 16, 1:00 p.m. EDST - Pluto at opposition

* June 16, 7:00 p.m. EDST - Mars 0.6 degree north of Saturn (41 degree east)

* June 18 - Fathers' Day

* June 18, 10:08 a.m. EDST - Last Quarter Moon

* June 19, 12:00 Noon EDST - Uranus stationary

* June 20, 7:0 p.m. EDST - Mercury 6 degrees south of Star Pollux (24 degrees east)

* June 21, 8:26 a.m. EDST - Summer Solstice (Also see 1985-1991: Annual Free Day at Buhl Planetarium)

* June 22, 6:00 p.m. EDST - Venus 6 degrees south of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45) (32 degrees west)

* June 22, 11:00 p.m. EDST - Venus 6 degrees south of Moon

* June 22, 11:00 p.m. EDST - Moon 0.3 degree north of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45)

* June 24 - St. Jean Baptiste Day (Quebec)

* June 25, 12:05 p.m. EDST - New Moon

* June 26 - Mars at aphelion

* June 26, 8:00 a.m. EDST - Asteroid Ceres at stationary * June 27, 10:00 a.m. EDST - Mercury 5 degrees south of Moon

* June 28, 7:00 a.m. EDST - Saturn 3 degrees south of Moon

* June 28, 3:00 p.m. EDST - Asteroid Vesta 0.2 degree north of Moon; occultation: Central America, Carribean, north and central South America

* June 28, 5:00 p.m. EDST - Mars 2 degrees south of Moon

* June 30 - Last day of 2005-2006 Fiscal Year (Pennsylvania)

2006 July

Meteor Shower -- S. Delta-Aquarid: peaks July 28.

Moon Phases (See actual date for exact time of event) -- New: July 25, First Quarter: July 3, Full Moon: July 10, Last Quarter: July 17
Current Phase
Phases Next 27.322 Days (Orbital Period)

Planets Visible This Month to Northern Hemisphere Observers

Constellations With Best Visibility This Month to Northern Hemisphere Observers, During Mid-Evening

* July 1 - Dominion Day / Canada Day: Anniversary of the independence of Canada

* July 1 - First day of 2006-2007 Fiscal Year (Pennsylvania)

* July 1, 4:00 p.m. EDST - Moon at apogee:404,448 km (farthest point from Earth)

* July 2, 4:00 p.m. EDST - Venus 4 degrees north of Star Aldebaran

* July 3 - Aug. 11 (approx.) - " The Dog Days of Summer"

* July 3, 12:47 p.m. EDST - First Quarter Moon

* July 3, 7:00 p.m. EDST - Earth at aphelion: 152,095,700 km (farthest point from Sun)

* July 4 - Independence Day of the United States of America

* July 4 - Mercury at aphelion (farthest point from Sun)

* July 4, 1:00 p.m. EDST - Star Spica 0.1 degree north of Moon; occultation: west and southern Africa

* July 5, 10:00 p.m. EDST - Jupiter 5 degrees north of Moon

* July 8, 4:00 a.m. EDST - Star Antares 0.2 degree north of Moon; occultation: northern and eastern Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand

* July 10 - 150th (1856) anniversary of the birth of genius Nikola Tesla (Link 1 *** Link 2), who invented the Alternating Current (AC) form of electricity distribution and the Tesla Coil.

* July 10, 11:02 p.m. EDST - Full Moon

* July 13, 2:00 p.m. EDST - Moon at perigeee: 364,288 km (closest point to Earth)

* July 17, 3:12 p.m. EDST - Last Quarter Moon

* July 18, 3:00 a.m. EDST - Mercury at inferior conjunction

* July 19 - About 2000 years ago in Greece: Date of the heliacal rising of Sirius; mid-way point of " Dog Days of Summer."

* July 20 - 37th Anniversary of * July 20 - 37th Anniversary of First Manned Landing on the Moon

* July 20, 5:00 a.m. EDST - Moon 0.4 degree north of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45)

* July 20, 5:00 p.m. EDST - 1.5 degrees south of M35 open star cluster (25 degrees west)

* July 22, 2:00 a.m. EDST - Mars 0.7 degree north of Star Regulus (30 degrees east)

* July 22, 8:00 p.m. EDST - Venus 6 degrees south of Moon

* July 25, 12:31 a.m. EDST - New Moon

* July 27, 1:00 p.m. EDST - Mars 1.1 degrees south of Moon; occultation: part of Greenland, Europe including British Isles

* July 28 to July 29 - Stellafane Astronomy Convention, Springfield VT

* July 28, 3:00 a.m. EDST - Peak of S. Delta-Aquarid Meteor Shower

* July 29 - Annual Rain Day in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania

* July 29, 9:00 a.m. EDST - Moon at apogee: 405,406 km ((farthest point from Earth)

* July 31 - 2006 Heliacal rising of Sirius; modern mid-way point in "Dog Days of Summer" (however, Sirius not visible until, at least, Aug. 7, due to glare of Sun).

* July 31, 9:00 p.m. EDST - Star Spica 0.4 degree north of Moon; occultation: southern South America.

2006 August

Meteor Shower -- Perseid
AMONG BEST OF YEAR !

Moon Phases: Calendar Month
Today *** Next 27.322 Days (Orbital Period)

Planets *** Constellations

* July 3 - Aug. 11 (approx.) - " The Dog Days of Summer"

* Aug. 1 - Traditional Astronomical Cross-Quarter Day Lammas or First Harvest (third traditional cross-quarter day of the year) between Midsummer Solstice & Autumnal Equinox; actual cross-quarter day.

* Aug. 1 - 23rd Annual National Night-Out, with additional lighting for communities to fight crime (originally scheduled, inadvertently, near days of Perseid Meteor Shower; in later years it was rescheduled earlier in month)

* Aug. 2, 4:46 a.m. EDST - First Quarter Moon

* Aug. 2, 8:00 a.m. EDST - Jupiter 5 degrees north of Moon

* Aug. 3, 12:11 p.m. EDST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope

* Aug. 4, 2:00 p.m. EDST - Star Antares 0.4 degree north of Moon; occultation: extreme northeast part of South America, tip of South Africa

* Aug. 6, 8:00 a.m. EDST - Mercury 9 degrees south of Star Pollux (19 degrees west)

* Aug. 7 - Civic Holiday in certain Canadian provinces (First Monday in August)

* Aug. 7 - 2006 first visible (Sirius rises ahead of Sun at 7 degrees altitude) Heliacal rising of Sirius; modern mid-way point in "The Dog Days of Summer."

* Aug. 7, 1:08 a.m. EDST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope

* Aug. 7, 8:00 a.m. EDST - Saturn in conjunction with Sun (Saturn not visible)

* Aug. 7, 11:41 a.m. EDST - Actual Astronomical Cross-Quarter Day Lammas or First Harvest is the (third actual cross-quarter day of the year) between Midsummer Solstice & Autumnal Equinox; traditional cross-quarter day.

* Aug. 8, 3:00 a.m. EDST - Venus 7 degrees south of Star Pollux (21 degrees west)

* Aug. 9, 6:54 a.m. EDST - Full Moon

* Aug. 9, 8:00 a.m. EDST - Neptune 3 degrees north of Moon

* Aug. 10, 2:00 p.m. EDST - Moon at Perigee (359,749 km)

* Aug. 10, 2:05 p.m. EDST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope

* Aug. 10, 5:00 p.m. EDST - Mercury 2 degrees from Venus (quasi-conjunction)

* Aug. 11, 1:00 a.m. EDST - Neptune at opposition

* Aug. 11, 2:00 a.m. EDST - Uranus 0.3 degree north of Moon; occultation: South America except northwest part and southern tip, western Africa

* Aug. 12, 11:00 a.m. EDST - Asteroid Ceres at opposition

* Aug. 12, 7:00 p.m. EDST - Peak of Perseid Meteor Shower - AMONG BEST OF YEAR !

* Aug. 14, 3:03 a.m. EDST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope

* Aug. 15, 9:51 p.m. EDST - Last Quarter Moon

* Aug. 15, 10:00 p.m. EDST - Mercury 1.0 degree south of Beehive Star Cluster (M44) (15 degrees west)

* Aug. 16, 10:00 a.m. EDST - Moon 0.6 degree north of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45)

* Aug. 17 - Mercury at perihelion

* Aug. 17, 4:00 p.m. EDST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope

* Aug. 18, 8:00 p.m. EDST - Venus 1.0 degree south of Beehive Star Cluster (M44) (18 degrees west)

* Aug. 19, 10:29 a.m. EDST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope

* Aug. 21, 4:57 a.m. EDST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope

* Aug. 21, 11:00 p.m. EDST - Venus 3 degrees south of Moon

* Aug. 23, 3:10 p.m. EDST - New Moon

* Aug. 24, 5:55 p.m. EDST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope

* Aug. 25, 10:00 a.m. EDST - Mars 0.6 degree north of Moon; occultation: central and northeast part of South America

* Aug. 25, 9:00 p.m. EDST - Moon at apogee (406,269 km)

* Aug. 26, 1:05 p.m. EDST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope

* Aug. 26, 7:00 p.m. EDST - Venus 0.07 degree north of Saturn (16 degrees west)

* Aug. 28, 4:00 a.m. EDST - Star Spica 0.5 degree north of Moon; occultation: Madagascar, New Zealand (South Island)

* Aug. 28, 7:02 a.m. EDST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope

* Aug. 29, 9:00 p.m. EDST - Jupiter 5 degrees north of Moon

* Aug. 31 - 15th anniversary (1991) of closing of Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science as a public museum; facility, which opened 1939 October 24, continued as tutorial center for The Carnegie Science Center until 1994 February.

* Aug. 31, 6:56 p.m. EDST - First Quarter Moon

2006 September
National Literacy Month
National Library Card Sign-up Month

Autumn Begins - Sept. 23

Meteor Shower: No major shower

Moon Phases: Calendar Month
Today *** Next 27.322 Days (Orbital Period)

Constellations

* Sept. 1 - Beginning of Spring Season in Australia

* Sept. 2, ~10:00 p.m. EDST - European SMART-1 Space Probe to Crash on Moon; Crash May Be Visible in Larger Telescopes

* Sept. 4 - Labor Day (Federal Holiday)

* Sept. 4, 9:40 a.m. EDST - Double shadow transit on Jupiter.

* Sept. 5, 7:00 a.m. EDST - Uranus at opposition.

* Sept. 5, 6:00 p.m. EDST - Neptune 3 degrees north of Moon.

* Sept. 5, 7:00 p.m. EDST - Venus 0.8 degree north of Star Regulus (13 degrees west)

* Sept. 6 - Venus at perihelion.

* Sept. 7, 11:00 a.m. EDST - Uranus 0.4 degree north of Moon; occultation: most of Australia, part of New Guinea.

* Sept. 7, 2:42 p.m. EDST - Full Moon - Largest Full Moon of Year !

* Sept. 7, 12:42:23 p.m. EDST - Partial Eclipse of Moon (safe to look at) - NOT visible in North America.

* Sept. 7, 10:59 p.m. EDST - Double shadow transit on Jupiter.

* Sept. 7, 11:00 p.m. EDST - Moon at perigee (357,175 km); Large Tides.

* Sept. 8 - International Literacy Day

* Sept. 9, 4:33 p.m. EDST - Double satellite transit on Jupiter.

* Sept. 10 - Grandparents' Day

* Sept. 10, 9:00 p.m. EDST - Minor planet (asteroid) Vesta in conjunction with Sun (hence, Vesta not visible)

* Sept. 11 - Patriot Day (remembrance of tragic events of 2001 Sept. 11)

* Sept. 11, 12:18 p.m. EDST - Double shadow transit on Jupiter.

* Sept. 12, 5:00 p.m. EDST - Moon 0.7 degree north of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45).

* Sept. 14, 7:15 a.m. EDST - Last Quarter Moon

* Sept. 15, 1:37 a.m. EDST - Double shadow transit on Jupiter.

* Sept. 15, 5:00 p.m. EDST - Mercury 0.2 degree south of Mars (12 degrees east)

* Sept. 17 - Constitution Day

* Sept. 17 - Citizenship Day

* Sept. 18, 12:54 p.m. EDST - Double satellite transit on Jupiter.

* Sept. 18, 11:00 p.m. EDST - Saturn 2 degrees south of Moon.

* Sept. 21 - The International Day of Peace

* Sept. 21 - Zodiacal Light visible in Northern Hemisphere in the east before morning twilight for the following two weeks.

* Sept. 22, 1:00 a.m. EDST - Moon at apogee (406,500 km)

* Sept. 22, 2:18 a.m. EDST - Double satellite transit on Jupiter.

* Sept. 22, 7:45 a.m. EDST - New Moon

* Sept. 22, 7:45 a.m. EDST - Annular Eclipse of Sun (watch only with proper techniques and equipment to avoid eye injury and blindness) - South Atlantic Ocean and parts of South America and Africa

* Sept. 22 - Rosh Hashanah begins at sunset (Pittsburgh: 7:17 p.m. EDST)

* Sept. 23 - Muslim month (of fasting) of Ramadan begins (based on predicted sighting of the New Moon)

* Sept. 23, 12:03 a.m. EDST - Autumnal Equinox - Beginning of Autumn season in Northern Hemisphere.

* Sept. 24 - National Punctuation DayŽ

* Sept. 24, 12:00 a.m. EDST - Mercury 1.8 degrees north of Moon.

* Sept. 24, 10:00 a.m. EDST - Star Spica 0.5 degree north of Moon; occultation: South America, except southern portion.

* Sept. 25 - Family Day (Fourth Monday in September)

* Sept. 25, 3:42 p.m. EDST - Double satellite transit on Jupiter.

* Sept. 26, 12:00 Noon EDST - Jupiter 5 degrees north of Moon.

* Sept. 27, 11:00 a.m. EDST - Mercury 1.3 degrees north of Star Spica (19 degrees east)

* Sept. 28, 4:00 a.m. EDST - Star Antares 0.5 degree north of Moon; occultation: New Zealand, extreme east Australia.

* Sept. 30 - World Wide Day of Play to keep children healthy.

* Sept. 30 - Last day of Federal Fiscal Year.

* Sept. 30 - Mercury at aphelion.

* Sept. 30, 7:04 a.m. EDST - First Quarter Moon

2006 October

* Draconid Meteor Shower: Oct. 8
* Orionid Meteor Shower: Oct. 21

* Moon Phases: Calendar Month
Today *** Next 27.322 Days (Orbital Period)

Planets *** Constellations

* Oct. 1 - First day of new Federal Fiscal Year.

* Oct. 1 - Yom Kippur begins at sunset (Pittsburgh: 7:02 p.m. EDST)

* Oct. 3, 3:00 a.m. EDST - Neptune 3 degrees north of Moon

* Oct. 4 to 10 - World Space Week

* Oct. 4 - 49th anniversary (1957): Launch of first artificial satellite (Sputnik) by Russia (then, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)

* Oct. 4, 8:00 p.m. EDST - Uranus 0.5 degree north of Moon; occultation: southern South America, most of central Africa.

* Oct. 6, 10:00 a.m. EDST - Moon at perigee (357,410 km); Large Tides

* Oct. 6, 11:13 p.m. EDST - Full Moon

* Oct. 8 - National Children's Day (Second Sunday in Oct.)

* Oct. 8 - Clergy Appreciation National Day of Honoring (Second Sunday in Oct.)

* Oct. 8, 6:00 p.m. EDST - Peak of Draconid Meteor Shower

* Oct. 9 - Chistopher Columbus Day Observed (Federal Holiday: U.S.A.)

* Oct. 9 - Thanksgiving Day (Federal Holiday: Canada)

* Oct. 10 - 160th Anniversary (1846), William Lassell's Discovery of Neptune Moon Triton

* Oct. 10, 2:00 a.m. EDST - Moon 0.7 degree north of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45)

* Oct. 12 - Chistopher Columbus Day

* Oct. 13 - Dwarf Planet 136199 Eris (2003 UB313) - Closest Approach To Earth (95.883 AU)

* Oct. 13 8:26 p.m. EDST - Last Quarter Moon

* Oct. 16 - National Boss Day

* Oct. 16, 10:00 a.m. EDST - Saturn 2 degrees north of Moon

* Oct. 19, 6:00 a.m. EDST - Moon at apogee (406,074 km)

* Oct. 19, 2:00 p.m. EDST - Asteroid Juno 0.3 degree north of Moon; occultation: Hawaii, southern South America.

* Oct. 20 - Zodiacal Light visible in Northern Hemisphere in the east before morning twilight for the following two weeks.

* Oct. 21 - Sweetest Day (Third Saturday in Oct.)

* Oct. 21, 11:00 a.m. EDST - Peak of Orionid Meteor Shower

* Oct. 22, 1:14 a.m. EDST - New Moon

* Oct. 23 - Day of San Juan - Swallows leave Mission San Juan Capistano, California

* Oct. 23, 3:00 a.m. EDST - Mars in conjunction with the Sun (not visible)

* Oct. 24 - 67th anniversary [1939], Dedication of The Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science, with the Zeiss II Planetarium Projector, the oldest operable major planetarium projector in the world !

* Oct. 24 - 155th Anniversary (1851), William Lassell's Discovery of Uranus Moons Umbriel and Ariel

* Oct. 24 - 61st anniversary [1945], Founding of United Nations

* Oct. 24, 4:00 a.m. EDST - Mercury 1.4 degrees north of Moon

* Oct. 24, 4:00 a.m. EDST - Jupiter 5 degrees north of Moon

* Oct. 25 - 335th Anniversary (1671), Giovanni Cassini's Discovery of Saturn Moon Iapetus

* Oct. 25, 10:00 a.m. EDST - Star Antares 0.4 degree north of Moon; occultation: central and eastern South America.

* Oct. 25, 6:00 p.m. EDST - Mercury 4 degrees south of Jupiter (22 degrees east)

* Oct. 27, 2:00 p.m. EDST - Venus in superior conjunction with the Sun (not visible)

* Oct. 28 - 35th Anniversary (1971), Great Britian's First Space Launch (Prospero)

* Oct. 28, 10:00 a.m. EDST - Mercury 4 degrees south of Jupiter (19 degrees east)

* Oct. 29, 2:00 a.m. Daylight Saving Time - Daylight Saving Time ends and Standard Time returns for civil functions; clocks should be reset to display one hour earlier than Daylight Saving Time.

* Oct. 29, 4:25 p.m. EST - First Quarter Moon

* Oct. 30, 9:00 a.m. EST - Neptune 3 degrees north of Moon

* Oct. 30, 8:00 p.m. EST - 68th anniversary (1938) of the CBS Radio network broadcast of Orson Welles' radio adaptation of the H.G. Wells science-fiction novel, The War of the Worlds, which caused a panic among some American listeners who thought the Earth was actually being invaded by beings from the Planet Mars.

* Oct. 31/Nov. 1/Nov. 2 - Traditional Astronomical Cross-Quarter Day Samhain or "All-Hallowsmas", better known as Halloween (Oct. 31 - "All Hallows Eve"), All-Saints Day (Nov. 1), All-Souls Day (Nov. 2) [fourth and last traditional cross-quarter day of year); actual cross-quarter day.

What is a "Cross-Quarter Day" ?
What is the Astronomical significance of
Halloween, All-Saints Day, and All-Souls Day?
Link 1 *** Link 2 *** Link 3 *** Link 4

2006 November
The National Novel Writing Month

* South Taurid Meteor Shower: Nov. 5
* North Taurid Meteor Shower: Nov. 12
* Leonid Meteor Shower: Nov. 17

Moon Phases: Calendar Month
Today *** Next 27.322 Days (Orbital Period)

Planets *** Constellations

* Oct. 31/Nov. 1/Nov. 2 - Traditional Astronomical Cross-Quarter Day Samhain or "All-Hallowsmas", better known as Halloween (Oct. 31 - "All Hallows Eve"), All-Saints Day (Nov. 1), All-Souls Day (Nov. 2) [fourth and last traditional cross-quarter day of year). For more details, see Oct. 31; also see actual cross-quarter day.

* Nov. 1 - International Volunteer Manager Appreciation Day

* Nov. 1, 3:00 a.m. EST - Uranus 0.5 degree north of Moon; occultation: southeast Australia, New Zealand.

* Nov. 2, 6:00 p.m. EST - 86th anniversary (1920) of first commercial radio broadcast station: KDKA-AM, Pittsburgh

* Nov. 3, 7:00 p.m. EST - Moon at perigee (360,596 km)

* Nov. 3, 1:00 p.m. EST - First Friday in November - Was annual opening of popular Miniature Railroad and Village (beginning of "Railroad Season") exhibit at Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science.

* Nov. 3 - Griffith Observatory and Planetarium, Los Angeles (opened in 1935) reopens after renovation and enlargement.

* Nov. 5 - Guy Fawkes Day is celebrated in England for the failed plot to blow-up Britain's Houses of Parliament and kill King James I (originally James VI of Scotland) in 1605. Industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie considered this event so important, that several of the public libraries he constructed were dedicated on November 5!

* Nov. 5, 7:58 a.m. EST - Full Moon

* Nov. 5, 11:00 a.m. EST - Peak of South Taurid Meteor Shower

* Nov. 6, 12:00 Noon. EST - Moon 0.6 degree north of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45)

* Nov. 7 - Federal Election Day: Mid-Presidential Term Elections (First Tuesday after the first Monday in November - U.S.A.)

* Nov. 7, 8:22 a.m. EST - Actual Astronomical Cross-Quarter Day Samhain or "All-Hallowsmas" (fourth and last actual cross-quarter day of the year); also see traditional cross-quarter day.

* Nov. 8, 5:00 p.m. EST - Mercury in inferior conjunction

* Nov. 8, 5:00 p.m. EST - 2006 Transit of Mercury Across Solar Disk
NEVER USE A TELESCOPE OR BINOCULARS TO LOOK AT THE SUN,
SOLAR ECLIPSE, OR SOLAR TRANSIT OF A PLANET WITHOUT THE
PROPER TRAINING AND FILTERING EQUIPMENT.
OTHERWISE, YOU COULD SEVERELY DAMAGE YOUR EYES,
PERMANENTLY !!!

* Nov. 10 - Veterans' Day Observed (Federal holiday, as Veterans' Day occurs on Saturday)

* Nov. 11 - Veterans' Day/Armistice Day (Nov. 11 - U.S.A.); Remembrance Day (Nov. 11 - Canada)

* Nov. 12, 10:00 a.m. EST - Peak of North Taurid Meteor Shower

* Nov. 12, 12:45 p.m. EST - Last Quarter Moon

* Nov. 12, 8:00 p.m. EST - Saturn 1.6 degrees south of Moon

* Nov. 13 - Mercury at perihelion

* Nov. 14, 7:00 a.m. EST - Asteroid 7 Iris at opposition.

* Nov. 15 - National Philanthropy DayŽ (Nov. 15)

* Nov. 15, 6:00 p.m. EST - Moon at apogee (405,194 km)

* Nov. 17, 4:00 p.m. EST - Peak of Leonid Meteor Shower

* Nov. 17, 9:00 p.m. EST - Star Spica 0.6 degree north of Moon; occultation: East Africa, southern tip of New Zealand.

* Nov. 19, 8:00 a.m. EST - Mercury 6 degrees north of Moon

* Nov. 19 - 65th anniversary (1941) of The People's Observatory of Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science.

* Nov. 20, 5:18 p.m. EST - New Moon

* Nov. 21, 6:00 p.m. EST - Jupiter in conjunction with the Sun (Jupiter not visible)

* Nov. 23 - Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November - U.S.A.)

* Nov. 24 - "Black Friday" (day after Thanksgiving Day) - Was often busiest day of the year at Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science.

* Nov. 26, 4:00 p.m. EST - Neptune 3 degrees north of Moon

* Nov. 28, 1:29 a.m. EST - First Quarter Moon

* Nov. 28, 10:00 a.m. EST - Uranus 0.3 degree north of Moon; occultation: South Africa, Madagascar, most of India, eastern Southeast Asia.

2006 December

WINTER BEGINS: Dec. 21

Dec. 9 - 11: Rare 3-Planet Alignment

* Geminid Meteor Shower: Dec. 14
* Ursid Meteor Shower: Dec. 22

Moon Phases: Calendar Month
Today *** Next 27.322 Days (Orbital Period)

Planets *** Constellations

* Dec. 1 - Beginning of Summer Season in Australia

* Dec. 1, 7:00 p.m. EST - Moon at perigee (365,923 km)

* Dec. 3, 10:00 p.m. EST - Mars 0.6 degree north of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45)

* Dec. 4, 7:25 p.m. EST - Full Moon (Cold Moon)

* Dec. 6 - Feast of Saint Nicholas

* Dec. 7 - 65th anniversary [1941] of Pearl Harbor Day

* Dec. 9, 3:00 p.m. EST - Mercury 1.0 degree north of Mars (15 degrees west)

Dec. 9 - 11: Rare 3-Planet Alignment

* 2006 Dec. 8 - CNN/AP:
Planetary triple play on deck this weekend ** More Info** Sunrise Times (Pittsburgh)
IF USING TELESCOPE OR BINOCULARS, DO NOT VIEW SUN, WHICH WILL BE
RISING SHORTLY AFTER THE 3 PLANETS RISE. LOOKING AT THE SUN
WITH A TELESCOPE OR BINOCULARS COULD VERY SERIOUSLY,
AND PERMANENTLY, DAMAGE EYES !!!

* Dec. 10, 6:00 a.m. EST - Saturn 1.2 degrees south of Moon; occultation: Norway, United Kingdom, most of Greenland (first occultation of series of occultations ending on Oct. 7)

* Dec. 10, 11:00 a.m. EST - Mercury 0.1 degree north of Jupiter (14 degrees west)

* Dec. 11, 7:00 p.m. EST - Mars 0.8 degree south of Jupiter (15 degrees west)

* Dec. 12, 9:32 a.m. EST - Last Quarter Moon

* Dec. 13 - Feast of Saint Lucy celebrated on the longest night of the year of the Juilian Calendar (prior to Gregorian calendar reform).

* Dec. 13, 2:00 p.m. EST - Moon at apogee (404,418 km)

* Dec. 14, 3:00 a.m. EST - Mercury 5 degrees north of Star Antares (13 degrees west)

* Dec. 14, 6:00 a.m. EST - Peak of Geminid Meteor Shower

* Dec. 15, 6:00 a.m. EST - Spica 0.8 degree north of Moon; occultation: South America (southern portion)

* Dec. 15, Sunset (Pittsburgh: 4:54 p.m. EST) - Dec. 22 - Chanukah (Jewish festival of rededication, also known as the Festival of Lights)

* Dec. 17 - Beginning of ancient, week-long Roman festival of Saturnalia, which marked the end of the Autumn harvest and beginning of Winter planting; known for gift giving and feasting.

* Dec. 18, 10:00 a.m. EST - Dwarf Planet Pluto in conjunction with Sun (Pluto not visible)

* Dec. 18, 4:00 pm. EST - Jupiter 6 degrees north of Moon

* Dec. 18, 10:00 p.m. EST - Mars 4 degrees north of Star Antares (17 degrees west)

* Dec. 18, 11:00 p.m. EST - Mars 5 degrees north of Moon

* Dec. 18, 11:00 p.m. EST - Star Antares 0.4 degree north of Moon; occultation: east Africa, southeast Australia, New Zealand

* Dec. 20, 9:01 a.m. EST - New Moon

* Dec. 21, 7:22 p.m. EST - Winter Solstice: beginning of Winter season

* 2006 Dec. 15 - Sky and Telescope Magazine:
The Winter Solstice: A Time for the Sun's Rebirth
Winter Begins Thursday, December 21, 2006 at 7:22 p.m. EST

* Dec. 22, 2:00 p.m. EST - Peak of the Ursid Meteor Shower

* Dec. 23, 10:00 p.m. EST - Neptune 3 degrees north of Moon

* Dec. 24 - Eve of Christmas Day (Traditional)

* Dec. 25 - Christmas Day (Traditional) or Feast of the Nativity

* Dec. 25, 4:00 pm. EST - Uranus 0.08 degree south of Moon: occultation: west and norhtwest South America, tip of northeast Africa, Portugal

* Dec. 25, 2006 - Jan. 5, 2007 - First day of the 12 days of Christmas

* Dec. 26, 2006 - Jan. 1, 2007 - Kwanzaa (Week-long holiday observance honoring African-American heritage.)

* Dec. 26 - Boxing Day or the Feast of St. Stephen (celebrated in Canada)

* Dec. 27 - Mercury at aphelion

* Dec. 27 - Venus at aphelion

* Dec. 27, 9:48 a.m. EST - First Quarter Moon

* Dec. 27, 8:00 p.m. EST - Moon at perigee (370,323 km)

* Dec. 31 - Eve of New Year's Day (Traditional)

* Dec. 31, 7:00 a.m. EST - Moon 0.7 degree north of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45)



Astronomical Calendar - A.D. 2005: Last Quarter of Year

Dominical Letter for This Year: "B" - Used in a Perpetual Calendar.


A.D. 2005: October ** November ** December

Calendar:
Current Year


Astro Calendar
Current Month

Astro Calendar
Current Year

Astro Calendar
Archives

Astronomical Glossary
Click here for links to the Moon, planets, star clusters, stars, and other astronomical terms referred to in this Astronomical Calendar.

A.D. 2005

2005 December Planets Visible This Month to Northern Hemisphere Observers --
* Morning: Mercury (Best 2005 morning view in Northern Hemisphere), Jupiter, Saturn
* Evening: Venus, Mars, Saturn

* Dec. 31, 6:59:60 p.m. EST (23:59:60 Coordinated Universal Time; one second before beginning of New Year using this international time scale used by scientists) - The 61st second (second number 60) of the last minute of the 6:00 p.m. hour will be an additional second inserted (i.e. "Leap Second") to bring the very accurate atomic clocks into better coordination with the continual slowing of the daily rotation rate of the Planet Earth (due to the gravitational pull of the Moon).

* Dec. 31 - New Year's Eve (Traditional)

* Dec. 30, 10:12 p.m. EST - New Moon

* Dec. 26 - Boxing Day or the Feast of St. Stephen (celebrated in Canada)

* Dec. 26 - Jan. 2 - Chanukah (Jewish festival of rededication, also known as the Festival of Lights.)

* Dec. 26 - Jan. 1 - Kwanzaa (Week-long holiday observance honoring African-American heritage.)

* Dec. 25 - Christmas Day (Traditional)

* Dec. 24 - Christmas Eve (Traditional)

* Dec. 23, 2:36 p.m. EST - Last Quarter Moon

* Dec. 21, 1:35 p.m. EST - Winter Solstice

* Dec. 15, 11:15 a.m. EST - Full Moon (Cold Moon)

* Dec. 13 - Peak of Geminid Meteor Shower

* Dec. 8, 4:36 a.m. EST - First Quarter Moon

* Dec. 7 - Centennial of birth of planetary astronomer Gerard P. Kuiper

* Dec. 7 - 64th anniversary [1941] of Pearl Harbor Day

* Dec. 1, 10:01 a.m. EST - New Moon

2005 November

* Nov. 24 - Thanksgiving Day (USA)

* Nov. 23, 5:11 p.m. EST - Last Quarter Moon

* Nov. 23, 1:00 a.m. EST - Moon at Apogee (farthest point from Earth): 404,370 Km

* Nov. 19 - 64th anniversary [1941], Dedication of Buhl Planetarium's 10-inch Siderostat-type Refractor Telescope

* Nov. 17 - Peak of Leonid Meteor Shower

* Nov. 15, 7:57 p.m. EST - Full Moon (Beaver Moon)

* Nov. 11 - Veterans' Day (Armistice Day)

* Nov. 9, 7:00 p.m. EST - Moon at Perigee (closest point to Earth): 370,010 Km

* Nov. 8, 8:57 p.m. EST - First Quarter Moon

* Nov. 7, 3:00 a.m. EST - Mars at Opposition (Earth directly between Mars and Sun)

* Nov. 2, 8:24 p.m. EST - New Moon

2005 October

* Oct. 31 (Halloween), Nov. 1 (All-Saints Day), Nov. 2 (All-Souls Day):
Astronomical Cross-Quarter Day of "Samhain" or "All-Hallowsmas" --
What is a "Cross-Quarter Day" ?
What is the Astronomical significance of
Halloween, All-Saints Day, and All-Souls Day?
Link 1 *** Link 2 *** Link 3 *** Link 4

* Oct. 30, 2:00 a.m. Daylight Saving Time - Daylight Saving Time ends and Standard Time returns for civil functions; clocks should be reset to display one hour earlier than Daylight Saving Time.

* Oct. 24 - 66th anniversary [1939], Dedication of The Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science, with the Zeiss II Planetarium Projector, the oldest operable major planetarium projector in the world !

* Oct. 24 - 60th anniversary [1945], Founding of United Nations


NEWS: Astronomy, Space, Science

History of Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science, Pittsburgh

Astronomical Calendar - A.D. 2006

Authored By Glenn A. Walsh *** Sponsored By Friends of the Zeiss
Electronic Mail: < astrocalendar@planetarium.cc > *** Internet Web Cover Page: < http://www.planetarium.cc >
This Internet Web Page: < https://buhlplanetarium4.tripod.com/astrocalendar/2006.html >
Internet Web Site Master Index for the History of
The Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science, Pittsburgh

Disclaimer Statement: This Internet Web Site is not affiliated with the Andrew Carnegie Free Library,
Ninth Pennsylvania Reserves Civil War Reenactment Group, Henry Buhl, Jr. Planetarium and Observatory,
The Carnegie Science Center, The Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh/Carnegie Institute, or The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

This Internet, World Wide Web Site administered by Glenn A. Walsh.
Unless otherwise indicated, all pages in this web site are --
(C) Copyright 2006, Glenn A. Walsh, All Rights Reserved.
Internet Web Site Credits and Special Thanks.
Contact Web Site Administrator: astrocalendar@planetarium.cc

This Internet Web Page created 2006 February 7.
Last modified : Sunday, 13-Feb-2011 18:03:59 EST.
You are visitor number , to this web page, since 2006 February 10.