Astronomical Calendar - A.D. 2008

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

* Jan. 2, 6:00 p.m. EST - Earth at perihelion (closest to Sun for year): 147,096,448 km

* Jan. 3, 3:00 a.m. EST - Moon at apogee (405,331 km)

* Jan. 4, 2:00 a.m. EST - Peak of Quadrantid Meteor Shower

* Jan. 5 - Titan Flyby (1,010 km.) by Cassini Spacecraft

* Jan. 5, 1:00 a.m. EST - Venus 7 degrees north of Moon

* Jan. 5, 5:00 a.m. EST - Star Antares 0.5 degree north of Moon; occultation: southern portion of South America, part of Antarctica.

* Jan. 5 - "12th Night" of Christmas; end of the 12 days of Christmas, which began on Christmas Day.

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

* Jan. 6, 8:00 p.m. EST - Venus 6 degrees north of Star Antares (38 degrees west)

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

* Jan. 8, 6:37 a.m. EST - New Moon (lunation 1052)

* Jan. 9, Sunset (Pittsburgh: 5:12 p.m. EST) - Islamic New Year ( Muharram): A.H. 1429 - Based on lunar calendar, but the New Moon must be observable.

* Jan. 10, 8:00 p.m. EST - Neptune 0.4 degree north of Moon; occultation: southern tips of Australia, New Zealand, part of Antarctica.

* Jan. 14 - MESSENGER mission flyby of planet Mercury.

* Jan. 15 - Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. (Observed - USA: Third Monday in January): Birth of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929 Jan. 15)

* Jan. 15, 2:46 p.m. EST - First Quarter Moon

* Jan. 18, 2:00 a.m. EST - Moon 1.1 degrees north of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45)

* Jan. 19, 4:00 a.m. EST - Moon at perigee (366,430 km)

* Jan. 19, 7:00 p.m. EST - Mars 1.1 degrees south of Moon; occultation: northwestern tip of North America, northern Russia, Arctic.

* Jan. 21 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Observed - USA: Third Monday in January): Birth of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929 Jan. 15)

* Jan. 22, 8:35 a.m. EST - Full Moon (Wolf Moon)

* Jan. 22, 6:00 p.m. EST - Moon 0.3 degree north of Beehive Star Cluster (M44)

* Jan. 22, 11:00 p.m. EST - Mercury 0.3 degree north of Neptune (18 degrees west)

* Jan. 24, 10:00 a.m. EST - Star Regulus 0.7 degree north of Moon; occultation: Australia, southern Indonesia, part of Antarctica.

* Jan. 25, 1:00 a.m. EST - Saturn 3 degrees north of Moon

* Jan. 27 - 41st anniversary [1967] of Apollo 1 fire; three astronauts perished.

* Jan. 27 - Mercury at perihelion

* Jan. 28 - 22nd anniversary [1986] of STS Space Shuttle Challenger explosion; seven astronauts perished.
Viewed at Pittsburgh's Buhl Planetarium.

* Jan. 30, 12:03 a.m. EST - Last Quarter Moon

* Jan. 30, 11:00 p.m. EST - Moon at apogee (404,533 km)

* Jan. 31 - 50th anniversary [1958] of the first successful launch, by the USA, of an artificial satellite: Explorer 1

* Jan. 31 - Launch: Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST)

2008 February

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

Planets *** Occultations
Constellations *** Star Chart
View ISS (Space Station)

Astronomical Glossary
of Terms Used

* Feb. 1, 7:00 a.m. EST - Venus 0.6 degree north of Jupiter (32 degrees west)

* Feb. 1, 1:00 p.m. EST - Star Antares 0.6 degree north of Moon; occultation: Australia, New Zealand, part of Antarctica, southern portion of South America.

* Feb. 2 - Traditional Astronomical Cross-Quarter Day Candlemas, better known as Groundhog Day (also see < http://www.groundhog.org > (First traditional Astronomical Cross-Quarter Day of year; approximate mid-way point in Winter season.); actual cross-quarter day.
See 2008 results, 2006 results.

* Feb. 2 - National Wear Red Day - Go Red for Women movement to heart disease in women (American Heart Association)

* Feb. 4 - Lichun - Beginning of first Solar term (of 24 Solar terms in one year) of traditional East Asia calendars; also known as the start of Spring (occurs each year around Feb.4).

* Feb. 4, 1:00 a.m. EST - Jupiter 4 degrees north of Moon

* Feb. 4, 5:49 a.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. 4, 7:00 a.m. EST - Venus 4 degrees north of Moon

* Feb. 5 - Shrove Tuesday/Fat Tuesday

* Feb. 6 - Ash Wednesday

* Feb. 6, 1:00 p.m. EST - Mercury in inferior conjunction with Sun (Mercury not visible)

* Feb. 6, 10:44 p.m. EST - New Moon (lunation 1053)

* Feb. 6, 10:55:05.9 p.m. EST - Annular Solar Eclipse - Antarctica, South Pacific Ocean.

* Feb. 7 - Chinese New Year - Also known as the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, falls on the second (very rarely third) New Moon after the Winter Solstice.

* Feb. 10, 9:00 p.m. EST - Neptune in conjunction with Sun (Neptune not visible)

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

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

* Feb. 13, 8:00 p.m. EST - Moon at perigee (370,219 km)

* Feb. 13, 10:33 p.m. EST - First Quarter Moon

* Feb. 14 - St. Valentine's Day (Observed - February 14)

* Feb. 14, 8:00 a.m. EST - Moon 1.2 degrees north of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45)

* Feb. 15, 16, 17, 18 - CITIZEN SCIENCE: The Great Backyard Bird Count

* Feb. 16, 3:00 a.m. EST - Mars 1.6 degrees south of Moon

* Feb. 18 - Presidents' Day - (Observed - USA: Third Monday in February)

* Feb. 19, 3:00 a.m. EST - Moon 0.3 degree north of Beehive Star Cluster (M44)

* Feb. 20 - Asteroid Vesta in conjunction with Sun (Vesta not visible)

* Feb. 20, 7:00 p.m. EST - Star Regulus 0.7 degree north of Moon; occultation: most of South America, part of Antarctica.

* Feb. 20, 10:26:04.8 p.m. EST - Total Lunar Eclipse - Americas, Western Europe, western Africa

* Feb. 20, 10:30 p.m. EST - Full Moon ( Snow Moon)

* Feb. 21, 7:00 a.m. EST - Saturn 3 degrees north of Moon

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

* Feb. 23 - Zodiacal Light dimly visible in northern lattitudes in western sky, after evening twilight, for next two weeks.

* Feb. 24, 5:00 a.m. EST - Saturn at opposition(Saturn visible all-night)

* Feb. 25 to March 8 - CITIZEN SCIENCE: Globe at Night
Participate with hundreds of people, worldwide, to monitor effects of
light pollution, by observing Constellation Orion, The Hunter.
Click here to learn how you and your family can participate!

* Feb. 25, 9:00 p.m. EST - Mercury 1.3 degrees north of Venus (27 degrees west)

* Feb. 27, 8:00 p.m. EST - Moon at apogee (404,443 km)

* Feb. 28, 9:00 p.m. EST - Star Antares 0.6 degree north of Moon; occultation: southern tips of Australia, portion of Antarctica.

* Feb. 28, 9:18 p.m. EST - Last Quarter Moon

* Feb. 29 - Leap-Year Day of a Leap Year (usually year divisible by four)

2008 March
"March roars in like a lion and goes out like a lamb."

Spring Begins: March 20

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

Planets *** Occultations
Constellations *** Star Chart
View ISS (Space Station)

Astronomical Glossary
of Terms Used

* March 1 - Beginning of meterological Spring Season in Northern Hemisphere.

* March 1 - Beginning of Autumn Season in Australia

* March 1 - St. David's Day

* March 2, 8:00 p.m. EST - Jupiter 4 degrees north of Moon.

* March 3 - Annual Read Across America Day sponsored by the National Education Association on the occasion of the anniversary of the birth of Dr. Seuss on 1904 March 2.

* March 3 to 9 - National Sleep Awareness Week

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

* March 5, 9:00 a.m. EST - Mercury 0.2 degree north of Moon; occultation: southern half of South America and northwestern Africa.

* March 5, 2:00 p.m. EST - Venus 0.2 degree north of Moon; occultation: North America except northern section, east Melanesia, Polynesia.

* March 5, 5:00 p.m. EST - Neptune 0.2 degree north of Moon; occultation: western Mexico, Australia except northern section, New Zealand, Polynesia.

* March 6, 3:00 p.m. EST - Venus 0.6 degree south of Neptune (25 degrees west)

* March 7, 10:05 a.m. EST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope.

* March 7, 12:14 p.m. EST - New Moon (lunation number 1054)

* March 8, 3:00 p.m. EST - Uranus in conjunction with the Sun (Uranus not visible)

* March 8, 9:00 p.m. EST - Mercury 0.9 degree south of Neptune (27 degrees west)

* March 9, 2:00 a.m. Prevailing Time (U.S.A.) - DAYLIHT SAVING TIME BEGINS - Beginning in 2007, EARLY DUE TO NEW FEDERAL LAW

* March 10 to 14 - Pennsylvania Severe Weather Awareness Week

* March 10, 1:00 p.m. EDST - Mars 1.7 degrees north of open star cluster M35 (201 degrees east)

* March 10, 6:00 p.m. EDST - Moon at perigee (366,298 kilometers)

* March 12, 2:00 p.m. EDST - Mars 1.2 degrees north of Pleiades (M45)

* March 14, 6:46 a.m. EDST - First Quarter Moon

* March 14, 11:00 p.m. EDST - Mars 1.7 degrees south of Moon

* March 15 - " Ides of March"

* March 15 - Buzzards return to Hinckley, Ohio

* March 16 - Palm Sunday

* March 17 to 21 - Flood Safety Awareness Week

* March 17 - St. Patrick's Day

* March 17, 10:00 a.m. EDST - Moon 0.3 degree north of Beehive star cluster (M44)

* March 19, 4:00 a.m. EDST - Star Regulus 0.8 degree north of Moon; occultation: New Zealand, eastern Melanesia, Polynesia, portion of Antarctica.

* March 19, 11:00 a.m. EDST - Saturn 3 degrees north of Moon

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

* March 20 - Holy Thursday

* March 20, sunset (Pittsburgh: 7:33 p.m. EDST) - Jewish Holiday of Purim

* March 20, 1:49 a.m. EDST - Vernal Equinox - Spring Season begins in Northern Hemisphere of Earth: beginning of New Year (solar calendar) in Afghanistan and Iran.

* March 21 - Good Friday

* March 21 - Venus at aphelion

* March 21, 2:40 p.m. EDST - Full Moon (Worm Moon)

* March 22 - Holy Saturday

* March 23 - Easter Sunday - Both Traditional and Orthodox (Sunrise in Pittsburgh: 7:18 a.m. EDST) - First Sunday following the first "Paschal" Full Moon that occurs on or after March 21 (usually the Vernal Equinox when the Spring Season begins)

* March 23 to 29 - Ohio Severe Weather Awareness Week

* March 23 - Zodiacal Light dimly visible in northern lattitudes in western sky, after evening twilight, for next two weeks.

* March 23, 6:00 a.m. EDST - Mercury 1.0 degree south of Venus (21 degrees west)

* March 24 - Easter Monday

* March 26, 4:00 p.m. EDST - Moon at apogee (405,092 kilometers)

* March 27, 5:00 a.m. EDST - Mercury 1.7 degrees south of Uranus (19 degrees east)

* March 27, 6:00 a.m. EDST - Star Antares 0.5 degree north of Moon; occultation: southern part of South America, Polynesia, north island of New Zealand, part of Antarctica.

* March 28, 1:00 p.m. EDST - Venus 0.7 degree south of Uranus (19 degrees west)

* March 29 to April 4 - National Dark-Sky Week (NDSW)

* March 29, 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. EDST - Earth Hour, to eliminate electric lighting for one hour for energy conservation awareness.

* March 29 to April 13 - Annual National Cherry Blossom Festival, Washington DC

* March 29, 12:22 a.m. EDST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope.

* March 29, 5:47 p.m. EDST - Last Quarter Moon

* March 30 - National Doctors' Day

* March 30 - Asteroid Pallas in conjuntion with Sun (Pallas not visible)

* March 30, 1:00 p.m. EDST - Jupiter 3 degrees north of Moon

2008 April
" April showers bring May flowers !"
School Library Media Month
National Kite Month

Meteor Shower -
Lyrid: April 22

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

Planets *** Occultations
Constellations *** Star Chart
View ISS (Space Station)

Astronomical Glossary
of Terms Used

* March 29 to April 13 - Annual National Cherry Blossom Festival, Washington DC

* Tue., April 1 - 54th anniversary (1954) of the first broadcast of educational television station WQED-TV 13 in Pittsburgh, the nation's first community-supported television station.

* Tue., April 1 - April Fool's Day

* Wed., April 2, 5:00 a.m. EDST - Neptune 0.0 degree south of Moon; occultation: Central portions of South America and Africa, Middle East.

* Fri., April 4, 9:00 p.m. EDST - Venus 5 degrees south of Moon

* Sat., April 5, 2:58 a.m. EDST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope.

* Sat. April 5, 11:55 p.m. EDST - New Moon (lunation number 1055)

* Mon. April 7, 3:00 p.m. EDST - Moon at perigee (361,080 kilometers)

* Tue., April 8, 10:00 p.m. EDST - Moon 1.0 degree north of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45)

* Sat., April 12, 2:00 a.m. EDST - Mars 1.2 degrees south of Moon; occultation: northeastern Canada, Greenland, Iceland, northern Scandinavia.

* Sat., April 12, 2:32 p.m. EDST - First Quarter Moon

* Sat., April 12 - International Sidewalk Astronomy Night

* April 13 to 19 - National Library Week

* Sun., April 13, 4:00 p.m. EDST - Moon 0.1 degree north of Beehive Star Cluster (M44)

* Tue., April 15 - Tax Day (USA) - Individual Federal, State, and local tax returns due or postmarked by end of day.

* Tue., April 15 - National Library Workers Day

* Tue., April 15, 10:00 a.m. EDST - Star Regulus 0.9 degree north of Moon; occultation: Madagascar and part of Antarctica.

* Wed., April 16, 3:00 a.m. EDST - Mercury in superior conjunction with Sun (Mercury not visible)

* Thur., April 17 - Support Teen Literature Day

* Sat., April 19, sunset (Pittsburgh sunset: 8:04 p.m. EDST) - Passover

* April 20 to 26 - Administrative Professionals Week

* Sun., April 20, 6:25 a.m. EDST - Full Moon (Pink Moon)

* Tue., April 22 - Earth Day

* Tue., April 22, 12:00 Midnight EDST - Peak of Lyrid Meteor Shower

* Wed., April 23 - Administrative Professionals (Secretary's) Day

* Wed., April 23, 6:00 a.m. EDST - Moon at apogee (405,943 kilometers)

* Wed., April 23, 1:00 p.m. EDST - Star Antares 0.3 degree north of Moon; occultation: southern half of Australia, New Zealand, Polynesia.

* Thur., April 24 - National Take Our Daughters and Sons To Work Day (Fourth Thursday in April)

* Thur., April 24 - Mercury at perihelion.

* Fri., April 25 - Orthodox Holy Friday

* Fri., April 25 - Arbor Day - National Arbor Day Foundation

* Sat., April 26, 4:29 p.m. EDST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope.

* Sun., April 27 - Orthodox Easter

* April 27 to May 3 - National Volunteer Week

* Sun., April 27, 1:00 a.m. EDST - Jupiter 3 degrees north of Moon

* Mon., April 28, 10:12 a.m. EDST - Last Quarter Moon

* Mon., April 28, 3:00 p.m. EDST - Mars 5 degrees south of Star Pollux, in Constellation Gemini the Twins (75 degrees east)

* Tue., April 29, 3:00 p.m. EDST - Neptune 0.3 degree south of Moon; occultation: Hawaii, northern Australasia, Indonesia except Sumatra.

2008 May
" April showers bring May flowers !"
Museums and Galleries Month

Meteor Shower - n-Aquarid: May 5

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

Planets *** Occultations
Constellations *** Star Chart
View ISS (Space Station)

Astronomical Glossary
of Terms Used

* Thur., May 1 - Law Day

* Rri., May 2, 9:00 a.m. EDST - Mercury 2 degrees south of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45) (17 degrees east)

* May 4 to 10 - Arson Awareness Week

* May 4, 10:55 p.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 5 to 11 - International Astronomy Week

* Mon., May 5 - Cinco de Mayo - Mexico (May 5)

* Mon., May 5, 8:18 a.m. EDST - New Moon (lunation no. 1056)

* Mon., May 5, 2:00 p.m. EDST - Peak of n-Aquarid Meteor Shower

* Mon., May 5, 11:00 p.m. EDST - Moon at perigee (357,771 kilometers) - Large Tides expected.

* Tue., May 6, 8:00 a.m. EDST - Moon 0.9 degree north of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45)

* Tue., May 6, 6:00 p.m. EDST - Mercury 3 degrees south of Moon

* Sat., May 10 - International Astronomy Day

* Sat., May 10 - International Migratory Bird Day (Second Saturday in May)

* Sat., May 10, 10:00 a.m. EDST - Mars 0.2 degree south of Moon; occultation: Europe not including the northern section, northern Africa, southern Asia.

* Sat., May 10, 10:00 p.m. EDST - Moon 0.2 degree south of Beehive Star Cluster (M44)

* Sat., May 10 - National Train Day

* May 11 to 17 - Food Allergy Awareness Week (FAAW)

* May 11 to 17 - National Police Week (Week including May 15)

* Sun., May 11 - Mothers' Day (Second Sunday in May)

* Sun., May 11, 11:47 p.m. EDST - First Quarter Moon

* May 12 to 18 - Children's Book Week (Moved from 2007 Nov. 12 to 18)

* Mon., May 12 - Titan Flyby (1,000 km.) by Cassini Spacecraft

* Mon., May 12, 3:00 p.m. EDST - Star Regulus 1.2 degrees north of Moon; occultation: southern portion of South America, portion of Antarctica.

* Mon., May 12, 8:00 p.m. EDST - Saturn 3 degrees north of Moon

* Tue., May 13 - Mars at aphelion

* Thur., May 15 - National Peace Officers' Memorial Day (May 15)

* Fri., May 16 - Bike-to-Work Day (Third Friday in May)

* May 17 to 23 - National Safe Boating Week

* Sat., May 17 - Armed Forces Day (USA) - (Third Saturday in May)

* May 18 to 24 - Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week

* Sun., May 18 - International Museum Day (May 18)

* Mon., May 19 - Victoria Day - Canada (Last Monday before or on May 24)

* Mon., May 19, 10:11 p.m. EDST - Full Moon (Flower Moon) - Smallest Full Moon in 2008.

* Tue., May 20, 10:00 a.m. EDST - Moon at apogee (406,403 kilometers)

* Tue., May 20, 7:00 p.m. EDST - Star Antares 0.2 degree north of Moon; occultation: eastern portion of South America, southern portion of Africa.

* Rri., May 23, 2:00 a.m. EDST - Mars 0.01 degree north of Beehive Star Cluster (M44) (64 degrees east)

* Sat., May 24, 7:00 a.m. EDST - Jupiter 2 degrees north of Moon

* Sun., May 25 - Landing expected in polar region of Mars, by NASA Phoenix probe.

* Sun., May 25 - National Missing Children's Day (May 25)

* Mon., May 26 - Memorial Day - USA (Last Monday in May)

* Mon., May 26, 11:00 p.m. EDST - Neptune 0.6 degree south of Moon; occultation: southeastern portion of Europe, northern half of Africa, western portion of Asia.

* Tue., May 27, 10:57 p.m. EDST - Last Quarter Moon

* Fri., May 30 - Decoration Day - USA (May 30) - now observed as Memorial Day on last Monday in May.

2008 June

Meteor Shower -- Arietid: peaks June 8.

Summer Solstice: June 20.

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

Planets *** Occultations
Constellations *** Star Chart
View ISS (Space Station)

Astronomical Glossary
of Terms Used

* Sun., June 1, 1:20 p.m. EDST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope.

* Tue., June 3, 9:00 a.m. EDST - Moon at perigee (357,251 kilometers); Large Tides Expected.

* Tue., June 3, 3:23 p.m. EDST - New Moon (Lunation 1057)

* Sat., June 7 - Mercury at aphelion.

* Sat., June 7, 7:00 a.m. EDST - Moon 0.4 degree south of Beehive Star Cluster (M44).

* Sat., June 7, 11:00 a.m. EDST - Mercury in inferior conjunction (Mercury not visible).

* Sat., June 7, 10:00 p.m. EDST - Mars 1.1 degrees north of Moon; occultation: New Zealand.

* Sun., June 8 - Peak of Arietid Meteor Shower

* Sun., June 8, 3:54 p.m. EDST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope.

* Sun., June 8, 11:00 p.m. EDST - Star Regulus 1.4 degrees north of Moon.

* Mon., June 9, 12:00 Midnight EDST - Venus in superior conjunction, occulted by Sun (Venus not visible). This is the opposite phenomenon of the rare Transit of the Planet Venus across the image of the Sun which occurred 2004 June 8; and, this solar occultation occurs halfway between the 2004 and 2012 Venus transit events!

* Mon., June 9, 5:00 a.m. EDST - Saturn 3 degrees north of Moon.

* Tue., June 10, 11:04 a.m. EDST - First Quarter Moon.

* Thur., June 12 - Asteroid Juno at opposition.

* Fri., June 13 - "Friday the 13th" superstition; debunking this superstition, purpose of character King Friday the 13th on popular PBS children's television series, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (originated at WQED-TV channel 13 in Pittsburgh).

* Sat., June 14 - Flag Day - USA (June 14)

* Sun., June 15 - Fathers' Day (third Sunday in June)

* Sun., June 15, 6:42 p.m. EDST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope.

* Mon., June 16, 2:00 p.m. EDST - Moon at apogee (406,228 kilometers).

* Tue., June 17, 1:00 a.m. EDST - Star Antares 0.2 degree north of Moon; occultation: southern portion of South America, Polynesia.

* Wed., June 18, 1:30 p.m. EDST - Full Moon (Strawberry Moon).

* Fri., June 20 - Dwarf Planet Pluto at opposition.

* Fri., June 20, 9:00 a.m. EDST - Jupiter 2 degrees north of Moon.

* Fri., June 20, 8:00 p.m. EDST - Summer Solstice; Season of Summer begins in Earth's Northern Hemisphere (Also see 1985-1991: Annual Free Day at Buhl Planetarium).

* June 22 to June 28 - Lightning Safety Week

* Sun., June 22, 10:40 p.m. EDST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope.

* Mon., June 23, 5:00 a.m. EDST - Neptune 0.8 degree south of Moon; occultation: North America except Alaska, southern portion of Greenland.

* Tue., June 24 - St. Jean Baptiste Day/Quebec National Holiday (Quebec: June 24)

* Thur., June 26, 8:10 a.m. EDST - Last Quarter Moon.

* June 28 & 29 - Annual Amateur Radio Field Day, when ham radio operators test emergency radio operations.

* Sat., June 28 - Asteroid Ceres in conjunction with Sun (Ceres not visible).

* Mon., June 30 - Centennial of huge blast, of a comet or an asteroid in the atmosphere, which leveled more than 2,000 sq. km. of forest near the Tunguska River in the Siberia section of Russia. Also see: Claim of possible location of crater formed by Tunguska Event.
"100 Years of Space Rock: The Tunguska Impact."
NASA/JPL 2008 June 27.
"The Tunguska Event--100 Years Later."
NASA 2008 June 30.

* Mon., June 30 - Last day of 2007-2008 Fiscal Year (Pennsylvania: June 30).

2008 July

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

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

Planets *** Occultations
Constellations *** Star Chart
View ISS (Space Station)

Astronomical Glossary
of Terms Used

* Tue., July 1 - First day of 2008-2009 Fiscal Year: Pennsylvania, July 1

* Tue., July 1, 12:00 Midnight EDST - Mars 0.7 degree north of Star Regulus (49 degrees east)

* Tue., July 1, 11:00 a.m. EDST - Mercury 8 degrees south of Moon

* Tue., July 1, 5:00 p.m. EDST - Moon at perigee: 359,513 kilometers

* Wed., July 2, 10:19 p.m. EDST - New Moon: Lunation 1058

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

* Fri., July 4 - : Independence Day: U.S.A., 1776 July 4

* Fri., July 4, 3:00 a.m. EDST - Earth at aphelion: 152,104,136 kilometers

* Fri., July 4, 5:00 p.m. EDST - Moon 0.5 degree south of Beehive Star Cluster (M44)

* Sun., July 6, 8:00 a.m. EDST - Star Regulus 1.6 degrees north of Moon

* Sun., July 6, 2:00 p.m. EDST - Mars 3 degrees north of Moon

* Sun., July 6, 6:00 p.m. EDST - Saturn 3 degrees north of Moon

* Wed., July 9, 4:00 a.m. EDST - Jupiter at opposition.

* Thur., July 10, 12:35 a.m. EDST - First Quarter Moon

* Fri., July 11 - World Population Day: UN, July 11

* Fri., July 11 - Venus at perihelion.

* Fri., July 11, 2:00 a.m. EDST - Mars 0.7 degree south of Saturn (46 degrees east)

* Sat., July 12 - Asteroid Juno at opposition.

* Sat., July 12, 1:00 a.m. EDST - Mercury 1.9 degrees south of open star cluster Messier object 35 (M35) (18 degrees west)

* Mon., July 14, 12:00 Midnight EDST - Moon at apogee: 405,452 kilometers

* Mon., July 14, 8:00 a.m. EDST - Star Antares 0.3 degree north of Moon; occultation: southern half of Australia, New Zealand, Polynesia

* Thur., July 17, 8:00 a.m. EDST - Jupiter 3 degrees north of Moon

* Fri., July 18, 3:59 a.m. EDST - Full Moon: Buck Moon.

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

* Sun., July 20, 9:00 a.m. EDST - Neptune 0.9 degree south of Moon; occultation: Alaska, northwest portion of Canada, Asia, Japan

* Sun., July 20, 10:56:20 p.m. EDST - 39th anniversary of the first person, Neil Armstrong, to step on the Moon: 1969

* Mon., July 21 - Mercury at perihelion

* Fri., July 25, 2:42 p.m. EDST - Last Quarter Moon

* Sun., July 27, 12:00 Noon EDST - Moon 1.1 degrees north of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45)

* Mon., July 28, 4:00 p.m. EDST - Peak of S. Delta-Aquarid Meteor Shower

* Tue., July 29 - Annual Rain Day in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania: July 29

* Tue., July 29, 4:00 p.m. EDST - Mercury in superior conjunction (Mercury not visible)

* Tue., July 29, 7:00 p.m. EDST - Moon at perigee: 363,883 kilometers

* July 31 - Heliacal rising of Sirius (the "Dog Star"); 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.

* Thur., July 31, 1:00 a.m. EDST - Asteroid Ceres 0.9 degree north of Moon; occultation: southwestern portion of Australia, Madagascar

2008 August

Meteor Shower -- Perseids: peaks Aug. 12-13;
AMONG BEST OF YEAR !

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

Planets *** Occultations
Constellations *** Star Chart
View ISS (Space Station)

Astronomical Glossary
of Terms Used

* Fri., 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.

* Fri., Aug. 1, 4:04:06 to 8:38:27 a.m. EDST - Total Solar Eclipse or Eclipse of the Sun visible in a narrow band traveling through northern Canada (Nunavut), northern Russia, western Mongolia, and China. Partial solar eclipse visible in northern Maine and the Maritime Provinces of Canada.
Additional info: Link 1 *** Link 2 *** SAFE WAY TO VIEW SOLAR ECLIPSE

* Fri., Aug. 1, 6:12 a.m. EDST - New Moon: Lunation Number 1059

* Sat., Aug. 2, 11:00 a.m. EDST - Venus 2 degrees north of Moon

* Sat., Aug. 2, 6:00 p.m. EDST - Star Regulus 1.7 degrees north of Moon

* Sun., Aug. 3, 10:00 a.m. EDST - Saturn 4 degrees north of Moon

* Mon., Aug. 4 - Civic Holiday in certain Canadian provinces (First Monday in August)

* Mon., Aug. 4, 8:00 a.m. EDST - Mars 4 degrees north of Moon

* Tue., Aug. 5, 5:04 a.m. EDST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope.

* Tue., Aug. 5, 3:00 p.m. EDST - Venus 1.1 degrees north of Star Regulus (35 degrees east)

* Tue., Aug. 5 - National Night Out 2008

* Wed., Aug. 6, 11:18 p.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.

* Thur., Aug. 7 - 2008 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."

* Fri., Aug. 8, 4:20 p.m. EDST - First Quarter Moon

* Sun., Aug. 10, 3:00 p.m. EDST - Star Antares 0.4 degree north of Moon; occultation: central South America, southern tips of Africa and Madagascar.

* Sun., Aug. 10, 4:00 p.m. EDST - Moon at apogee: 404,556 kilometers)

* Tue., Aug. 12, 7:00 a.m. EDST - Peak of Perseid Meteor Shower, considered one of the best of the year!

* Wed., Aug. 13, 10:00 a.m. EDST - Jupiter 3 degrees north of Moon

* Wed., Aug. 13, 3:00 p.m. EDST - Venus 0.2 degree south of Saturn (17 degrees east)

* Fri., Aug. 15, 4:00 a.m. EDST - Neptune at opposition.

* Fri., Aug. 15, 8:00 p.m. EDST - Mercury 0.7 degree south of Saturn (16 degrees east)

* Sat., Aug. 16, 2:24:49 to 7:55:25 p.m. EDST - Partial Lunar Eclipse or Eclipse of the Moon visible in most of Europe and Africa, with all of South America and Australia able to view parts of the eclipse. There is no danger looking directly at a Lunar Eclipse or Eclipse of the Moon.

* Sat., Aug. 16, 3:00 p.m. EDST - Neptune 0.8 degree south of Moon; occultation: eastern Europe, northeastern Africa, western and central Asia.

* Sat., Aug. 16, 5:16 p.m. EDST - Full Moon: Sturgeon Moon.

* Tue., Aug. 19, 8:55 a.m. EDST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope.

* Sat., Aug. 23, 1:00 a.m. EDST - Mercury 1.3 degrees south of Venus (20 degrees east)

* Sat., Aug. 23, 6:00 p.m. EDST - Moon 1.1 degrees north of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45)

* Sat., Aug. 23, 7:49 p.m. EDST - Last Quarter Moon

* Tue., Aug. 26, 12:00 Midnight EDST - Moon at perigee: 368,696 kilometers

* Tue., Aug. 26, 10:50 a.m. EDST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope.

* Thur., Aug. 28 - Zodiacal Light dimly visible in northern lattitudes in eastern sky, before morning twilight, for next two weeks.

* Thur., Aug. 28 12:00 Noon EDST - Moon 0.6 degree south of Beehive Star Cluster (M44)

* Sat., Aug. 30, 3:58 p.m. EDST - New Moon: Lunation Number 1060

2008 September

Sept. 22 - Autumnal Equinox: Autumn Begins

Autumn Foliage Report:
PA * OH * WV * MD
NE USA * SE USA
Midwest USA
National Forests:
Eastern Region * Home Page

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

Planets *** Occultations
Constellations *** Star Chart
View ISS (Space Station)

Astronomical Glossary
of Terms Used

* Mon., Sept. 1 - Labor Day (Federal Holiday: U.S.A. - First Monday in September)

* Mon., Sept. 1, Sunset (Sunset in Pittsburgh: 7:52 p.m. EDST) - Islamic observance of Ramadan begins.

* Mon., Sept. 1, 5:00 p.m. EDST - Venus 5 degrees north of Moon

* Mon., Sept. 1, 7:00 p.m. EDST - Mercury 3 degrees north of Moon

* Tue., Sept. 2, 4:00 a.m. EDST - Mars 5 degrees north of Moon

* Tue., Sept. 2, 2:40 p.m. EDST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope.

* Wed., Sept. 3 - Mercury at aphelion.

* Wed., Sept. 3, 10:00 p.m. EDST - Saturn in conjunction with Sun (Saturn not visible)

* Sat., Sept. 6, 11:00 p.m. EDST - Antares 0.3 degree north of Moon; occultation: southwestern portion of South America, Polynesia, eastern portions of Asia and Australia.

* Sun., Sept. 7, 10:04 a.m. EDST - First Quarter Moon

* Sun., Sept. 7, 11:00 a.m. EDST - Moon at apogee: 404,214 kilometers

* Sun., Sept. 7, 8:12 p.m. EDST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope.

* Tue., Sept. 9, 4:00 p.m. EDST - Jupiter 3 degrees north of Moon

* Thur., Sept. 11, 12:00 Midnight EDST - Mercury (at greatest elongation east) 4 degrees south of Venus

* Thur., Sept. 11, 4:00 p.m. EDST - Venus 0.3 degree north of Mars

* Fri., Sept. 12, 5:00 p.m. EDST - Mercury 3 degrees south of Mars

* Fri., Sept. 12, 10:00 p.m. EDST - Neptune 0.8 degree south of Moon; occultation: North America except northwestern portion, northern tip of South America, United Kingdom, Iceland.

* Fri., Sept. 12, 10:00 p.m. EDST - Uranus at opposition

* Sun., Sept. 14 - 49th anniversary (1959) of former educational television station WQEX-TV 16, Pittsburgh. When WQEX-TV succeeded commercial station WENS-TV on channel 16 in Pittsburgh, in 1959, Pittsburgh was the first city to have two educational television stations.

* Mon., Sept. 15, 5:13 a.m. EST - Full Moon (Harvest Moon)

* Fri., Sept. 19, 1:00 a.m. EDST - Mercury 4 degrees south of Mars

* Fri., Sept. 19, 11:00 p.m. EDST - Moon at perigee: 368,886 kilometers

* Sat., Sept. 20, 12:00 Midnight EDST - Moon 1.0 degree north of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45)

* Mon., Sept. 22, 1:04 a.m. EST - Last Quarter Moon

* Mon., Sept. 22, 11:45 a.m. EDST - Autumnal Equinox; beginning of Season of Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere.

* Wed., Sept. 24, 6:00 p.m. EDST - Moon 0.7 degree south of Beehive Star Cluster (M44)

* Fri., Sept. 26, 11:00 a.m. EDST - Regulus 1.7 degrees north of Moon

* Sat., Sept. 27 - Zodiacal Light dimly visible in northern lattitudes in eastern sky, before morning twilight, for next two weeks.

* Sat., Sept. 27, 4:00 p.m. EDST - Saturn 5 degrees north of Moon

* Mon., Sept. 29, Sunset (Sunset in Pittsburgh: 7:05 p.m. EDST) - Jewish observance of Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) begins.

* Mon., Sept. 29, 4:12 a.m. EST - New Moon: Lunation 1061

* Tue., Sept. 30, 7:00 a.m. EST - Mercury 1.1 degrees north of Moon

2008 October

Meteor Showers:
Draconid peaks Oct. 7.
Orionid peaks Oct. 21.

Autumn Foliage Report:
PA * OH * WV * MD
NE USA * SE USA
Midwest USA
National Forests:
Eastern Region * Home Page

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

Planets *** Occultations
Constellations *** Star Chart
View ISS (Space Station)

Astronomical Glossary
of Terms Used

* Wed., Oct. 1, 12:00 Midnight EDST - Mars 5 degrees north of Moon.

* Wed., Oct. 1, 10:00 p.m. EDST - Venus 5 degrees north of Moon.

* Oct. 4 to 10 - World Space Week (Oct. 4 to 10)

* Sat., Oct. 4, 7:00 a.m. EDST - Star Antares 0.1 degree north of Moon; occultation: southern half of Africa, Madagascar, western Asia, western Australia.

* Sat., Oct. 4, 7:00 a.m. EDST - Moon at apogee: 404,721 kilometers.

* Oct. 5 to 11 - Fire Prevention Week (first full week of Oct.)

* Mon., Oct. 6, 5:00 p.m. EDST - Mercury in inferior conjunction with Sun (Mercury not visible).

* Tue., Oct. 7, 3:00 a.m. EDST - Jupiter 2 degrees north of Moon.

* Tue., Oct. 7, 5:04 a.m. EDST - First Quarter Moon

* Tue., Oct. 7, 9:00 p.m. EDST - Peak of Draconid Meteor Shower

* Wed., Oct. 8 - National Children's Day

* Thur., Oct. 9, Sundown (Sunset in Pittsburgh: 6:49 p.m. EDST) - Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur

* Fri., Oct. 10, 6:00 a.m. EDST - Neptune 0.9 degree south of Moon: occultation: western Alaska, Japan, eastern Asia, Philippines.

* Sun., Oct. 12 - National Children's Day (Second Sunday in Oct.)

* Sun., Oct. 12 - Clergy Appreciation National Day of Honoring (Second Sunday in Oct.)

* Sun., Oct. 12 - Chistopher Columbus Day

* Sun., Oct. 12 - Clergy Appreciation National Day of Honoring (Second Sunday in Oct.)

* Mon., Oct. 13 - Chistopher Columbus Day Observed: Federal Holiday in U.S.A. (2nd Mon. in Oct.)

* Mon., Oct. 13 - Thanksgiving Day: Federal Holiday in Canada (2nd Mon. in Oct.)

* Tue., Oct. 14, 4:02 p.m. EDST - Full Moon (Hunter's Moon)

* Thur., Oct. 16 - National Boss Day (Oct. 16, unless date falls on weekend)

* Fri., Oct. 17 - Mercury at perihelion.

* Fri., Oct. 17, 2:00 a.m. EDST - Moon at perigee: 363,823 kilometers.

* Fri., Oct. 17, 7:00 a.m. EDST - Moon 0.8 degree north of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45)

* Sat., Oct. 18 - Sweetest Day (Third Saturday in Oct.)

* Oct. 19 to Oct. 25 - National Chemistry Week

* Oct. 20 to Nov. 3 - Great World Wide Star Count

* Tue., Oct. 21, 12:00 Midnight EDST - Peak of Orionid Meteor Shower - remnants from Halley's Comet

* Tue., Oct. 21, 7:55 a.m. EDST - Last Quarter Moon

* Wed., Oct. 22, 12:00 Midnight EDST - Moon 0.9 degree south of Beehive Star Cluster (M44)

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

* Thur., Oct. 23, 5:00 p.m. EDST - Star Regulus 1.9 degrees north of Moon

* Fri., Oct. 24 - 63rd anniversary [1945], Founding of United Nations

* Oct. 24 - 69th 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 !

* Sat., Oct. 25, 4:00 a.m. EDST - Saturn 5 degrees north of Moon

* Sun., Oct. 26, 2:00 a.m. EDST - DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME CONTINUES - Change in Federal law thus that return to Standard Time occurs 2:00 a.m. EDST (which becomes 1:00 a.m. EST) on Sunday, November 2.

* Sun., Oct. 26, 8:00 a.m. EDST - Venus 3 degrees north of Star Antares

* Mon., Oct. 27, 1:00 p.m. EDST - Mercury 7 degrees north of Moon

* Tue., Oct. 28, 7:14 p.m. EDST - New Moon: Lunation 1062

* Thur., Oct. 30 - Asteroid Vesta at opposition (With telescope, visible all night long)

* Thur., Oct. 30, 9:00 p.m. EDST (8:00 p.m. EST in 1938) - 70th 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.

* Fri., Oct. 31/Sat., Nov. 1/Sun., 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.

* Fri., Oct. 31, 2:00 p.m. EDST - Star Antares 0.1 degree south of Moon; occultation: central portion of South America, western tip of Africa.

* Sun., Nov. 2, 2:00 a.m. EDST - DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME ENDS - Change in Federal law thus that return to Standard Time occurs 2:00 a.m. EDST (which becomes 1:00 a.m. EST) on Sunday, November 2.

* Thur., Nov. 6, 8:04 p.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.

2008 November

Meteor Showers:
* South Taurid Meteor Shower: Nov. 4
* North Taurid Meteor Shower: Nov. 11
* Leonid Meteor Shower: Nov. 17

Autumn Foliage Report:
PA * OH * WV * MD
NE USA * SE USA
Midwest USA
National Forests:
Eastern Region * Home Page

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

Planets *** Occultations
Constellations *** Star Chart
View ISS (Space Station)

Astronomical Glossary
of Terms Used

* Sat., Nov. 1 - Venus at aphelion

* Sat., Nov. 1, 4:00 a.m. EDST - Venus 3 degrees north of Moon

* Sun., Nov. 2, 1:00 a.m. EDST - Moon at apogee: 405,724 kilometers.

* Sun., Nov. 2, 2:00 a.m. EDST - DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME ENDS - Change in Federal law thus that return to Standard Time occurs 2:00 a.m. EDST (which becomes 1:00 a.m. EST) on Sunday, November 2.

* Sun., Nov. 2, 6:00 p.m. EST - 88th anniversary (1920) of first commercial radio broadcast station: KDKA-AM, Pittsburgh

* Sun., Nov. 3, 5:00 p.m. EST - Jupiter 1.9 degrees north of Moon

* Tue., Nov. 4 - General Election Day - Federal Offices: President, Vice President, Member of House of Representatives, Member of Senate (Senator in certain states) - Pennsylvania Election Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST.

* Tue., Nov. 4, 11:00 p.m. EST - Peak of South Taurid Meteor Shower

* Wed., 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!

* Wed., Nov. 5, 11:03 p.m. EST - First Quarter Moon

* Thur., Nov. 6, 2:00 p.m. EST - Neptune 1.1 degrees south of Moon; occultation: northeastern tip of Canada, Iceland, United Kingdom except southeastern portion, southern portion of Scandinavia.

* Thur., Nov. 6, 8:04 p.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.

* Fri., Nov. 7, 1:00 p.m. EST - First Friday in November - Was annual opening of very popular Miniature Railroad and Village (beginning of "Railroad Season") exhibit at Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science.

* Sat., Nov. 8 - Beginning of Project FeederWatch, annual Citizen Science project: Winter-long survey of birds that visit feeders at backyards, nature centers, community areas, and other locales in North America. Allows the general public to help scientists track broadscale movements of Winter bird populations and long-term trends in bird distribution and abundance.

* Tue., Nov. 11 - Veterans' Day/Armistice Day (Nov. 11, unless Nov. 11 falls on Saturday or Sunday - U.S.A.); Remembrance Day (Nov. 11 - Canada)

* Tue., Nov. 11, 11:00 p.m. EST - Peak of North Taurid Meteor Shower

* Thur., Nov. 13, 1:17 a.m. EST - Full Moon (Beaver Moon)

* Fri., Nov. 14, 5:00 a.m. EST - Moon at perigee: 358,971 kilometers - Large Tides expected.

* Sat., Nov. 15 - National Adoption Day (Traditionally, Saturday before Thanksgiving Day - However, moved to Nov. 15 for 2008 not to conflict with 45th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22.)

* Sat., Nov. 15 - National Philanthropy Day® (Nov. 15)

* Julian Calendar: Nov. 15 - Beginning of Orthodox Advent (Nov. 15) - Orthodox churches use the Julian Calendar and celebrate Advent for 40 days.

* Mon., Nov. 17, 5:00 a.m. EST - Peak of Leonid Meteor Shower

* Tue., Nov. 18, 5:00 a.m. EST - Moon 1.2 degrees south of Beehive Star Cluster (M44)

* Wed., Nov. 19 - 67th anniversary (1941) of The People's Observatory of Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science.

* Wed., Nov. 19 - 50th anniversary (1958) of the National Radio Quiet Zone, providing for radio research at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, West Virginia.

* Wed., Nov. 19, 4:31 p.m. EST - Last Quarter Moon

* Thur., Nov. 20 - 33rd Annual "Great American Smokeout," to assist people to quit smoking.

* Tue., Nov. 25, 12:00 Noon EST - Mercury in superior conjunction with Sun (Mercury not visible)

* Thur., Nov. 27 - Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November - U.S.A.)

* Thur., Nov. 27, 11:55 a.m. EST - New Moon: Lunation 1063

* Fri., Nov. 28 - "Black Friday" (day after Thanksgiving Day) - Was often busiest day of the year at Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science.

* Sat., Nov. 29, 12:00 Noon EST - Moon at apogee: 406,480 kilometers

* Sun., Nov. 30 - First Sunday in Advent (Traditional) - First of four Sundays in Advent prior to Christmas Day

* Sun., Nov. 30 - St Andrew's Day

* Sun., Nov. 30 - Mercury at aphelion

* Sun., Nov. 30, 7:00 p.m. EST - Very bright Venus (magnitude -4.2) is in conjunction with (passing 2 degrees south of) bright Jupiter (magnitude -1.9), with the 3-day-old waxing crescent Moon (showing "Earthshine") only 7 degrees away, a very picturesque scene. A flat southwestern horizon is needed for Northern Hemisphere observers to see all three objects.

2008 December

WINTER BEGINS: Dec. 21

* Geminid Meteor Shower:
Dec. 13
* Ursid Meteor Shower:
Dec. 22

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

Planets *** Occultations
Constellations *** Star Chart
View ISS (Space Station)

Astronomical Glossary
of terms used

* Sun., Nov. 30 - St Andrew's Day

* Sun., Nov. 30 - Mercury at aphelion

* Sun., Nov. 30, 7:00 p.m. EST - Very bright Venus (magnitude -4.2) is in conjunction with (passing 2 degrees south of) bright Jupiter (magnitude -1.9), with the 3-day-old waxing crescent Moon (showing "Earthshine") only 7 degrees away, a very picturesque scene. A flat southwestern horizon is needed for Northern Hemisphere observers to see all three objects.

* Mon., Dec. 1 - Beginning of Summer Season in Australia

* Mon., Dec. 1, 10:00 a.m. EST - Jupiter 1.3 degrees north of Moon.

* Mon., Dec. 1, 11:00 a.m. EST - Venus 0.8 degree south of Moon; occultation: northeastern tip of Canada, Europe, southern Scandinavia.

* Thur., Dec. 4 - Asteroid Pallas at opposition

* Fri., Dec. 5 - International Volunteer Day (IVD) (Dec. 5)

* Fri., Dec. 5, 4:26 p.m. EST - First Quarter Moon

* Fri., Dec. 5, 6:00 p.m. EST - Mars in conjunction with the Sun (Mars not visible)

* Sat., Dec. 6 - Feast of Saint Nicholas (Dec. 6)

* Sun., Dec. 7 - 67th anniversary [1941] of Pearl Harbor Day (Dec. 7)

* Dec. 7 to 13 - 10th Annual National Handwashing Awareness Week (First full week of December)

* Thur., Dec. 11, 3:00 a.m. EST - Moon 0.7 degree north of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45)

* Fri., Dec. 12, 11:37 a.m. EST - Full Moon: Cold Moon or Long-Nights Moon (largest in 2008)

* Fri., Dec. 12, 5:00 p.m. EST - Moon at perigee: 356,566 kilometers (Large Tides Expected).

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

* Sat., Dec. 13, 6:00 p.m. EST - Peak of Geminid Meteor Shower

* Sun., 2008 Dec. 14 to 2009 Jan. 5 - CITIZEN SCIENCE:
Audubon Society 109th Annual Christmas Bird Count

* Mon., Dec. 15, 2:00 p.m. EST - Moon 1.4 degrees south of Beehive Star Cluster (M44)

* Wed., 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.

* Thur., Dec. 18, 10:00 p.m. EST - Saturn 6 degrees north of Moon

* Fri., Dec. 19, 5:29 a.m. EST - Last Quarter Moon

* Sun., Dec. 21, 7:04 a.m. EST - Winter Solstice: beginning of Winter season in Earth's Northern Hemisphere.

* Sun., Dec. 21, Sunset (Pittsburgh: 4:57 p.m. EST) to Dec. 29 - Chanukah (Jewish festival of rededication, also known as the Festival of Lights.)

* Mon., Dec. 22 - Dwarf Planet Pluto in conjunction with the Sun (Pluto not visible)

* Mon., Dec. 22, 3:00 a.m. EST - Peak of the Ursid Meteor Shower

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

* Wed., Dec. 24, 4:59 a.m. EST - 40 years ago (1968), first manned space flight to enter orbit of another planetary body (Earth's Moon): Apollo 8

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

* Thur., 2008 Dec. 25 to 2009 Jan. 5 - First day of the 12 days of Christmas

* Thur., Dec. 25, 2:00 a.m. EST - Star Antares 0.1 degree south of Moon; occultation: southern half of Africa, Madagascar, southeast Asia.

* Fri., 2008 Dec. 26 - 2009 Jan. 1 - Kwanzaa (Week-long holiday observance honoring African-American heritage.)

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

* Fri., Dec. 26, 1:00 p.m. EST - Moon at apogee: 406,601 kilometers

* Fri., Dec. 26, 8:00 p.m. EST - Venus 1.5 degrees south of Neptune.

* Sat., Dec. 27, 7:22 a.m. EST - New Moon: Lunation 1064

* Mon., Dec. 28, Sunset (Pittsburgh: 5:02 p.m. EST) - Islamic New Year ( Muharram): A.H. 1430 - Based on lunar calendar, but the New Moon must be observable.

* Sun., Dec. 28, 11:00 p.m. EST - Mercury 0.7 degree south of Moon; occultation: eastern Asia, Japan, northern Indonesia.

* Mon., Dec. 29, 4:00 a.m. EST - Jupiter 0.6 degree north of Moon; occultation: Australia except eastern portion, most of Antarctica.

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

* Wed., Dec. 31, 12:00 Midnight EST - Mercury 1.3 degrees south of Jupiter

* Wed., Dec. 31, 6:59:60 p.m. EST - "Leap Second": one second added to time scales occasionally, to compensate for slowing of rotation rate of Earth.

* Thur., Jan. 1, 2009, 12:00:00 Midnight (one second later than normal, due to Leap Second added on 2008 Dec. 31 at 6:59:60 p.m. EST) - New Year's Day: Year A.D. 2009 begins.