* Sun., Jan. 1, 12:00:00 Midnight - New Year's Day: Year A.D. 2012 begins (Jan. 1).

* Sun., Jan. 1 - Eighth day of the 12 days of Christmas (Dec. 25 to Jan. 5).

* Sun., Jan. 1 - Last day of Kwanzaa (Week-long holiday observance honoring African-American heritage: Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.).

* Sun., Jan. 1 - First Day Hikes in America’s State Parks (Jan. 1).

* Sun., Jan. 1, 1:14 a.m. EST - Moon Phase: First Quarter.

* Mon., Jan. 2, 3:00 p.m. EST - Moon at apogee: 404,578 kilometers.

* Mon., Jan. 2, 10:00 p.m. EST - Jupiter 5 degrees south of the Moon.

* Wed., Jan. 4, 1:28 a.m. EST - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Wed., Jan. 4, 2:20 a.m. EST - Peak of Quadrantid Meteor Shower.

* Wed., Jan. 4, 8:00 p.m. EST - Earth at perihelion (closest approach to the Sun in new year): 147,097,334 kilometers.

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

* Fri., 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).

* Sat., Jan. 7 - Orthodox Christmas - As determined by Julian Calendar (Jan. 7).

* Mon., Jan. 9, 2:30 a.m. EST - Moon Phase: Full Moon (Wolf Moon).

* Wed., Jan. 11, 1:26 a.m. EST - Double-satellite (2 Galilean satellites) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Wed., Jan. 11, 5:11 a.m. EST - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Fri., Jan. 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) (Friday the 13th).

* Fri., Jan. 13, 2:00 a.m. EST - Venus 1.2 degrees south of Neptune.

* Sat., Jan. 14, 2:00 a.m. EST - Mars 9 degrees north of the Moon.

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

* Mon., Jan. 16 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Observed - USA: Third Monday in January): Birth of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929 Jan. 15).

* Mon., Jan. 16, 3:00 a.m. EST - Star Spica 2.0 degrees north of the Moon.

* Mon., Jan. 16, 4:08 a.m. EST - Moon Phase: Last Quarter.

* Mon., Jan. 16, 2:00 p.m. EST - Saturn 6.0 degrees north of the Moon.

* Tue., Jan. 17, 4:00 p.m. EST - Moon at perigee: 369,886 kilometers.

* Wed., Jan. 18 - Mercury at aphelion.

* Wed., Jan. 18, 4:00 a.m. EST - Double-satellite (2 Galilean satellites) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Mon., Jan. 23 - Chinese New Year, based on a lunisolar calendar of which dates indicate both the moon phase and the time of the solar year. This marks the beginning of the Chinese Year of the Dragon.

* Mon., Jan. 23, 2:39 a.m. EST - Moon Phase: New Moon - Lunation 1102.

* Wed., Jan. 25, 7:40 a.m. EST - Double-satellite (2 Galilean satellites) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Thur., Jan. 26, 2:00 p.m. EST - Venus 7 degrees south of the Moon.

* Fri., Jan. 27 - 1967 - Anniversary of Apollo 1 fire; three astronauts perished.

* Sat., Jan. 28 - 1986 - Anniversary of STS Space Shuttle Challenger explosion; seven astronauts perished.
Viewed at Pittsburgh's Buhl Planetarium.

* Sat., Jan. 28 - Data Privacy Day (Jan. 28).

* Mon., Jan. 30, 10:00 a.m. EST - Jupiter 5 degrees south of the Moon.

* Mon., Jan. 30, 1:00 p.m. EST - Moon at apogee: 404,323 kilometers.

* Mon., Jan. 30, 11:10 p.m. EST - Moon Phase: First Quarter.

* Tue., Jan. 31 - 1958 - Anniversary of the first successful launch, by the USA, of an artificial satellite: Explorer 1

* Thur., 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.
(Groundhog Day at Gobler's Knob, Punxsutawney PA 15767, home of Punxsutawney Phil: - Sunrise: 7:26 a.m. EST) (Feb. 2).

* Fri., Feb. 3 - National Wear Red Day - Go Red for Women movement to heart disease in women (American Heart Association). (First Friday in Feb.).

* Sat., 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).

* Sat., Feb. 4, 12:22 p.m. EST - Actual Astronomical Cross-Quarter Day Candlemas (First actual Astronomical Cross-Quarter Day of year; mid-way point in Winter season.); traditional cross-quarter day.

* Sun., Feb. 5 - National Weatherperson's Day - Birth of one of America's first weather observers, John Jeffries: 1744 February 5 (Feb. 5).

* Tue., Feb. 7, 4:00 a.m. EST - Mercury in superior conjunction (Mercury not visible).

* Tue., Feb. 7, 4:54 p.m. EST - Moon Phase: Full Moon (Snow Moon).

* Wed., Feb. 8 - 1910 - Founding of the Boy Scouts of America (Feb. 8).

* Fri., Feb. 10 - Zodiacal Light visible, with difficulty, after evening twilight in the western sky of the Northern Hemisphere, for the next two weeks.

* Fri., Feb. 10, 12:00 Midnight - Venus 0.3 degree north of Uranus.

* Fri., Feb. 10, 7:00 a.m. - Mars 10 degrees north of the Moon

* Sat., Feb. 11 - 1732 - Birthday of first American President, George Washington, 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. 11).
See also: Washington's Birthday Observed/Presidents' Day * Washington's Birthday Actual (Julian Calendar) * Washington's Birthday Actual (Gregorian Calendar) * Lincoln's Birthday.

* Sat., Feb. 11, 2:00 p.m. EST - Moon at perigee: 367,922 kilometers.

* Feb. 12 to 21, - CITIZEN SCIENCE: Annual Globe at Night campaign, to raise public awareness of the impact of light pollution by encouraging everyone everywhere to measure local levels of night sky brightness and contribute observations on-line to a world map.

* Sun., Feb. 12 - 1809 - Birthday of 16th American President, Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 12).
See also: Washington's Birthday Observed/Presidents' Day * Washington's Birthday Actual (Julian Calendar) * Washington's Birthday Actual (Gregorian Calendar) * Lincoln's Birthday.

* Sun., Feb. 12 - 1809 - Birthday of English naturalist, Charles Darwin; Darwin Day (Feb. 12).

* Sun., Feb. 12, 8:00 a.m. EST - Star Spica 1.7 degrees north of the Moon.

* Sun., Feb. 12, 8:00 p.m. EST - Saturn 6 degrees north of the Moon.

* Tue., Feb. 14 - St. Valentine's Day (Feb. 14).

* Tue., Feb. 14, 12:04 p.m. EST - Moon Phase: Last Quarter.

* Wed., Feb. 15 - Mars at aphelion.

* Fri. through Mon., Feb. 17, 18, 19, 20, - CITIZEN SCIENCE: The Great Backyard Bird Count weekend.

* Sat., Feb. 18 - 1930 - Planet Pluto (now designated Dwarf Planet 134340 Pluto) discovered by Clyde Tombaugh working at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona (Feb. 18).

* Feb. 19 to 25 - National Engineers Week (Third week of Feb.).

* Sun., Feb. 19, 4:00 p.m. EST - Neptune in conjunction with the Sun (Neptune not visible).

* Mon., Feb. 20 - Washington's Birthday Observed/Presidents' Day - (USA Federal Holiday: Third Monday in Feb.).
See also: Washington's Birthday Observed/Presidents' Day * Washington's Birthday Actual (Julian Calendar) * Washington's Birthday Actual (Gregorian Calendar) * Lincoln's Birthday.

* Tue., Feb. 21 - Shrove Tuesday/Fat Tuesday (Day before Ash Wednesday).

* Tue., Feb. 21, 5:35 p.m. EST - Moon Phase: New Moon - Lunation: 1103.

* Wed., Feb. 22 - Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent (46 days before Easter Sunday).

* Wed., Feb. 22 - 1732 - Birthday of first American President, George Washington, 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. 22).
See also: Washington's Birthday Observed/Presidents' Day * Washington's Birthday Actual (Julian Calendar) * Washington's Birthday Actual (Gregorian Calendar) * Lincoln's Birthday.

* Wed., Feb. 22, 1:00 p.m. EST - Asteroid Pallas in conjunction with the Sun (Asteroid Pallas not visible).

* Thur., Feb. 23 - Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day (Thursday of National Engineering Week).

* Thur., Feb. 23, 1:00 a.m. EST - Mercury 6 degrees south of the Moon.

* Sat., Feb. 25, 5:00 p.m. EST - Venus 3 degrees south of the Moon.

* Mon., Feb. 27, 1:00 a.m. EST - Jupiter 4 degrees south of the Moon.

* Mon., Feb. 27, 9:00 a.m. EST - Moon at apogee: 404,862 kilometers.

* Wed., Feb. 29 - Leap Year Day in the Gregorian Calendar (Occurs Feb. 29 in years evenly divisible by 4, but NOT evenly divisible by 100, plus years evenly divisible by 400).

* Wed., Feb. 29, 8:21 p.m. EST - Moon Phase: First Quarter.

* Thur., March 1 - Beginning of Autumn Season in Australia (March 1).

* Thur., March 1 - St. David's Day (March 1).

* Fri. March 2 - Mercury at perihelion.

* Fri. March 2 - Read Across America sponsored by the National Education Association to motivate children to read, in addition to helping them master basic skills. (Annual--on or near March 2, birthday of Dr. Seuss).

* Sat., March 3, 3:00 p.m. EST - Mars at opposition (Mars visible approx. from sunset to sunrise).

* Sun., 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 4)

* March 4 to 10 - Teen Tech Week.

* March 4 to 10 - National Consumer Protection Week (First full week of March).

* March 5 to 11 - National Sleep Awareness Week® (last day of week coincides, each year, with conversion to Daylight Saving Time).

* Mon., March 5, 12:00 Noon EST - Mars closest approach to Earth.

* Tue., March 6, 6:00 p.m. EST - Mercury 3 degrees north of Uranus.

* Thur., March 8 - International Women's Day (March 8).

* Thur., March 8, 1:00 a.m. EST - Mars 10 degrees north of the Moon.

* Thur., March 8, 4:39 a.m. EST - Moon Phase: Full Moon (Worm Moon).

* Sat., March 10 - Zodiacal Light visible, with difficulty, after evening twilight in the western sky of the Northern Hemisphere, for the next two weeks.

* Sat., March 10, 5:00 a.m. EST - Moon at perigee: 362,400 kilometers.

* Sat., March 10, 4:00 p.m. EST - Star Spica 1.5 degrees north of the Moon.

* March 11 to 17 - Wildfire Prevention Week [Pennsylvania: Spring (Second week of March), Autumn].

* Sun., March 11, 2:00 a.m. Prevailing Time (Standard Time) - DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME BEGINS - Beginning in 2007, EARLY DUE TO NEW FEDERAL LAW. Civil Time changes from 2:00 a.m. Standard Time to 3:00 a.m. Daylight Saving Time (Second Sunday in March, 2:00 a.m. Prevailing Time).
Science of Daylight Saving Time.

* Sun., March 11, 3:00 a.m. EDT - Saturn 6 degrees north of the Moon.

* March 12 to 16 - Flood Safety Awareness Week. (Pennsylvania: second week of March).

* March 12 to 18 - Fix-a-Leak Week (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: second week of March).

* Mon., March 12 - 1912 - Centennial ! - Founding of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America.

* March 13 to 22, - CITIZEN SCIENCE - Annual Globe at Night campaign, to raise public awareness of the impact of light pollution by encouraging everyone everywhere to measure local levels of night sky brightness and contribute observations on-line to a world map.

* Tue., March 13 - 1781 - Planet Uranus discovery announced by Sir Frederick William Herschel.

* Wed., March 14 - Pi Day, a holiday commemorating the mathematical constant π (pi) (March 14: 3.14).

* Wed., March 14, 9:25 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase: Last Quarter.

* Thur., March 15 - "Ides of March" (March 15).

* Thur., March 15 - Buzzards return to Hinckley, Ohio (Cleveland suburb) (March 15).

* Thur., March 15, 6:00 a.m. EDT - Venus 3 degrees north of Jupiter.

* Thur., March 15, 7:27 p.m. EDT - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Fri., March 16 - Freedom of Information Day, the birthday of James Madison, who is widely regarded as the Father of the Constitution and as the foremost advocate for openness in government (March 16).

* Sat., March 17 - St. Patrick's Day (March 17).

* Mon., March 19 - Sun-Earth Day (NASA: Day of, or near, the Vernal Equinox, the first day of Spring).

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

* March 20 to April 27 - Centennial ! -Annual National Cherry Blossom Festival, Washington DC.

* Tue., March 20, 1:14 a.m. EDT - Vernal Equinox - Spring Season begins in Northern Hemisphere of Earth: beginning of New Year (solar calendar) in Afghanistan and Iran.

* Wed., March 21 - Venus at perihelion.

* Wed., March 21, 3:00 p.m. EDT - Mercury in inferior conjunction (Mercury not visible).

* Thur., March 22 - World Water Day (March 22).

* Thur., March 22, 10:37 a.m. EDT - Moon Phase: New Moon - Lunation number 1104.

* Thur., March 22, 8:32 p.m. EDT - Double-satellite (2 Galilean satellites) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Thur., March 22, 10:36 p.m. EDT - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Sat., March 24, 2:00 p.m. EDT - Uranus in conjunction with the Sun (Uranus not visible, even with a telescope).

* March 25 to 31 - Spring Severe Weather Awareness Week (Ohio: fourth week of March).

* Sun., March 25 - Feast of the Annunciation observed nine full months before Christmas Day.

* Sun., March 25, 8:00 p.m. EDT - Jupiter 3 degrees south of the Moon.

* March 26 to 30 - Severe Weather Awareness Week (Pennsylvania: fourth week of March).

* Mon., March 26, 2:00 a.m. EDT - Moon at apogee: 405,776 kilometers.

* Mon., March 26, 2:00 p.m. EDT - Venus 1.8 degrees north of the Moon.

* Wed., March 28, 9:50 a.m. EDT - Ohio Statewide Tornado Drill

* Thur., March 29, 11:26 p.m. EDT - Double-satellite (2 Galilean satellites) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Fri., March 30, 3:41 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase: First Quarter.

* March 31 to May 6 - National Kite Month.

* Thur., March 31 - Last day of calendar year First Quarter (March 31).

* Sat., March 31, 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Prevailing Time - Earth Hour annual environmental observance (Last Saturday in March, 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Prevailing Time).

* March 31 to May 6 - National Kite Month.

* April 1 to 7 - National Week of the Ocean.

* April 1 to 2 - Light It Up Blue, in North America, is dedicated to raising awareness of autism (April 1, 2).
* Mon., April 2 - World Autism Awareness Day (April 2).

* Sun., April 1 - First day of calendar year Second Quarter (April 1).

* Sun., April 1 - Palm Sunday (Sunday before Easter Sunday).

* Sun., April 1 - April Fool's Day (April 1).

* Sun., April 1 (1960) - Launch of first successful weather satellite, TIROS-1 (April 1).

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

* Sun., Apirl 1, 2:00 a.m. Prevailing Time (Daylight Saving Time) - DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME CONTINUES - Change in Federal law, thus that change from Standard Time to Daylight Saving Time occured the second Sunday in March: 2:00 a.m. Standard Time then became 3:00 a.m. Daylight Saving Time on the second Sunday in March (previously, first Sunday in April).
Science of Daylight Saving Time.

* April 2 to 8 - National Public Health Week.

* Mon., April 2 - World Autism Awareness Day (April 2).

* Tue., April 3, 10:00 a.m. EDT - Venus 0.3 degree south of Pleiades Open Star Cluster (M45).

* Tue., April 3, 11:00 p.m. EDT - Mars 9 degrees north of the Moon.

* Wed., April 4 - National Walking Day.

* Thur., April 5 - Holy Thursday - Traditional (most Christian denominations except Orthodox demoninations) and Orthodox (Thursday before Easter Sunday).

* April 6 to 14 - Passover of the Jewish faith,
begins April 6 at Sunset Prevailing Time (Pittsburgh - Sunset: 7:50 p.m. EDT) .

* Fri., April 6 - Good Friday - Traditional (most Christian denominations except Orthodox demoninations) and Orthodox (Friday before Easter Sunday).

* Fri., April 6, 3:19 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase: Full Moon (Pink Moon).

* April 7 to 15 - National Robotics Week.

* Sat., April 7 - Holy Saturday - Traditional (most Christian denominations except Orthodox demoninations) and Orthodox (Saturday before Easter Sunday).

* Sat., April 7, 3:00 a.m. EDT - Star Spica 1.5 degrees north of the Moon.

* Sat., April 7, 10:00 a.m. EDT - Saturn 6 degrees north of the Moon.

* Sat., April 7, 1:00 p.m. EDT - Moon at perigee: 358,314 kilometers.
Large tides predicted..

* April 8 to 14 - National Library Week.

* April 8 to 14 - Pan American Week (Week of April 14).

* Sun., April 8 - Easter Sunday - Traditional (most Christian denominations except Orthodox demoninations). Traditional date of Easter determined by the Gregorian Calendar (Orthodox date of Easter determined by the Julian Calendar). (Sunrise in Pittsburgh: 6:52 a.m. EDT) - First Sunday following the first "Paschal" Full Moon that occurs on or after March 21 (usually the Vernal Equinox when the Spring Season begins); More info.

* Mon., April 9 - Easter Monday (Monday after Easter Sunday).

* Mon., April 9, 8:00 p.m. EDT - Asteroid Vesta in conjunction with the Sun (Vesta not visible, even with a telescope).

* Tue., April 10 - National Library Workers Day (Tuesday of National Library Week).

* Wed., April 11 - National Bookmobile Day (Wednesday of National Library Week).

* April 11 to 20, - CITIZEN SCIENCE - Annual Globe at Night campaign, to raise public awareness of the impact of light pollution by encouraging everyone everywhere to measure local levels of night sky brightness and contribute observations on-line to a world map.

* Thur., April 12 - Support Teen Literature Day (Thursday of National Library Week).

* Thur., April 12 - 1961 - Russia launches first human into space and orbit of the Earth, Yuri Gagarin (April 12).

* Thur., April 12 - 1981 - First launch of American Space Shuttle (STS), Columbia (April 12).

* Thur., April 12 - 1861 - The American Civil War began (April 12). See the Civil War Museum of the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall in Carnegie, Pennsylvania.

* Fri., April 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) (Friday the 13th).

* Fri., April 13, 6:50 a.m. EDT - Moon Phase: Last Quarter.

* April 14 to 20 - International Dark-Sky Week (Week of the New Moon in April).

* Sat., April 14 - Pan American Day (April 14).

* Sat., April 14 - 1912, 11:40 p.m. (Ship Time) - Centennial - Sinking of the RMS Titanic on the ship's maiden voyage.
Also see: Titanic Sunk by the Moon?

* April 15 to 21 - National Volunteer Week.

* April 15 to 21 - National Environmental Education Week (EE Week: Week before Earth Day).

* Sun., April 15 - Orthodox Easter Sunday; Orthodox date of Easter determined by the Julian Calendar (Traditional date of Easter determined by the Gregorian Calendar).

* Sun., April 15 - Mercury at aphelion.

* Sun., April 15, 2:00 p.m. EDT - Saturn at opposition (Saturn visible approximately from sunset to sunrise).

* April 16 to 22 - Earth Week (Week leading to and including Earth Day, April 22).

* Mon., April 16 - Patriots' Day (Third Monday in April).

* Mon., April 16, 9:00 p.m. EDT - Venus 10 degrees north of Star Aldebaran, in the Constellation Taurus the Bull.

* Tue., April 17 - Tax Day (USA) - Individual Federal tax returns due or postmarked by end of day (Each April 15, unless delayed by a holiday).

* Tue., April 17 - World Hemophilia Day (April 17).

* Tue., April 17 - Blah, Blah, Blah Day (April 17).

* Wed., April 18, 9:00 p.m. EDT - Mercury 8 degrees south of the Moon.

* Fri., April 20 - World Night in Defence of the Starlight (April 20).

* April 21 to 29 - National Park Week.

* April 21 to 28 - National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW).

* April 21 to 28 - Money Smart Week®.

* Sat., April 21, 3:18 a.m. EDT - Moon Phase: New Moon - Lunation 1105.

* Sat., April 21, 9:00 p.m. EDT - Mercury 2 degrees south of Uranus.

* April 22 to 28 - National Severe Weather Preparedness Week.

* April 22 to 28 - National Sky Awareness Week (SAW), a week set-aside to “look up” and to see the myriad of cloud patterns and formations that grace the sky.

* April 22 to 28 - Preservation Week for library and archive materials.

* April 22 to 28 - National Crime Victims' Rights Week (week in April).

* April 22 to 28 - Administrative Professionals Week (Last week of April).

* Sun., April 22 - Earth Day (April 22).

* Sun., April 22, 1:00 a.m. EDT - Peak of Lyrid Meteor Shower

* Sun., April 22, 10:00 a.m. EDT - Moon at apogee: 406,419 kilometers.

* Sun., April 22, 3:00 p.m. EDT - Jupiter 2 degrees south of the Moon.

* April 23 to 29 - International Astronomy Week.

* Mon., April 23 - World Book and Copyright Day / World Book Night (April 23).

* Tue., April 24, 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EDT - Primary Election Day: Pennsylvania (Third Tuesday in May except during Presidential Election Years when it is held on the Fourth Tuesday in April).

* Tue., April 24, 9:00 p.m. EDT - Venus 6 degrees north of the Moon.

* Wed., April 25 - Administrative Professionals Day (Wednesday of last week of April).

* Thur., April 26 - National Take Our Daughters and Sons To Work Day (Fourth Thursday in April).

* Thur., April 26, 10:00 a.m. EDT - Asteroid Ceres in conjunction with the Sun (Ceres not visible, even with a telescope).

* Fri., April 27 - Arbor Day - National Arbor Day Foundation (Last Friday of April).

* Sat., April 28 & Sat., Oct. 20 - International Astronomy Day [Saturdays in Spring (Saturday in Astronomy Week) and Autumn]: Link 1 *** Link 2

* Sat., April 28 - National Junior Ranger Day (Saturday in National Park Week).

* Sat., April 28 - Save the Frogs Day - Also see news article.

* Sat., April 28, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Prevailing Time - National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day sponsored by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

* Sun., April 29, 5:57 a.m. EDT - Moon Phase: First Quarter.

* Mon., April 30, 4:00 a.m. EDT - Venus: Brightest visibility (Visual Magnitude: -4.7).

* Tue., 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) (May 1).
Actual Cross-Quarter Day.

* Sat., May 5, 10:11 a.m. EDT - Actual Astronomical Cross-Quarter Day Beltaine, better known as May Day ( Second traditional Astronomical Cross-Quarter Day of year; mid-way point in Spring season).
Traditional Cross-Quarter Day.

* May 1 to 7 - Choose Privacy Week.

* Tue., 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) (May 1).
Actual Cross-Quarter Day.

* Tue., May 1 - Law Day (May 1).

* Tue., May 1 - Loyalty Day (May 1).

* Tue., May 1, 10:00 a.m. EDT - Mars 8 degrees north of the Moon.

* May 2 to 8 - International Astronomy Week.

* Fri., May 4 - Space Day (First Friday in May).

* Fri., May 4, 2:00 p.m. EDT - Star Spica 1.5 degrees north of the Moon.

* Fri., May 4, 6:00 p.m. EDT - Saturn 6 degrees north of the Moon.

* May 5 to 13 - National Travel and Tourism Week (first full week of May).

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

* Sat., May 5, 10:11 a.m. EDT - Actual Astronomical Cross-Quarter Day Beltaine, better known as May Day ( Second traditional Astronomical Cross-Quarter Day of year; mid-way point in Spring season).
Traditional Cross-Quarter Day.

* Sat., May 5, 3:00 p.m. EDT - Peak of n-Aquarid (Eta Aquarid) Meteor Shower - remnants from Halley's Comet.

* Sat., May 5, 11:35 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase: Full Moon (Flower Moon).
Largest Full Moon of 2012.

* May 6 to 12 - National Nurses Week (from May 6, also known as National Nurses Day, through May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing).

* May 6 to 12 - National Hospital Week.

* May 6 to 12 - Arson Awareness Week.

* Sun., May 6 - National Nurses Day/National RN Recognition Day (May 6).

* Sun., May 6, 12:00 Midnight EDT - Moon at perigee: 356,955 kilometers.
Large tides predicted.

* May 7 to 11 - Teacher Appreciation Week (first full week of May).

* May 7 to 13 - Children's Book Week (Moved from 2007 Nov. 12 to 18).

* Tue., May 8 - National Teacher Day (Tuesday of Teacher Appreciation Week).

* Tue., May 8 - National Student Nurses Day (May 8).

* Tue., May 8 - Holocaust Remembrance Day (USA) (May 8).

* Wed., May 9 - National School Nurse Day (Wednesday Of National Nurses Week).

* May 12 to 20 - Armed Forces Week (USA) - (Second Saturday to Sunday of following week in May).

* Sat., May 12 - National Lab Day (May 12).

* Sat., May 12 - International Migratory Bird Day (Second Saturday in May).

* Sat., May 12 - International Nurses Day, the birth date of pioneering nurse Florence Nightingale, and the end of the annual Nurses Week (May 12).

* Sat., May 12 - National Train Day (celebrated on the Saturday closest to the anniversary of the driving of the Golden Spike for the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad in the United States of America: 1869 May 10).

* Sat., May 12, 5:47 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase: Last Quarter.

* May 13 to 19 - Women's Health Week (Week that begins on Mothers' Day).

* May 13 to 19 - Food Allergy Awareness Week (FAAW).

* May 13 to 19 - National Police Week (Week including May 15).

* Sun., May 13 - Mothers' Day (Second Sunday in May).

* Sun, May 13 - 1611 - “Galileo Confirmation Day,” the day Jesuit priests held a banquet in honor of Galileo Galilei, for his discovery of four moons orbiting the planet Jupiter.

* Sun., May 13, 9:00 a.m. EDT - Jupiter in conjunction with the Sun (Jupiter not visible, even with a telescope).

* Mon., May 14 - Women's Checkup Day (Monday of Women's Health Week/Monday after Mothers' Day).

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

* Tue., May 15, 4:00 p.m. EDT - Asteroid Pallas 0.8 degree north of the Moon; occultation: French Polynesia, New Zealand, and part of Antarctica.

* Wed., May 16 - Venus, viewed in a telescope, appears as a very slim crescent.

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

* Fri., May 18 - Bike-to-Work Day (Third Friday in May).

* May 19 to 25 - National Safe Boating Week.

* Sat., May 19 - Armed Forces Day (USA) - (Third Saturday in May).

* Sat., May 19, 12:00 Noon EDT - Moon at apogee: 406,448 kilometers.

* Sat., May 19, 8:00 p.m. EDT - Asteroid Juno at opposition (Asteroid Juno, visible with difficulty, rises approximately at sunset and sets approximately at sunrise).

* May 20 to 26 - Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week.

* May 20 to 26 - National Small Business Week.

* Sun., May 20, 7:47 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase: New Moon - Lunation 1106.

** Solar Eclipse ( Annular and Partial Eclipses) visible in western USA ---
* Sat., May 19, 12:00 Noon EDT - Moon at apogee: 406,448 kilometers.
* Sun., May 20, 7:47 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase: New Moon - Lunation 1106.
* Sun., May 20, 7:53:53.3 p.m. EDT - Time of greatest eclipse for the Annular Eclipse of the Sun (similar to a total solar eclipse, except solar disk is not completely covered by the Moon). This Annular Eclipse of the Sun will be visible in a narrow path from eastern Asia through the northern Pacific Ocean, and into the western United States of America; a partial eclipse of the Sun will be seen in a much broader area which includes much of Asia, Pacific Ocean, and the western two-thirds portion of North America.
SAFE WAY TO VIEW A SOLAR ECLIPSE..

* Mon., May 21 - Victoria Day - In Canada, informally considered the beginning of the Summer season (last Monday before May 25).

* Tue., May 22 - National Maritime Day (May 22). Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science displayed the largest Mercator's Projection Map of the World, originally produced by the U.S. Maritime Commission for display at the 1939 World's Fair in New York City.

* Tue., May 22, 5:00 p.m. EDT - Venus 5 degrees north of the Moon.

* Wed., May 23 - Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Day (Wednesday of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week).

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

* Fri., May 25 - 1961 - U.S. President John F. Kennedy, in a special speech before a joint session of the U.S. Congress, proposes a new national goal: "First, I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth."

* Sun., May 27, 7:00 a.m. EDT - Mercury in superior conjunction with the Sun (Mercury not visible, even with a telescope).

* Mon., May 28 - Memorial Day - USA (Last Monday in May);
originally observed as Decoration Day - USA (May 30).

* Mon., May 28, 4:16 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase: First Quarter.

* Tue., May 29 - Mercury at perihelion.

* Tue., May 29, 7:00 a.m. EDT - Mars 7 degrees north of the Moon.

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

* Wed., May 31 - World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) (May 31).

* Fri., June 1 - Beginning of Hurricane Season in the Atlantic Ocean (June 1).

* Fri., June 1 - International Children's Day (June 1).

* Fri., June 1, 12:00 Midnight EDT - Star Spica 1.5 degrees north of the Moon.

* Fri., June 1, 1:00 a.m. EDT - Saturn 7 degrees north of the Moon.

* Sat., June 2 - National Trails Day® (First Saturday in June).

* Sun., June 3, 9:00 a.m. EDT - Moon at perigee: 358,484 kilometers.
Large tides predicted.

* Mon., June 4, 5:59:53 to 8:06:30 a.m. EDT - Partial Lunar Eclipse/Eclipse of the Moon, barely visible in North America; moonset in Pittsburgh is 5:55 a.m. EDT.

* Mon., June 4, 7:12 a.m. EDT - Moon Phase - Full Moon: Strawberry Moon.

* Tue., June 5 - United Nations World Environment Day - ( For 2010 United Nations World Environment Day Host City for North America: Pittsburgh) (June 5).

* Tue., June 5, 6:04:01 p.m. EDT to sunset (visibility of the Sun may end a little before actual sunset) - RARE ASTRONOMICAL EVENT - Transit of the Planet Venus moving in front of the Sun (will not be seen again until the year 2117 !).
NEVER look at the Sun with a telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device unless you have the proper training and proper equipment to do so safely !!!
Safe public, telescopic viewing, of this rare event available, weather permitting, at the Mount Lebanon Public Library.

* Tue., June 5, 9:00 p.m. EDT - Venus in inferior conjunction.

* Thur., June 7 - Peak of Arietid Meteor Shower

* Thur., June 7, 2:00 a.m. EDT - Jupiter 5 degrees south of the Pleiades open star cluster (M45).

* Fri., June 8 - World Oceans Day (June 8).

* Fri., June 8, 9:00 a.m. EDT - Mercury 1.0 degree north of M35 open star cluster.

* Sat., June 9 - National Get Outdoors Day.

* Sun., June 10 - National Children's Day (Second Sunday in June).

* June 11 to 17 - Men's Health Week (Week leading to and including Father's Day).

* Mon., June 11, 6:41 a.m. EDT - Moon Phase - Last Quarter.

* Tue., June 12, 1:00 p.m. EDT - Asteroid Pallas 0.8 degree south of the Moon; occultation: majority of Japan, eastern portion of Russia, Arctic Ocean, and northern portion of Canada.

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

* Fri., June 15 - 1215 - Magna Carta, also known as The Great Charter of the Liberties of England, originally issued.

* Fri., June 15, 1:00 a.m. EDT - Venus 4 degrees north of Star Aldebaran.

* Fri., June 15, 9:00 p.m. EDT - Moon at apogee: 405,787 kilometers.

* Sun., June 17 - Fathers' Day (Third Sunday in June): Link 1 *** Link 2

* Sun., June 17, 4:00 a.m. EDT - Jupiter 1.1 degrees south of the Moon; occultation: far northern Canada.

* Sun., June 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT - Venus 2 degrees south of the Moon.

* June 18 to 24 - National Pollinator Week.

* Mon., June 18 - Bicentennial - 1812 - United States of America declares war on British Empire, beginning the War of 1812.

* Mon., June 18 - Autistic Pride Day about shifting views of autism from "disease" to "difference" (June 18).

* Tue., June 19, 11:02 a.m. EDT - Moon Phase - New Moon: Lunation 1107.

* Wed., June 20, 7:09 p.m. EDT - Summer Solstice; Season of Summer begins in Earth's Northern Hemisphere (Also see 1985-1991: Annual Free Day at Buhl Planetarium).

* Thur., June 21 - "Dump the Pump" Day (Third Thursday in June), sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association and local public transit agencies nationwide, including the Port Authority of Allegheny County.

* Thur., June 21 - Recess at Work Day.

* Thur., June 21, 2:00 p.m. EDT - Mercury 5 degrees south of Star Pollux.

* Thur., June 21, 3:00 p.m. EDT - Mercury 6 degrees north of the Moon.

* June 23 to 24 Field Day, when ham radio operators test emergency radio operations (Always The Fourth Full Weekend In June).

* Sat., June 23 - Venus appears as very slim crescent in telescope.

* June 24 to 30 - National Lightning Safety Awareness Week; see article.

* Sun., June 24 - Midsummer Day (date of Summer Soltice in Roman times) and St. Jean Baptiste Day/Quebec National Holiday (Quebec: June 24)

* Tue., June 26, 11:00 a.m. EDT - Mars 6 degrees north of the Moon.

* Tue., June 26, 11:30 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase - First Quarter.

* Wed., June 27 - At mid-northern latitudes (~40 degrees North Latitude), latest sunset of the year (Pittsburgh - latest sunset: 8:54 p.m. EDT).

* Thur., June 28 - Tau Day - Day celebrating the value of 2Pi (~6.28), designated Tau, the ratio of a circle's circumference to its radius.

* Thur., June 28, 7:00 a.m. EDT - Star Spica 1.4 degrees north of the Moon.

* Thur., June 28, 8:00 a.m. EDT - Saturn 6 degrees north of the Moon.

* Fri., June 29, 12:00 Noon EDT - Dwarf Planet Pluto at opposition.

* Sat., June 30 - Last day of Fiscal Year (Pennsylvania: June 30).

* Sat., June 30 - Last day of calendar year Second Quarter (June 30).

* Sat., June 30 [June 17 O.S. (Old Calendar System/Julian Calendar)] - 1908 - Tunguska Blast caused by an air blast of large meteoroid or comet fragment.

* Sat., June 30, 7:59:60 p.m. EDT (23:59:60 UTC) - Leap Second added to civil time scales, to keep the atomic clocks that measure civil time in close approximation with Mean Solar Time or Astronomical Time (UT1).
Ready Your Watch: The Leap Second Is Coming
The leap second survives — for at least three more years.

* Sun., July 1 - First day of Fiscal Year (Pennsylvania: July 1).

* Sun., July 1 - First day of calendar year Third Quarter (July 1).

* Sun., July 1, 2:00 p.m. EDT - Moon at perigee: 362,366 kilometers.

* Mon., July 2, 1:00 a.m. Prevailing Time - Midpoint of year 2012.

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

* Tue., July 3, 2:52 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase: Full Moon (Buck Moon).

* Tue., July 3, 7:00 p.m. EDT - Mercury 2 degrees south of the Beehive Open Star Cluster (M44) in the Constellation Cancer the Crab.

* Wed., July 4 - Independence Day, traditionally celebrated with fireworks (U.S.A.: 1776 July 4).

* Wed., July 4, 10:00 p.m. EDT - Earth at aphelion, furthest point in orbit from the Sun: 152,092,425 kilometers.

* Mon., July 9, 3:00 p.m. EDT - Venus 0.9 degree north of Star Aldebaran.

* Tue., July 10, 9:48 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase: Last Quarter.

* Wed., July 11 - World Population Day: UN (July 11).

* Wed., July 11 - Venus at aphelion, furthest point in orbit from the Sun.

* Thur., July 12 - Mercury at aphelion, furthest point in orbit from the Sun.

* Thur., July 12, 12:00 Noon - Venus at greatest brilliance (Visual Magnitude -4.7).

* Fri., July. 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) - Third of 3 Fridays in 2012 which fall on the 13th of the month. (Friday the 13th).

* Fri., July. 13, 1:00 p.m. EDT - Moon at apogee: 404,779 kilometers.

* Sat., July 14, 4:55 a.m. EDT - Double-satellite (2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Sat., July 14, 11:00 p.m. EDT - Jupiter 0.5 degree south of the Moon; occultation: Most of Europe (except United Kingdom, Ireland, and Scandinavian countries), northern portion of Africa, Middle East, Russia, northern portion of China, Japan, and Korea.

* Sun., July 15 - St. Swithun's Day - According to tradition, the weather occurring on St. Swithun's Day will continue for forty days. This legend does have a scientific basis. At this time of year, for most years, the jet stream settles into a reasonably steady pattern until the end of August.

* Sun., July 15, 11:00 a.m. EDT - Venus 4 degrees south of the Moon.

* Tue., July 17, 5:55 p.m. EDT - Double-satellite (2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Thur., July 19, 12:24 a.m. EDT - Moon Phase: New Moon - Lunation number 1108.

* July 19, Sunset to Aug. 18 - Ramadan, month of fasting in the Islamic lunar calendar; begins at sunset, based on the sighting of the New Moon (July 19 Sunset in Pittsburgh: 8:46 p.m. EDT).

* Fri., July 20, 4:00 a.m. EDT - Mercury 0.5 degree north of the Moon.

* Fri., July 20 - 1969 - 10:56:20 p.m. EDT - The first human (Neil Armstrong) to set foot on the Earth's Moon, during the NASA mission of Apollo 11.
Also see: personal remembrance of Apollo 11 mission.

* Sat., July 21, 5:52 a.m. EDT - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Sat., July 21, 6:54 a.m. EDT - Double-satellite (2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Sun., July 22 - Pi Approximation Day, a holiday commemorating the mathematical constant π (pi) (July 22: 22/7).

* Sun., July 22 - Parents' Day (fourth Sunday of July).

* Tue., July 24, 6:00 p.m. EDT - Mars 4 degrees north of the Moon.

* Tue., July 24, 6:49 p.m. EDT - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Tue., July 24, 7:53 p.m. EDT - Double-satellite (2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Wed., July 25, 1:00 p.m. EDT - Star Spica 1.2 degrees north of the Moon; occultation: southern tip of South America, portion of Antarctica.

* Wed., July 25, 3:00 p.m. EDT - Saturn 6 degrees north of the Moon.

* Thur., July 26, 4:56 a.m. EDT - Moon Phase: First Quarter.

* Sat., July 28, 7:46 a.m. EDT - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Sat., July 28, 8:52 a.m. EDT - Double-satellite (2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Sat., July 28, 4:00 p.m. EDT - Mercury in inferior conjunction (Mercury not visible, even with a telescope).

* Sat., July 28, 5:00 p.m. EDT - Peak of S. Delta-Aquarid Meteor Shower

* Sun., July 29 - Annual Rain Day in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania (July 29).

* Sun., July 29, 4:00 a.m. EDT - Moon at perigee: 367,315 kilometers.

* Mon., July 30, 3:27 a.m. EDT - Double-satellite (2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Tue., July 31 - Dog Days of Summer: Rising of Sirius (the "Dog Star") ahead of the Sun (however, Sirius not visible until, at least, Aug. 7, due to glare of the Sun) (July 31).

* Tue., July 31, 8:42 p.m. EDT - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Tue., July 31, 9:53 p.m. EDT - Double-satellite (2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Wed., Aug. 1 - Traditional Astronomical Cross-Quarter Day, also known as “Lammas” (in the United Kingdom) and “Lughnassad” (in Ireland). Considered approximate date of First Harvest (third traditional cross-quarter day of the year), approximately between the Midsummer Solstice and the Autumnal Equinox (Aug. 1).
Actual Cross-Quarter Day.

* Mon., Aug. 6, 2:59 p.m. EDT - Actual Astronomical Cross-Quarter Day (halfway between the June Solstice and September Equinox); traditionally observed August 1 as “Lammas” (in the United Kingdom) and “Lughnassad” (in Ireland).
Traditional Cross-Quarter Day.

* July 19, Sunset to Aug. 18 - Ramadan, month of fasting in the Islamic lunar calendar; begins at sunset, based on the sighting of the New Moon (July 19 Sunset in Pittsburgh: 8:46 p.m. EDT).

* Aug. 1 to 7 - World Breastfeeding Week (WBW).

* Wed., Aug. 1 - Traditional Astronomical Cross-Quarter Day, also known as “Lammas” (in the United Kingdom) and “Lughnassad” (in Ireland). Considered approximate date of First Harvest (third traditional cross-quarter day of the year), approximately between the Midsummer Solstice and the Autumnal Equinox (Aug. 1).
Actual Cross-Quarter Day.

* Wed., Aug. 1, 10:27 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase: Full Moon - Sturgeon Moon.

* Fri., Aug. 3, 12:00 Midnight EDT - Jupiter 5 degrees north of Star Aldebaran, in the Constellation Taurus the Bull.

* Sat., Aug. 4, 9:39 a.m. EDT - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Sat., Aug. 4, 11:16 a.m. EDT - Double-satellite (2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Aug. 5 to 11 - National Farmers Market Week.

* Sun., Aug. 5 - Friendship Day (First Sunday in August).

* Sun., Aug. 5, sunset - Mars, Saturn, and Star Spica form triangle in early evening sky.

* Mon., Aug. 6 - Civic Holiday in certain Canadian provinces (First Monday in August)

* Mon., Aug. 6 - 1945 - 8:15:43 a.m. Hiroshima Time - First war-time use of Atomic Bomb over Hiroshima, Japan (Aug. 6).

* Mon., Aug. 6, 1:17 a.m. EDT - The NASA Mars Science Laboratory Rover, "Curiosity" scheduled to land on Mars.
See also:
** Sun., Aug. 5, sunset - Mars, Saturn, and Star Spica form triangle in early evening sky.
** William Shatner and Wil Wheaton Narrate New NASA Mars Curiosity Rover Video
** Strange but True: Curiosity's Sky Crane Mars Landing Plan.

* Mon., Aug. 6, 4:08 a.m. EDT - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Mon., Aug. 6, 2:59 p.m. EDT - Actual Astronomical Cross-Quarter Day (halfway between the June Solstice and September Equinox); traditionally observed August 1 as “Lammas” (in the United Kingdom) and “Lughnassad” (in Ireland).
Traditional Cross-Quarter Day.

* Tue., Aug. 7 - Dog Days of Summer: First visible (Sirius rises ahead of Sun at 7 degrees altitude) Heliacal rising of Sirius (~ Aug. 7).

* Tue., Aug. 7 - National Lighthouse Day (Aug. 7).

* Tue., Aug. 7, evening - National Night Out

* Tue., Aug. 7, 10:36 p.m. EDT - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Wed., Aug. 8, 12:38 a.m. EDT - Double-satellite (2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Thur., Aug. 9, 2:55 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase: Last Quarter.

* Thur., Aug. 9, 10:00 p.m. EDT - Venus 5 degrees south of M35 open star cluster.

* Fri., Aug. 10, 7:00 a.m. EDT - Moon at apogee: 404,123 kilometers.

* Aug. 10, 11, 12 weekend and Sept. 7, 8, 9 weekend, 30 minutes before sunset - Swift Night-Out - CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECT to observe bird roosts of Chimney Swifts and Vaux's Swifts.

* Sat., Aug. 11, 11:33 a.m. EDT - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Sat., Aug. 11, 2:01 p.m. EDT - Double-satellite (2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Sat., Aug. 11, 4:00 p.m. EDT - Jupiter 0.1 degree north of the Moon; occultation: most of Indonesia, Marshall Islands, Hawaii.

* Sun., Aug. 12 - International Youth Day (August 12).

* Sun., Aug. 12, 8:00 a.m. EDT - Peak of Perseid Meteor Shower, considered one of the best of the year!

* Sun., Aug. 12, 8:00 p.m. EDT - Mars 1.9 degrees north of the Star Spica in the Constellation Virgo the Virgin.

* Mon., Aug. 13 - International Lefthanders Day (Aug. 13).

* Mon., Aug. 13, 6:38 a.m. EDT - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Mon., Aug. 13, 4:00 p.m. EDT - Venus 0.6 degree south of the Moon; occultation: eastern portion of Asia, Japan, most of North America except the northeastern section.

* Wed., Aug. 15 - Relaxation Day (Aug. 15).

* Wed., Aug. 15, 12:44 a.m. EDT - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Wed., Aug. 15, 3:22 a.m. EDT - Double-satellite (2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Thur., Aug. 16, 1:00 a.m. EDT - Mercury 4 degrees north of the Moon.

* Fri., Aug. 17, 4:00 a.m. EDT - Mars 3 degrees south of Saturn.

* Fri., Aug. 17, 11:54 a.m. EDT - Moon Phase: New Moon - Lunation: 1109.

* Aug. 18 to 24 - National Book Week.

* Sat., Aug. 18, 2:03 p.m. EDT - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Sat., Aug. 18, 4:43 p.m. EDT - Double-satellite (2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Sat., Aug. 18, 5:00 p.m. EDT - Mercury 2 degrees south of the Beehive Open Star Cluster (M44) in the Constellation Cancer the Crab.

Sat., Aug. 18, Sunset - Eid ul-Fitr - Celebrated as day Muslims end fasting for the end of the Muslim month of Ramadan, which is based on the lunar calendar (Sunset in Pittsburgh: 8:12 p.m. EDT).

* Sun., Aug. 19 - World Photography Day (Aug. 19).

* Sun., Aug. 19 - World Humanitarian Day (Aug. 19).

* Mon., Aug. 20 - National Radio Day (August 20).

* Tue., Aug. 21, 6:00 p.m. EDT - Star Spica in the Constellation Virgo the Virgin 1.0 degree north of the Moon; occultation: New Zealand, most of Antarctica.

* Tue., Aug. 21, 11:00 p.m. EDT - Saturn 5 degrees north of the Moon.

* Wed., Aug. 22, 3:21 a.m. EDT - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Wed., Aug. 22, 4:00 a.m. EDT - Mars 2 degrees north of the Moon.

* Thur., Aug. 23 - International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition (Aug. 23).

* Thur., Aug. 23, 3:00 p.m. EDT - Moon at perigee: 369,728 kilometers.

* Aug. 24 to 26 - . Pledge to Fledge ! campaign for birders to share their love and information about the birding hobby with others.

* Fri., Aug. 24, 9:00 a.m. EDT - Neptune at opposition (Neptune visible approx. from sunset to sunrise).

* Fri., Aug. 24, 9:54 a.m. EDT - Moon Phase: First Quarter.

* Sat., Aug. 25 - World Doctorates Day (Aug. 25).

* Sat., Aug. 25 - Mercury at perihelion.

* Sat., Aug. 25, 4:40 p.m. EDT - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Tue., Aug. 28 - 1912 - Centennial - New Allegheny Observatory building dedicated (Aug. 28).

* Wed., Aug. 29, 5:58 a.m. EDT - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Fri., Aug. 31, 9:58 a.m. EDT - Moon Phase: Full Moon -
BLUE MOON: Link 1 *** Link 2.

* Wed., Aug. 31 - 1991 - 5:00 p.m. EDT - Anniversary of the closing of The Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science as a public museum, which was dedicated as America's fifth major planetarium on 1939 October 24.

* Sat., Sept. 1 - Beginning of Meteorological Season of Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere.

* Sat., Sept. 1 - Beginning of Spring Season in Australia

* Sat., Sept. 1 - Mid-point in Atlantic Ocean Hurricane Season.

* Sat., Sept. 1 - Peak of Aurigid Meteor Shower.

* Sat., Sept. 1 - International Vulture Awareness Day - Highlights an ecologically vital group of birds that face a range of threats, including possible extinction for certain species. (First Saturday in September)

* Sat., Sept. 1 - 1939 - World War II began.

* Sat., Sept. 1, 5:00 p.m. EDT - Venus 9 degrees south of Star Pollux, in the Constellation Gemini the Twins.

* Sat., Sept. 1, 7:17 p.m. EDT - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Mon., Sept. 3 - Labor Day (Federal Holiday: U.S.A. - First Monday in September)

* Aug. 10, 11, 12 weekend and Sept. 7, 8, 9 weekend, 30 minutes before sunset - Swift Night-Out - CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECT to observe bird roosts of Chimney Swifts and Vaux's Swifts.

* Fri., Sept. 7, 2:00 a.m. EDT - Moon at apogee: 404,294 kilometers.

* Sat., Sept. 8 - International Literacy Day (Sept. 8).

* Sat., Sept. 8 - World First Aid Day (Second Saturday in September).

* Sat., Sept. 8, 7:00 a.m. EDT - Jupiter 0.6 degree north of the Moon; occultation: central and southern portions of South America.

* Sat., Sept. 8, 9:15 a.m. EDT - Moon Phase: Last Quarter.

* Sun., Sept. 9 - Grandparents Day (First Sunday after Labor Day).

* Sun., Sept. 9, 5:00 a.m. EDT - Asteroid Ceres 0.6 degree south of the Moon; occultation: USA except southeast portion, Canada, Europe, North Africa, Middle East, western portion of Russia.

* Mon., Sept. 10 - Traditional peak in Atlantic Ocean Hurricane Season.

* Mon., Sept. 10 - World Suicide Prevention Day (Sept. 10).

* Mon., Sept. 10, 9:00 a.m. EDT - Mercury in superior conjunction (Mercury not visible, even with a telescope).

* Tue., Sept. 11 - 2001 - Patriot Day - In commemoration of the 9/11 attacks in New York, Washington, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania (September 11).

* Wed., Sept. 12, 1:00 p.m. EDT - Venus 4 degrees north of the Moon.

* Thur., Sept. 13, 7:00 p.m. EDT - Venus 3 degrees south of the Beehive Open Star Cluster (M44) in the Constellation Cancer the Crab.

* Fri., Sept. 14 - Zodiacal Light dimly visible in northern lattitudes in eastern sky, before morning twilight, for next two weeks.

* Sat., Sept. 15 - Software Freedom Day (Third Saturday in September).

* Sat., Sept. 15, 10:11 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase: New Moon - Lunation: 1110.

* Sun., Sept. 16 , Sunset - Rosh Hashanah - Jewish New Year (Sunset in Pittsburgh: 7:26 p.m. EDT).

* Sept. 17 to 23 - Constitution Week promotes study and education about the constitution which was originally adopted by the American Congress of the Confederation on September 17, 1787 (Sept. 17 to 23).

* Mon., Sept. 17 - Constitution Day or Citizenship Day - Commemorates the day of signing of the U.S. Constitution at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 (Sept. 17).

* Tue., Sept. 18 - 1947 - Formation of the United States Air Force, as part of the National Security Act of 1947, which also included formation of the Department of Defense (DOD), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), National Security Council, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Sept. 18).

* Tue., Sept. 18, 1:00 a.m. EDT - Star Spica 0.8 degree north of the Moon; occultation: southern portion of the Indian Ocean, Mauritius, most of Antarctica..

* Tue., Sept. 18, 10:00 a.m. EDT - Saturn 5 degrees north of the Moon.

* Tue., Sept. 18, 11:00 p.m. EDT - Moon at perigee: 365,752 kilometers.

* Wed., Sept. 19, 5:00 p.m. EDT - Mars 0.1 degree north of the Moon; occultation: central portion of South America, French Polynesia.

* Fri., Sept. 21 - World Alzheimer's Day (Sept. 21).

* Fri., Sept. 21 - World Gratitude Day (Sept. 21).

* Sat., Sept. 22 - World Car-Free Day (Sept. 22).

* Sat., Sept. 22, 10:49 a.m. EDT - Autumnal Equinox; beginning of Season of Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere.

* Sat., Sept. 22, 3:41 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase: First Quarter.

* Sun., Sept. 23 - 1846 - Neptune first planet discovered by mathematical prediction.

* Mon., Sept. 24, 11:00 p.m. EDT - Asteroid Pallas at opposition (Pallas visible, with difficulty, in a telescope, approx. sunset to sunrise).

* Tue., Sept. 25 - National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims (Sept. 25).

* Tue., Sept. 25, Sunset - Yom Kippur the Hebrew Day of Atonement (Sunset in Pittsburgh: 7:11 p.m. EDT).

* Thur., Sept. 27 - World Maritime Day (Last Week of September).

* Fri., Sept. 28 - World Rabies Day, marked on the anniversary of the death of Louis Pasteur.

* Fri., Sept. 28 - The Right to Know Day (Sept. 28).

* Sat., Sept. 29 - Museum Day - Free admission to participating museums, with Museum Day ticket from the Smithsonian Magazine web site (Saturday in September).

* Sat., Sept. 29 - National Public Lands Day (Saturday in late September).

* Sat., Sept. 29 - World Heart Day (Sept. 29).

* Sat., Sept. 29, 3:00 a.m. EDT - Uranus at opposition (Uranus visible in a telescope, approx. sunset to sunrise).

* Sat., Sept. 29, 11:19 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase: Full Moon - Harvest Moon.

* Sept. 30 to Oct. 6 - Banned Books Week (BBW) - An annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment.

* Sun., Sept. 30 - Mid-Autumn Festival/Moon Festival - A popular harvest festival celebrated by Chinese and Vietnamese people, dating back over 3,000 years to Moon worship in China's Shang Dynasty. It is celebrated on the date close to the Autumnal Equinox of the Solar Calendar, as well as close to the Full Moon Phase.

* Sun., Sept. 30 - Last day of U.S.A. Federal Fiscal Year (Sept. 30).

* Sun., Sept. 30 - Last day of calendar year Third Quarter (Sept. 30).

* Sun., Sept. 30 - Gold Star Mother's Day (Last Sunday in September).

* Sun., Sept. 30, 9:00 p.m. EDT - Mercury 1.8 degrees north of Star Spica.

* Sun., Sept. 30, Sunset (to Sun., Oct. 7) - Sukkot - Feast of Tabernacles of the Jewish faith begins .

* Mon., Oct. 1 - First day of U.S.A. Federal Fiscal Year (Oct. 1).

* Mon., Oct. 1 - First day of calendar year Fourth Quarter (Oct. 1).

* Mon., Oct. 1 - U.S. Supreme Court begins new term (first Monday in October).

* Wed., Oct. 3 - International Walk to School Day (first Wednesday in October).

* Wed., Oct. 3, 4:00 a.m. EDT - Venus 0.1 degree south of Star Regulus.

* Wed., Oct. 3, 9:00 p.m. EDT - First debate between the two major candidates for the presidency of the United States of America, at the University of Denver.

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

* Thur., Oct. 4, 9:00 p.m. EDT - Moon at apogee: 405,160 kilometers.

* Thur., Oct. 4 - 1957 - The Space Age begins with the first successful launch and orbit of an artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (the country today known by their traditional name, Russia).

* Oct. 5 to 19 - Great World Wide Star Count.

* Fri., Oct. 5 - 1582 - Gregorian Calendar enacted by Roman Catholic Church to bring the calendar back into synchronization with the seasons: Friday, October 5, 1582 O.S. (Old System: Julian Calendar) became Friday, October 15, 1582 N.S. (New System: Gregorian Calendar).

* Fri., Oct. 5 - World Teachers' Day (Oct. 5).

* Fri., Oct. 5, 5:00 p.m. EDT - Jupiter 0.9 degree north of the Moon; occultation: southern-most parts of, and ocean area to the south of, Australia.

* Sat., Oct. 6, 3:00 a.m. EDT - Mercury 3 degrees south of Saturn.

* Oct. 7 to 13 - Metric Week [Week containing Oct. 10 (10-10)].

* Oct. 7 to 13 - Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) / Mental Health Awareness Week (First Full Week of October).

* Oct. 7 to 13 - Fire Prevention Week (Week, from Sunday to Saturday, which includes October 9).

* Sun., Oct. 7, 1:00 a.m. EDT - Asteroid Ceres 0.9 degree north of the Moon; occultation: southern tip of Africa and the South Atlantic Ocean.

* Sun., Oct. 7, 8:35 p.m. EDT - First launch of Falcon 9 space vehicle,with the Dragon space capsule, designated SpaceX CRS-1, for NASA's Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract to resupply the International Space Station. Launch will occur at the Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Backup launch opportunities are available on Oct. 8 and Oct. 9, if needed.

* Sun., Oct. 7, 10:00 p.m. EDT - Peak of October Draconid Meteor Shower.

* Mon., Oct. 8 - Chistopher Columbus Day Observed: Federal Holiday in U.S.A. (Second Monday in October).

* Mon., Oct. 8 - Thanksgiving Day: Federal Holiday in Canada (Second Monday in October).

* Mon., Oct. 8 - Mercury at aphelion.

* Mon., Oct. 8, 3:33 a.m. EDT - Moon Phase: Last Quarter.

* Tue., Oct. 9 - Leif Erikson Day honors the Norse explorer who brought the first Europeans known to have set foot in North America (Oct. 9).

* Tue., Oct. 9 - Fire Prevention Day (Oct. 9).

* Wed., Oct. 10 - Metric Day (10-10).

* Wed., Oct. 10 - World Mental Health Day (Oct. 10).

* Thur., Oct. 11 - National Depression Screening Day® (NDSD) (During Mental Illness Awareness Week).

* Thur., Oct. 11, 9:00 p.m. EDT - Debate between the two major candidates for the vice presidency of the United States of America, at Centre College, Danville, Kentucky.

* Fri., Oct. 12 - Chistopher Columbus Day (Oct. 12).

* Fri., Oct. 12 - World Egg Day (Second Friday in October). Also see: Embryology "Chick Hatching" Exhibit at Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science.

* Fri., Oct. 12, 3:00 p.m. EDT - Venus 6 degrees north of the Moon.

* Sat., Oct. 13 - Zodiacal Light dimly visible in northern lattitudes in eastern sky, before morning twilight, for next two weeks.

* Oct. 14 to 20 - Earth Science Week (Second full week of October).

* Oct. 14 to 20 - Teen Read Week (Third Week of October).

* Sun., Oct. 14 - World Standards Day (Oct. 14).

* Sun., Oct. 14 - 1947 - Chuck Yeager officially broke the sound barrier. In 2012, At Age 89, Chuck Yeager AGAIN Breaks Sound Barrier..

* Sun., Oct. 14 - Clergy Appreciation National Day of Honoring (Second Sunday in October).

* Oct. 15 to 19 - National Teen Driver Safety Week (Third week of October).

* Mon., Oct. 15 - Global Handwashing Day (Oct. 15).

* Mon., Oct. 15, 8:02 a.m. EDT - Moon Phase: New Moon - Lunation: 1111).

* Tue., Oct. 16 - World Food Day / Food Engineer Day (Oct. 16).

* Tue., Oct. 16 - National Boss Day (Oct. 16, unless date falls on weekend, then closest working day to Oct. 16).

* Tue., Oct. 16, 9:00 p.m. EDT - Moon at perigee: 360,672 kilometers.
Large tides predicted.

* Tue., Oct. 16, 9:00 p.m. EDT - Second debate between the two major candidates for the presidency of the United States of America, at Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York.

* Tue., Oct. 16, 10:00 p.m. EDT - Mercury 1.3 degrees south of the Moon.

* Thur., Oct. 18, 9:00 a.m. EDT - Mars 2 degrees south of the Moon.

* Sat., April 28 & Sat., Oct. 20 - International Astronomy Day [Saturdays in Spring (Saturday in Astronomy Week) and Autumn]: Link 1 *** Link 2

* Sat., Oct. 20 - Average end of the Growing Season for the Pittsburgh Quad-State Region (Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio, Northern West Virginia, and Western Maryland, except at the higher altitudes in the Allegheny Mountains) (Oct. 20).

* Sat., Oct. 20 - Sweetest Day (Third Saturday in October).

* Sat., Oct. 20, 2:00 a.m. EDT - Mars 4 degrees north of Star Antares.

* Oct. 21 to 27 - National Chemistry Week.

* Oct. 21 to 27 - Male Breast Cancer Awareness Week (Third full week of October).

* Oct. 21 to 27 - Open Access Week (Last full week of October).

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

* Sun., Oct. 21, 11:32 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase: First Quarter.

* Oct. 22 to 26 - National School Bus Safety Week (Third Week in October).

* Mon., Oct. 22, 9:00 p.m. EDT - Third and final debate between the two major candidates for the presidency of the United States of America, at Lynn University, Boca Raton, Florida.

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

* Wed., Oct. 24 - 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 ! (presently on display as a non-working exhibit) (Oct. 24).

* Wed., Oct. 24 - 1945 - Founding of United Nations (Oct. 24).

* Thur., Oct. 25, 4:00 a.m. EDT - Saturn in conjunction with the Sun (Saturn not visible, even with a telescope).

* Sun., Oct. 28 - Mother-in-law Day (Fourth Sunday in October).

* Sun., Oct. 28, 2:00 a.m. Prevailing Time (Daylight Saving Time) - DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME CONTINUES - Change in Federal law, thus that return to Standard Time occurs 2:00 a.m. Daylight Saving Time (which becomes 1:00 a.m. Standard Time) on the first Sunday in November (previously, last Sunday in October).
Science of Daylight Saving Time.

* Mon., Oct. 29, 3:49 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase: Full Moon (Hunter's Moon).

* Tue., Oct. 30, 9:00 p.m. EDT (8:00 p.m. EST in 1938) - 1938 - 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.

* Wed., Oct. 31/Thur., Nov. 1/Fri., 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).

* Wed., Oct. 31 - Reformation Day (Oct. 31).

* Wed., Oct. 31 - Venus at perihelion.

* Sun., Nov. 4, 2:00 a.m. Prevailing Time (Daylight Saving Time) - DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME ENDS - Change in Federal law thus that return to Standard Time occurs 2:00 a.m. Daylight Saving Time (which becomes 1:00 a.m. Standard Time) (First Sunday in November, 2:00 a.m. Prevailing Time).
Science of Daylight Saving Time.

* Tue., Nov. 6, 8:00 a.m. EST - Actual Astronomical Cross-Quarter Day Samhain or "All-Hallowsmas" (fourth and last actual cross-quarter day of the year).
Traditional Cross-Quarter Day.

* Thur., Nov. 1, 11:00 a.m. EDT - Moon at apogee: 406,050 kilometers.

* Thur., Nov. 1, 9:00 p.m. EDT - Jupiter 0.9 degree north of the Moon; occultation: most of South Africa and ocean areas south of South Africa.

* Fri., Nov. 2, 1:00 p.m. EDT - 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 (First Friday in November).

* Fri., Nov. 2 (1920), 7:00 p.m. EDT (6:00 p.m. EST in 1920) - First broadcast of the world's first commercial radio broadcast station: KDKA-AM, Pittsburgh (Nov. 2).

* Sun., Nov. 4, 2:00 a.m. Prevailing Time (Daylight Saving Time) - DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME ENDS - Change in Federal law thus that return to Standard Time occurs 2:00 a.m. Daylight Saving Time (which becomes 1:00 a.m. Standard Time) (First Sunday in November, 2:00 a.m. Prevailing Time).
Science of Daylight Saving Time.

* Nov. 5 to 9 - Winter Safety Awareness Week: Pennsylvania (First full week of November).

* Mon., Nov. 5 (1605) - 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).

* Mon., Nov. 5, 12:00 Midnight EST - Peak of South Taurid Meteor Shower.

* Tue., Nov. 6, 8:00 a.m. EST - Actual Astronomical Cross-Quarter Day Samhain or "All-Hallowsmas" (Fourth and last actual cross-quarter day of the year).
Traditional Cross-Quarter Day.

* Tue., Nov. 6 - General Election Day - Federal Offices including President and Vice President - Pennsylvania Election Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST. (First Tuesday after the first Monday of November)

* Tue., Nov. 6, 7:36 p.m. EST - Moon Phase: Last Quarter.

* Thur., Nov. 8 (1895) - X-Rays discovered. Although several scientists, including Nikola Tesla, observed and studied this unusual radiation in the last part of the nineteenth century, credit for discovery is usually given to German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen because he was the first to systematically study the phenomenon.

* Sat., Nov. 10 (1775) - United States Marine Corps (USMC) established.

* Sat., Nov. 10 - 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 (Second Saturday in November).

* Sat., Nov. 10 - Carl Sagan Day (Saturday closest to Nov. 9, birthday of Carl Sagan).

* Nov. 11 to 17 - Winter Safety Awareness Week: Ohio (Second full week of November).

* Sun., Nov. 11 - Veterans' Day/Armistice Day (Nov. 11 - U.S.A.; also, when Nov. 11 falls on Saturday or Sunday, the Observed Government Holiday falls on the weekday before or after Nov. 11).

* Sun., Nov. 11 - Remembrance Day (Nov. 11 - Canada).

* Sun., Nov. 11, 1:00 p.m. EST - Venus 5 degrees north of the Moon.

* Sun., Nov. 11, 9:00 p.m. EST - Star Spica 0.8 degree north of the Moon; occultation: Southern Indian Ocean, Mauritius, most of Antarctica.

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

* Mon., Nov. 12 - Veterans' Day Observed Government Holiday (Weekday before or after Nov. 11).

* Mon., Nov. 12, 4:00 p.m. EST - Saturn 4 degrees north of the Moon.

* Tue., Nov. 13 - Diwali or Deepavali - Religious holiday of India; on the Hindu calendar, the five-day festival of Deepavali is centered on the New Moon day that ends the month of Ashwin and begins the month of Kartika.

* Tue., Nov. 13, 2:37:58.1 p.m. EST - Beginning of penumbral phase of Total Eclipse of the Sun visible in the South Pacific Ocean and northern Australia; partial eclipse visible in the South Pacific Ocean, Australia, New Zealand, southern portion of South America and part of Antarctica.
SAFE WAY TO VIEW SOLAR ECLIPSE OR ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.

* Tue., Nov. 13, 5:08 p.m. EST - Moon Phase: New Moon - Lunation 1112.

* Wed., Nov. 14 - World Diabetes Day (Nov.14).

* Wed., Nov. 14 - World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Day (Second Wednesday in November).

* Wed., Nov. 14, 5:00 a.m. EST - Moon at perigee: 357,361 kilometers.
Large tides predicted.

* Wed., Nov. 14, Sunset (Sunset in Pittsburgh: 5:03 p.m. EST) - Islamic New Year ( Muharram): Based on lunar calendar, but the New Moon must be observable ( astronomical considerations).

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

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

* Thur., Nov. 15 - "Great American Smokeout," to assist people to quit smoking (Third Thursday in November).

* Thur., Nov. 15, 6:00 p.m. EST - Venus 4 degrees north of Star Spica.

* Fri., Nov. 16 - International Day for Tolerance (Nov. 16).

* Fri., Nov. 16, 5:00 a.m. EST - Mars 4 degrees south of the Moon.

* Fri., Nov. 16, evening - Pittsburgh Golden Triangle Light-Up Night, beginning of holiday shopping season; includes evening of downtown buildings lit-up and fireworks.

* Sat., Nov. 17 - 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. 17, 3:00 a.m. EST - Peak of Leonid Meteor Shower

* Sat., Nov. 17, 11:00 a.m. EST - Mercury in inferior conjunction with the Sun (Mercury not visible, even with a telescope).

* Sun., Nov. 18, 12:00 Noon Standard Time (1883) - Anniversary of the establishment of standard time zones by American and Canadian railroads, when Pittsburgh's Allegheny Observatory sent a time-signal over the telegraph, to coordinate all railroad station clocks. (Nov. 18).
Also see history of new Allegheny Observatory building.

* Mon., Nov. 19 (1941) - Anniversary: Dedication of The People's Observatory on the third floor of Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science, with the rather unique 10-inch Siderostat-type Refractor Telescope (Nov. 19).

* Mon., Nov. 19 (1958) - Anniversary: Federal formation of the National Radio Quiet Zone, providing for radio research at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, West Virginia (Nov. 19).

* Mon., Nov. 19 (1863) - Anniversary: Gettysburg Address presented by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln for the Consecration of the National Cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, during the American Civil War (Nov. 19).
See also Civil War Museum of the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall.

* Tue., Nov. 20 - Universal Children's Day (Nov. 20).

* Tue., Nov. 20, 9:31 a.m. EST - Moon Phase: First Quarter.

* Wed., Nov. 21 - Mercury at perihelion.

* Nov. 22 to 26 - Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend (Thanksgiving Day through following Monday).
Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science scheduled expanded public hours during this holiday weekend --
Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. (Friday - Observatory to 10:30 p.m.) EST
Sunday: 12:00 Noon to 9:30 p.m. EST
Monday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST

* Thur., Nov. 22 - Thanksgiving Day: Link 1 *** Link 2 (Fourth Thursday in November - U.S.A.).

* Thur., Nov. 22 (1963), 1:30 p.m. EST - Anniversary of the Assassination of John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the United States of America.

* Fri., Nov. 23 - "Black Friday" - Was sometimes the busiest day of the year at Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science (Day after Thanksgiving Day, U.S.A.).

* Sat., Nov. 24 - Small Business Saturday (Saturday after Black Friday).

* Sun., Nov. 25 (1835) - Industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie born in Dunfermline, Scotland; immigrated to Pittsburgh in 1848.

* Mon., Nov. 26 - Cyber Monday (Monday after Black Friday).

* Mon., Nov. 26 - Pennsylvania: First day of Deer (Antlered and Antlerless) Hunting Season by Rifle (Monday after Thanksgiving Day).
[Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science scheduled expanded public hours on this day (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST), as some school districts were closed this day.]

* Mon., Nov. 26 (1758) - Anniversary: Founding of Pittsburgh by British General John Forbes, who originally named the town "Pittsborough," named in honor of British Secretary of State William Pitt the Elder.

* Tue., Nov. 27 - Giving Tuesday - Day for people to donate time and/or money to needy charities, following the Thanksgiving Weekend beginning of the holiday shopping season (Tuesday after Black Friday).

* Tue., Nov. 27 (1861) - First light for 13-inch Fitz Refractor Telescope (then, third largest telescope in the world !), at original Allegheny Observatory in Allegheny City (which was annexed to Pittsburgh in 1907 and now Pittsburgh's North Side), Pennsylvania (Nov. 27).
Also see history of new Allegheny Observatory building.

* Tue., Nov. 27, 12:00 Midnight EST - Venus 0.6 degree south of Saturn.

* Wed., Nov. 28, 7:14:58 a.m. EST - Beginning (however, naked-eye visibility only from approx. 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. EST) of Deep Penumbral Eclipse of the Moon. All of this eclipse will be visible in Alaska, Hawaii, Australia, and eastern Asia; beginning of eclipse will be visible in the western portion of North America.

* Wed., Nov. 28, 9:46 a.m. EST - Moon Phase: Full Moon (Beaver Moon).
Smallest Full Moon of 2012.

* Wed., Nov. 28, 3:00 p.m. EST - Moon at apogee: 406,362 kilometers.

* Wed., Nov. 28, 8:00 p.m. EST - Jupiter 0.6 degree north of the Moon; occultation: most of southern South America, southern Africa.

* Fri., Nov. 30 - Computer Security Day (Nov. 30).

* Fri., Nov. 30 - St Andrew's Day (Nov. 30).

* Fri., Nov. 30 - Last day of Hurricane Season (Nov. 30).

* Sat., Dec. 1 - Beginning of Summer Season in Australia (Dec. 1).

* Sat., Dec. 1 (1964) - Anniversary: Tripoli Rocket Club, now known as the Tripoli Rocketry Association , was founded in Rillton, Pennsylvania, near Irwin, Pennsylvania, in the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area. Francis G. Graham, today Professor Emeritus of Physics at Kent State University, was one of the key founders (Dec. 1).

* Sat., Dec. 1 - World AIDS Day (Dec. 1).

* Dec. 2 to 8 - National Influenza Vaccination Week (First week in December).

* Dec. 2 to 8 - National Handwashing Awareness Week (First full week of December).

* Sun., Dec. 2 - First Sunday in Advent (Traditional) (First of four Sundays in Advent prior to Christmas Day).

* Sun., Dec. 2, 9:00 p.m. EST - Jupiter at opposition (Visible approximately from local sunset to local sunrise).

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

* Thur., Dec. 6 - Feast of Saint Nicholas (Traditional: Gregorian Calendar) (Dec. 6).

* Thur., Dec. 6, 10:31 a.m. EST - Moon Phase: Last Quarter.

* Fri., Dec. 7 (1941) - Anniversary: Pearl Harbor Day (Dec. 7).

* Fri., Dec. 7, 3:00 p.m. EST - Jupiter 5 degrees north of Star Aldebaran.

* Dec. 8, Sunset (Sunset in Pittsburgh: 4:53 p.m. EST) to Dec. 16 - Hanukkah or Chanukah (Jewish festival of rededication, also known as the Festival of Lights.)

* Sun., Dec. 9, 3:00 a.m. EST - Asteroid Vesta at opposition (By telescope, visible approximately from local sunset to local sunrise).

* Sun., Dec. 9, 7:00 a.m. EST - Star Spica 0.8 degree north of the Moon; occultation: South Pacific Ocean, most of Antarctica, and southern portion of South America.

* Mon., Dec. 10, 7:00 a.m. EST - Saturn 4 degrees north of the Moon.

* Tue., Dec. 11, 9:00 a.m. EST - Venus 1.6 degrees north of the Moon.

* Tue., Dec. 11, 8:00 p.m. EST - Mercury 1.1 degrees north of the Moon; occultation: most of Antarctica.

* Wed., Dec. 12, 6:00 p.m. EST - Moon at perigee: 357,075 kilometers.
Large tides predicted.

* Thur., 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).

* Thur., Dec. 13, 3:42 a.m. EST - Moon Phase: New Moon - Lunation 1113.

* Thur., Dec. 13, 7:00 p.m. EST - Peak of Geminid Meteor Shower (Dec. 13-14).

* 2012 Dec. 14 to 2013 Jan. 5 - CITIZEN SCIENCE:
Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count (Dec. 14 to Jan. 5).

* Fri., Dec. 14 - Beginning of two-week period, centering on the Winter Solstice: Halcyon Days of December, when it is believed the seas would be calm and winds light (Dec. 14).

* Sat., Dec. 15 (1791) - Anniversary: Ratification of the Bill of Rights amendments to the Constitution of the United States of America (Dec. 15).

* Sat., Dec. 15, 5:00 a.m. EST - Mars 6 degrees south of the Moon.

* Mon., 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. 17).

* Mon., Dec. 17 - Free Shipping Day by Internet merchants for delivery of Christmas gifts by Christmas Eve (Third week in December).

* Mon., Dec. 17, 10:00 a.m. EST - Mercury 6 degrees north of Star Antares.

* Tue., Dec. 18, 4:00 a.m. EST - Dwarf Planet Ceres at opposition (By telescope, visible approximately from local sunset to local sunrise).

* Wed., Dec. 19 - Feast of Saint Nicholas (Orthodox: Julian Calendar) (Dec. 19).

* Thur., Dec. 20, 12:19 a.m. EST - Moon Phase: First Quarter.

* Fri., Dec. 21, 6:12 a.m. EST - Winter Solstice: beginning of Winter season in Earth's Northern Hemisphere.
Also see: "The Stars of Winter" and "The Star of Bethlehem" Planetarium Sky Dramas (web sites include entire planetarium show scripts), performed each Winter in the Theater of the Stars of Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science.
End of Mayan "Long Count" Calendar, erroneously interpreted as the "end of the world."

* Dec. 22 to Jan. 1 - Christmas Day / New Year's Day Holiday Week (approx. Christmas Day to New Year's Day, including adjacent weekends).
Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science scheduled expanded public hours during this holiday week --
Monday through Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. (Friday - Observatory to 10:30 p.m.) EST
Sunday:12:00 Noon to 9:30 p.m. EST
EXCEPT -
Christmas Day: Closed
Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST (If Sunday, opened at 12:00 Noon)
New Year's Day: 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. EST (If Sunday, opened at 12:00 Noon)

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

* Sat., Dec. 22, 1:00 p.m. EST - Asteroid Juno in conjunction with the Sun (Even with telescope, Juno not visible).

* Sun., Dec. 23, 6:00 a.m. EST - Venus 6 degrees north of Star Antares.

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

* Mon., Dec. 24, 4:59 a.m. EST (1968) - Anniversary: First manned space flight to enter orbit of another planetary body (Earth's Moon): Apollo 8 (Dec. 24).

* 2012 Dec. 25 to 2013 Jan. 5 - The 12 days of Christmas (Dec. 25).

* Tue., Dec. 25 - Christmas Day (Traditional) or Feast of the Nativity (Dec. 25).
The classic "Star of Bethlehem" Planetarium Sky Drama performed every Christmas holiday season, 1939 through 1990, in the Theater of the Stars at Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science.

* Tue., Dec. 25 - Winter Solstice according to ancient calendars (Dec. 25).

* Tue., Dec. 25, 4:00 p.m. EST - Moon at apogee: 406,098 kilometers.

* Tue., Dec. 25, 7:00 p.m. EST - Jupiter 0.4 degree north of the Moon; occultation: central portion of South America, southern portion of Africa.

* 2012 Dec. 26 to 2013 Jan. 1 - Kwanzaa - Week-long holiday observance honoring African-American heritage (Dec. 26).

* Wed., Dec. 26 - Boxing Day (Dec. 26).

* Wed., Dec. 26 - Feast of St. Stephen (Dec. 26).

* Thur., Dec. 27, 11:34 a.m. EST - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Fri., Dec. 28, 5:21 a.m. EST - Moon Phase: Full Moon (Cold Moon or Long-Nights Moon).

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

* Tue., 2013 Jan. 1, 12:00:00 Midnight (00:00:00) Prevailing Time - New Year's Day: Calendar Year A.D. 2013 begins (Jan. 1).