THIS IS A WORK PAGE AND DOES NOT, NECESSARILY, CONTAIN ACCURATE INFORMATION.

FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION GO TO THIS PAGE:
< https://buhlplanetarium4.tripod.com/astrocalendar/2008.html >.

Astronomical Calendar - A.D. 2008

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


Authored By Glenn A. Walsh *** Sponsored By Friends of the Zeiss
Electronic Mail: < astrocalendar@planetarium.cc > *** Internet Web Cover Page: < http://www.planetarium.cc >
This Internet Web Page: < https://buhlplanetarium4.tripod.com/astrocalendar/2008.html >
Internet Web Site Master Index for the History of
The Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science, Pittsburgh


ASTRONOMICAL/CALENDAR EVENTS --

A.D. 2008

January ** February ** March

April ** May ** June

July ** August ** September

October ** November ** December

Calendar:
Current Year


Astro Calendar
Current Month

Astro Calendar
Archives


Constellations
For Year

Moon Phases:
2008 * Today * Next 27.322 Days (Orbital Period)

Planets: 2008

Occultations: 2008

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

NEWS: Astronomy, Space, Science

History of Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science, Pittsburgh


A.D. 2008

2008 January

Glaucoma Awareness Month

* Quadrantid Meteor Shower: Jan. 3

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

Planets *** Constellations
Star Chart

Astronomical Glossary of Terms Used

* Jan. 1 - New Year's Day

* Jan. 3, 8:57 a.m. EST - Full Moon (Wolf Moon)

* Jan. 3, 3:00 p.m. EST - Earth at perihelion (closest to Sun for year): 147,093,602 km

* Jan. 3, 8:00 p.m. EST - Peak of Quadrantid Meteor Shower

* Jan. 4, 11:00 p.m. EST - Jupiter 5 degrees north of Star Antares (36 degrees west)

* Jan. 5, 5:00 a.m. EST - Moon 1.8 degrees north of Beehive Star Cluster (M44)

* Jan. 6 - Feast of the Epiphany; the day after the "12th Night" of Christmas (Tradition celebrates as day the Magi arrived in Bethlehem to present gifts to the Christ child.) * Jan. 6, 1:00 p.m. EST - Saturn 0.9 degree south of Moon; occultation: northeast Russia, northern Scandinavia, northwest Canada, Alaska

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

* Jan. 7, 12:00 Midnight EST - Star Regulus 1.2 degrees south of Moon; occultation: eastern Europe, eastern Scandinavia, western Russia

* Jan. 7, 1:00 a.m. EST - Mercury in superior conjunction (Mercury not visible)

* Jan. 10, 11:00 a.m. EST - Moon at apogee (404,335 km)

* Jan. 11, 7:45 a.m. EST - Last Quarter Moon

* Jan. 11, 3:00 p.m. EST - Star Spica 1.1 degrees north of Moon; occultation: most of Antarctica, southeast Indian Ocean

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

* Jan. 15, 8:00 a.m. EST - Star Antares 0.5 degree north of Moon; occultation: extreme southern portions of South America and of Africa, part of Antarctica

* Jan. 15, 12:00 Noon EST - Jupiter 6 degrees north of Moon

* Jan. 16, 7:55 p.m. EST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope.

* Jan. 16, 9:00 p.m. EST - Mars 5 degrees north of Moon

* Jan. 17, 11:00 p.m. EST - Mars 0.5 degree north of Lagoon Nebula (M8) (27 degrees west)

* Jan. 18, 1:00 p.m. EST - Venus 1.4 degrees south of Neptune (20 degrees east)

* Jan. 18, 11:01 p.m. EST - New Moon

* Jan. 20 - Islamic New Year ( Muharram): A.H. 1428 - Based on lunar calendar, but the New Moon must be observable. All Islamic holidays begin at sundown on the evening before the date given.

* Jan. 20, 12:00 Noon EST - Venus 0.8 degree north of Moon; occultation: extreme southern portion of South America, southwest Africa, most of Antarctica

* Jan. 22, 1:00 a.m. EST - Uranus 0.4 degree south of Moon; occultation: Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, east Indian Ocean, extreme southern portion of India

* Jan. 22, 8:00 a.m. EST - Moon at perigee (366,926 km)

* Jan. 23, 11:32 p.m. EST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope.

* Jan. 25, 6:01 p.m. EST - First Quarter Moon

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

* 2007 Jan. 28 - Washington Post:
The Day the Astronauts Died
By Richard Corfield
Jan. 27: 40th anniversary of Apollo 1 fire killing 3 astronauts.

* Jan. 27, 12:00 Noon EST - Moon 0.9 degree north of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45)

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

2008 February

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

Planets *** Constellations
Star Chart

Astronomical Glossary of Terms Used

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

* Feb. 1 - Asteroid Pallas in conjunction with Sun (Pallas not visible)

* Feb. 1, 1:00 p.m. EST - Moon 1.8 degrees north of Beehive Star Cluster (M44)

* 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 2006 results, 2007 results.

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

* Feb. 2, 12:45 a.m. EST - Full Moon ( Snow Moon)

* Feb. 2, 6:00 p.m. EST - Saturn 0.9 degree south of Moon; occultation: Central Asia, Eastern Scandinavia, Arctic Area.

* Feb. 3, 9:00 a.m. EST - Regulus 1.1 degrees south of Moon; occultation: Northwestern portion of North America, Northern Greenland.

* Feb. 4, 12:05 a.m. EDST - 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 - Zodiacal Light dimly visible in northern lattitudes in western sky, after evening twilight, for next two weeks.

* Feb. 7, 8:00 a.m. EST - Moon at apogee (404,992 km)

* Feb. 7, 8:00 a.m. EST - Venus 0.7 degree south of Uranus (24 degrees east)

* Feb. 7, 11:00 p.m. EST - Star Spica 1.3 degrees north of Moon; occultation: Drake Passage, South of South America

* Feb. 8, 11:00 a.m. EST - Neptune in conjunction with Sun (Neptune not visible)

* Feb. 10 - Mercury at perihelion

* Feb. 10, 4:51 a.m. EST - Last Quarter Moon

* Feb. 10, 2:00 p.m. EST - Saturn at opposition

* Feb. 11, 5:00 p.m. EST - Star Antares 0.7 degree north of Moon; occultation: Antarctica, oceans in southern lattitudes

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

* Feb. 12, 5:00 a.m. EST - Jupiter 6 degrees north of Moon

* Feb. 14 - St. Valentine's Day

* Feb. 14, 8:00 p.m. EST - Mars 4 degrees north of Moon

* Feb. 16, 17, 18, 19 - CITIZEN SCIENCE: The Great Backyard Bird Count

* Feb. 17, 11:14 a.m. EST - New Moon

* Feb. 18 - Chinese New Year: Beginning of Year of the Boar (Year 4704); ending of Year of the Dog (Year 4703). Based on Chinese lunar calendar.

* Feb. 19 - Presidents' Day - Observed (American Federal holiday)

* Feb. 19, 5:00 a.m. EST - Moon at perigee (361,436 km)

* Feb. 19, 12:00 Noon EST - Venus 2 degrees south of Moon

* Feb. 20 - Shrove Tuesday/Fat Tuesday

* Feb. 21 - Ash Wednesday

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

* Feb. 23, 12:00 Midnight EST - Mercury in inferior conjunction (Mercury not visible)

* Feb. 23, 6:00 p.m. EST - Moon 1.0 degree north of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45)

* Feb. 24, 2:56 a.m. EST - First Quarter Moon

* Feb. 28, 8:00 p.m. EST - Moon 1.9 degrees north of Beehive Star Cluster (M44)

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

Total Lunar Eclipse Visible: March 3
Spring Begins: March 20

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

Planets *** Constellations
Star Chart

Astronomical Glossary of Terms Used

* March 1 - Beginning of Autumn Season in Australia

* March 1 - St. David's Day

* March 1, 9:00 p.m. EST - Saturn 1.1 degrees south of Moon; occultation: Europe except western portion of United Kingdom, wesstern Russia.

* March 2 - 10th Annual Read Across America Day sponsored by the National Education Association on the occasion of the anniversary of the birth of Dr. Seuss in 1904.

* March 2, 4:00 p.m. EST - Star Regulus 1.1 degrees south of Moon; occultation: East Central Asia, Arctic.

* March 3, 3:16:29 p.m. to 9:25:27 p.m. EST - Total Eclipse of the Moon; visible over most of Asia, Europe and Africa, South America, and eastern North America.
LUNAR ECLIPSE VISIBLE FROM PITTSBURGH - 2007 MARCH 3 (WEATHER-PERMITTING)
(More eclipse details, for outside Western Pennsylvania: Link 1 *** Link 2)

* March 3, 6:17 p.m. EST - Full Moon (Worm Moon)

* March 3, sunset (Pittsburgh: 6:14 p.m. EST) - Jewish Holiday of Purim

* March 4 - Pennsylvania Charter Day: 326th Anniversary - William Penn received charter, for what became the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, from Great Britain's King Charles II on 1681 March 4.

* March 5, 11:00 a.m. EST - Uranus in conjunction with Sun (Uranus not visible)

* March 5, 8:00 p.m. EST - Mars 4 degrees north of Moon

* March 6 - Zodiacal Light dimly visible in northern lattitudes in western sky, after evening twilight, for next two weeks.

* March 6, 11:00 p.m. EST - Moon at apogee (405,853 km)

* March 7, 6:00 a.m. EST - Star Spica 1.3 degrees north of Moon

* March 8 to 21 - 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!

* March 11, 2:00 a.m. Prevailing Time (U.S.A.) - DAYLIHT SAVING TIME BEGINS - EARLY DUE TO NEW FEDERAL LAW

* March 11, 2:00 a.m. EDST - Star Antares 0.7 degree north of Moon; occultation: southern portion of South America, Antarctica.

* March 11, 8:00 p.m. EDST - Jupiter 6 degrees north of Moon

* March 11, 11:54 p.m. EDST - Last Quarter Moon

* March 12 to 17 - Pennsylvania Severe Weather Awareness Week

* March 15 - " Ides of March"

* March 15 - Buzzards return to Hinckley, Ohio

* March 15 - Centennial of Pittsburgh Flood of 1907

* March 15, 9:00 p.m. EDST - Mars 1.9 degrees north of Moon

* March 16, 11:00 p.m. EDST - Mercury 1.4 degrees north of Moon; occultation: ocean area south of New Zealand

* March 17 - St. Patrick's Day

* March 18, 8:38:26 p.m. EDST - Partial Eclipse of the Sun; visible in eastern Asia and parts of northern Alaska

* March 18, 10:43 p.m. EDST - New Moon

* March 19 to 23 - Flood Safety Awareness Week

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

* March 19, 3:00 p.m. EDST - Moon at perigee (357,814 km) - LARGE TIDES EXPECTED

* March 20, 8:07 p.m. EDST - Vernal Equinox - Spring Season begins in Northern Hemisphere of Earth: beginning of New Year (solar calendar) in Afghanistan and Iran.

* March 22 - Asteroid Ceres in conjunction with Sun (Ceres not visible)

* March 22, 10:04 a.m. EDST - Double-shadow (shadows of two Galilean moons) transit on Jupiter

* March 23, 2:00 a.m. EDST - Moon 1.0 degree north of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45)

* March 25 to 31 - Ohio Severe Weather Awareness Week

* March 25, 3:00 a.m. EDST - Mars 1.0 degree south of Neptune (44 degrees west)

* March 25, 2:16 p.m. EDST - First Quarter Moon

* March 26 - Mercury at aphelion

* March 28, 2:00 a.m. EDST - Moon 1.8 degrees north of Beehive Star Cluster (M44)

* March 29, 12:00 Midnight EDST - Saturn 1.2 degrees south of Moon; occultation: northern United Kingdom, northern Scandinavia, northern Atlantic Ocean, eastern Greenland

* March 29, 12:36 p.m. EDST - Double-shadow (shadows of two Galilean moons) transit on Jupiter

* March 29, 11:00 p.m. EDST - Star Regulus 1.1 degrees south of Moon; occultation: Western Europe including United Kingdom, Scandinavia, Artic regions

* March 30 - National Doctors' Day

* March 31 to April 15 - Annual National Cherry Blossom Festival, Washington DC

2008 April
" April showers bring May flowers !"
National Kite Month

Meteor Shower - Lyrid: April 22

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

Planets *** Constellations
Star Chart

Astronomical Glossary of Terms Used

* March 31 to April 15 - Annual National Cherry Blossom Festival, Washington DC

* April 1 - Palm Sunday

* April 1 - April Fool's Day

* April 1, 3:00 a.m. EDST - Mercury 1.6 degrees south of Uranus (26 degrees east)

* April 2, 1:15 p.m. EDST - Full Moon (Pink Moon) - Smallest full moon in 2007!

* April 2, Sundown (Sunset in Pittsburgh: 7:46 p.m. EDST) Passover begins.

* April 3, 5:00 a.m. EDST - Moon at apogee (406,329 km)

* April 3, 1:00 p.m. EDST - Star Spica 1.3 degrees north of Moon

* April 5 - Holy Thursday

* April 5, 4:07 p.m. EDST - Double-shadow (shadows of two Galilean moons) transit on Jupiter

* April 6 - Good Friday

* April 7 - Holy Saturday

* April 7, 9:00 a.m. EDST - Star Antares 0.6 degree north of Moon; occultation: southern part of South America, western part of Antarctica, western part of Oceania

* April 8 - Easter Sunday - Both Traditional and Orthodox (Sunrise in Pittsburgh: 6:53 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)

* April 8, 5:00 a.m. EDST - Jupiter 6 degrees north of Moon

* April 9 - Easter Monday - Legal holiday in many Christian nations, including Canada (but not the U.S.A. - although informally observed in some areas such as North Carolina, North Dakota, and Buffalo)

* April 10 - Asteroid Juno at opposition

* April 10, 2:04 p.m. EDST - Last Quarter Moon

* April 11, 9:00 a.m. EDST - Venus 3 degrees south of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45) (38 degrees east)

* April 12, 8:05 p.m. EDST - Double-shadow (shadows of two Galilean moons) transit on Jupiter

* 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).

* April 13, 10:00 p.m. - Mars 0.5 degree south of Moon; occultation: southern and eastern portions of Asia, India, eastern tip of Africa

* April 14, 4:00 p.m. - Uranus 1.0 degree south of Moon; occultation: eastern part of Siberia, Japan, Alaska, northwestern portion of Canada

* April 15 to 21 - National Volunteer Week

* April 15 to 21 - National Library Week

* April 16 to 22 - International Astronomy Week

* April 16, 7:00 a.m. EDST - Mercury 5 degrees south of Moon

* April 17 - Tax Day (USA) - April 17, due to April 15 falling on Sunday and April 16 being Emancipation Day, a legal holiday in the District of Columbia. - Individual Federal, State, and local tax returns due or postmarked by end of day

* April 17 to 24 - National Dark-Sky Week (NDSW)

* April 17 - National Library Workers Day

* April 17, 2:00 a.m. EDST - Moon at perigee (357,136 km) Large Tides Expected

* April 17, 7:36 a.m. EDST - New Moon

* April 18 - World-Wide Day in Science

* April 19 - First Ever Support Teen Literature Day

* April 19 - Venus at perihelion

* April 19, 12:00 Noon EDST - Moon 0.9 degree north of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45)

* April 20, 4:00 a.m. EDST - Venus 3 degrees south of Moon

* April 21 - International Astronomy Day

* April 21, 8:00 a.m. EDST - Venus 7 degrees north of Star Aldebaran (39 degrees east)

* April 22 - Earth Day

* April 22, 6:00 p.m. EDST - Peak of Lyrid Meteor Shower

* April 23 - 40th Anniversary of Launch of Soyuz 1, Which Resulted in Tragedy, 3 Months After Tragic Apollo 1 Fire

* April 24, 2:36 a.m. EDST - First Quarter Moon

* April 24, 9:00 a.m. EDST - Moon 1.7 degrees north of Beehive Star Cluster (M44)

* April 25, 6:00 a.m. EDST - Saturn 1.1 degrees south of Moon; occultation: northern Greenland, northwest Canada, Alaska, eastern tip of Siberia

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

* April 26, 5:00 a.m. EDST - Star Regulus 1.0 degree south of Moon; occultation: northwestern portion of North America, Arctic.

* April 27 - Arbor Day - National Arbor Day Foundation

* April 28, 3:00 p.m. EDST - Mars 0.7 degree south of Uranus (51 degrees west)

* April 30, 7:00 a.m. EDST - Moon at apogee (406,209 km)

* April 30, 7:00 p.m. EDST - Star Spica 1.3 degrees north of Moon

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

Meteor Shower - n-Aquarid: May 5

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

Planets *** Constellations
Star Chart

Astronomical Glossary
of Terms Used

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

* May 1 - Law Day

* May 2, 6:09 a.m. EDST - Full Moon (Flower Moon)

* May 3, 12:00 Midnight EDST - Mercury in superior conjunction

* May 4, 2:00 p.m. EDST - Star Antares 0.5 degree north of Moon; occultation: New Zealand, Tasmania, part of Antarctica, southeast Africa

* May 5 - Cinco de Mayo - Mexico (May 5)

* May 5, 7:00 a.m. EDST - Peak of n-Aquarid Meteor Shower

* May 5, 5:08 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, 8:00 a.m. EDST - Jupiter 6 degrees north of Moon

* May 9 - Mercury at perihelion

* May 10, 12:27 a.m. EDST - Last Quarter Moon

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

* May 12, 3:00 a.m. EDST - Uranus 1.3 degrees north of Moon; occultation: North Atlantic Ocean, United Kingdom (except southeast portion) and Ireland, eastern portion of Greenland.

* May 12, 9:00 p.m. EDST - Mars 3 degrees south of Moon

* May 13 - Mothers' Day

* May 14 - 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, Virginia, by the Virginia Company, the first permanent English settlement in the Western Hemisphere.

* May 15, 11:00 a.m. EDST - Moon at perigee (359,390 km)

* May 16, 3:27 p.m. EDST - New Moon

* May 16, 5:00 p.m. EDST - Mercury 7 degrees north of star Aldebaran (15 degrees east)

* May 18 - International Museum Day (May 18)

* May 19 to 25 - National Safe Boating Week

* May 19 - Armed Forces Day (USA) - May: Third Sarturday

* May 19, 9:00 p.m. EDST - Venus 1.7 degrees south of Moon

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

* May 20 - 130th Anniversary of The Duquesne Incline

* May 21 - Victoria Day - Canada (last Monday before or on May 24)

* May 21, 5:00 p.m. EDST - Moon 1.4 degrees north of Beehive Star Cluster (M44)

* May 22, 3:00 p.m. EDST - Saturn 0.8 degree south of Moon; occultation: Europe including United Kingdom and Ireland, northeast Africa, northwest Asia, northwest Canada, and the Arctic.

* May 23, 12:00 Noon EDST - Star Regulus 0.7 degree south of Moon; occultation: central and western sections of Asia, northeast Europe including United Kingdom and Ireland, Greenland, northeast tip of Canada.

* May 23, 5:03 p.m. EDST - First Quarter Moon

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

* May 27 - Centennial of birth of environmentalist Rachel Carson, the author of Silent Spring, who grew-up in the Pittsburgh suburb of Springdale, Pennsylvania.

* May 27, 5:00 p.m. EDST - Moon at apogee (405,460 km)

* May 28 - Memorial Day - USA (last Monday in May)

* May 28, 2:00 a.m. EDST - Star Spica 1.4 degrees north of Moon

* May 30 - Asteroid Vesta at opposition

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

* May 30, 3:00 p.m. EDST - Venus 4 degrees south of Star Pollux (45 degrees east) in Constellation Gemini the Twins

* May 30, 4:00 p.m. EDST - Mercury 1.1 degrees north of open star cluster M35 (23 degrees east)

* May 31, 9:00 p.m. EDST - Star Antares 0.4 degree north of Moon; occultation: southern half of South America, portion of Antarctica, southwest Indian Ocean.

* May 31, 9:04 p.m. EDST - Full Moon (Flower Moon); ALSO: Calendar "Blue Moon" using North American time zones.

2008 June

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

Planets *** Occultations
Constellations *** Star Chart

Meteor Shower -- Arietid: peaks June 8.

Astronomical Glossary
of Terms Used

* June 1, 1:04 COORDINATED UNIVERSAL TIME (UTC) - Full Moon (Strawberry Moon); ALSO: Calendar "Blue Moon" using North American time zones (May 31, 9:04 p.m. EDST).

* June 1, 8:00 a.m. EDST - Jupiter 6 degrees north of Moon

* June 5 - Mars at perihelion

* June 5, 7:00 p.m. EDST - Jupiter at opposition.

* June 8 - Peak of Arietid Meteor Shower

* June 8, 7:43 a.m. EDST - Last Quarter Moon

* June 9, 5:18 a.m. EDST - Double-shadow (shadows of two Galilean moons) transit on Jupiter

* June 10, 6:00 p.m. EDST - Mars 5 degrees south of Moon

* June 12, 1:00 p.m. EDST - Moon at perigee (363,779 km)

* June 13, 1:00 a.m. EDST - Venus 0.6 degree north of Beehive star cluster, M44 (45 degrees east)

* June 13, 9:00 a.m. EDST - Moon 0.9 degree north of Pleiades star cluster, M45

* June 14 - Flag Day - USA (June 14)

* June 14, 11:13 p.m. EDST - New Moon

* June 16, 5:00 a.m. EDST - Mercury 6 degrees south of Moon

* June 16, 7:48 a.m. EDST - Double-shadow (shadows of two Galilean moons) transit on Jupiter

* June 17 - Fathers' Day (third Sunday in June)

* June 18, 2:00 a.m. EDST - Moon 1.2 degrees north of Beehive star cluster, M44 (45 degrees east)

* June 18, 11:00 a.m. EDST - Venus 0.6 degree south of Moon; occultation: western portion of Asia, Europe (except southern Iberia, but including United Kingdom and Ireland), Greenland, northern Canada.

* June 19, 3:00 a.m. EDST - Dwarf Planet Pluto at opposition.

* June 19, 4:00 a.m. EDST - Saturn 0.4 degree south of Moon; occultation: Japan, central Asia, eastern part of Europe.

* June 19, 8:00 p.m. EDST - Star Regulus 0.4 degree south of Moon; occultation: Eastern Siberia, most of North America except the northeastern section, Carribean Sea, northwestern section of South America.

* June 21, 2:06 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 - Mercury at aphelion.

* June 22, 9:15 a.m. EDST - First Quarter Moon

* June 23 & 24 - Annual Amateur Radio Field Day, when ham radio operators test emergency radio operations.

* June 24 to June 30 - Lightning Safety Week: Link 1 *** Link 2

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

* June 24, 9:00 a.m. EDST - Star Spica 1.6 degrees north of Moon

* June 24, 10:00 a.m. EDST - Moon at apogee (404,540 km)

* June 28, 4:00 a.m. EDST - Star Antares 0.5 degree north of Moon; occultation: Southern part of South America, western tip of Antarctica, western Oceania.

* June 28, 10:00 a.m. EDST - Jupiter 6 degrees north of Moon

* June 28, 3:00 p.m. EDST - Mercury at inferior conjunction (Mercury not visible)

* June 30 - Last day of 2006-2007 Fiscal Year (Pennsylvania)

* June 30, 9:49 a.m. EDST - Full Moon (Strawberry Moon); ALSO: Calendar "Blue Moon" using Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and Eastern Hemisphere time zones.

2008 July

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

Planets *** Occultations
Constellations *** Star Chart

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

Astronomical Glossary
of Terms Used * July 1 - Dominion Day / Canada Day: 139th Anniversary of the Independence of Canada (1868)

* July 1 - First day of 2007-2008 Fiscal Year (Pennsylvania)

* July 1, 9:00 p.m. EDST - Venus 0.8 degree south of Saturn (42 degrees east)

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

* July 3, 3:00 p.m. EDST - Neptune 1.3 degrees north of Moon: occultation: Bellingshansen Sea of Antarctica.

* July 4 - 231st Anniversary of Independence Day of the United States of America (1776)

* July 6, 8:00 p.m. EDST - Earth at aphelion (152,097,053 kilometers)

* July 7 - 07/07/07: Is This Your Lucky Day? By Heather Whipps

* July 7, 12:54 p.m. EDST - Last Quarter Moon

* July 9, 11:00 a.m. EDST - Mars 6 degrees south of Moon

* July 9, 6:00 p.m. EDST - Moon at perigee (368,528 kilometers)

* July 10, 5:00 p.m. EDST - Moon 1.0 degree north of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45)

* July 11 - World Population Day (July 11)

* July 12, 10:00 a.m. EDST - VENUS BRIGHTEST FOR YEAR (Magnitude: -4.3)

* July 12, 11:00 p.m. EDST - Mercury 9 degrees south of Moon

* 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).

* July 14, 8:04 a.m. EDST - New Moon

* July 15, 11:00 a.m. EDST - 1.1 degrees north of Beehive Star Cluster (M44)

* July 16, 11:00 a.m. EDST - Venus 2 degrees south of Star Regulus (37 degrees east)

* July 16, 7:00 p.m. EDST - Saturn 0.04 degree north of Moon; occultation: Hawaii, western portion of South America.

* July 17, 5:00 a.m. EDST - Star Regulus 0.3 degree south of Moon; occultation: Europe including the United Kingdom, southern and western Asia, Indonesia, southern Philippines, northwestern Australia.

* July 17, 6:00 a.m. EDST - Venus 3 degrees south of Moon

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

* July 20, 10:56:20 p.m. EDST - 38th anniversary of the first person, Neil Armstrong, to step on the Moon (1969)

* July 21, 5:00 p.m. EDST - Star Spica 1.9 degrees north of Moon

* July 22, 2:29 a.m. EDST - First Quarter Moon

* July 22, 5:00 a.m. EDST - Moon at apogee (404,150 kilometers)

* July 25, 12:00 Noon EDST - Star Antares 0.6 degree north of Moon; occultation: southern tip of Africa, most of Antarctica, southern portion of Australia and Nww Zealand.

* July 25, 2:00 p.m. EDST - Jupiter 6 degrees north of Moon

* July 28, 9:00 a.m. EDST - Peak of S. Delta-Aquarid Meteor Shower

* July 29 - Annual Rain Day in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania

* July 29, 8:48 p.m. EDST - Full Moon (Buck Moon)

* July 30, 9:00 p.m. EDST - Neptune 1.3 degrees north of Moon; occultation: Part of Antarctica, Kerguelen Islands.

* July 31 - 2008 Heliacal rising of Sirius; modern mid-way point in "Dog Days of Summer" (however, Sirius not visible until, at least, Aug. 7, due to glare of Sun).

2008 August

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

Aug. 28 - TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE or
TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE MOON

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

Planets *** Occultations
Constellations *** Star Chart

Astronomical Glossary
of Terms Used

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

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

* Aug. 1, 3:00 p.m. EDST - Mercury 6 degrees south of Star Pollux (14 degrees west)

* Aug. 2, 9:00 p.m. EDST - Venus 6 degrees south of Star Regulus (21 degrees east)

* Aug. 3 - Launch: NASA probe to Planet Mars

* Aug. 3, 8:00 p.m. EDST - Moon at perigee (368,891 km)

* Aug. 5 - Mercury at perihelion

* Aug. 5, 7:00 a.m. EDST - Mars 5 degrees south of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45) (73 degrees west)

* Aug. 5, 5:20 p.m. EDST - Last Quarter Moon

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

* Aug. 6, 9:00 p.m. EDST - Moon 1.1 degrees north of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45)

* 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."

* Aug. 7, 12:00 Midnight EDST - Mars 6 degrees south of Moon

* Aug. 7, 5:25 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.

* Aug. 7 - Launch: STS Space Shuttle Endeavour

* Aug. 7 - National Night Out 2008

* Aug. 10 - Venus at aphelion

* Aug. 11 - Launch: Military communications satellite

* Aug. 12, 7:02 p.m. EDST - New Moon

* Aug. 13, 1:00 a.m. EDST - Peak of Perseid Meteor Shower - AMONG BEST OF YEAR !

* Aug. 13, 2:00 p.m. EDST - Neptune at opposition

* Aug. 15, 4:00 p.m. EDST - Mercury in superior conjunction with Sun (Mercury not visible)

* Aug. 18, 12:00 Midnight EDST - Venus in inferior oonjunction with Sun; Venus visible with very great difficulty in Northern Hemisphere, due to nearness of Sun (DO NOT use telescope or binoculars to attempt viewing thin crescent Venus, due to POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO EYE if Sun accidentally enters telescope or binoculars!!!)

* Aug. 18, 1:00 a.m. EDST - Star Spica 2.0 degrees north of Moon

* Aug. 18, 11:00 p.m. EDST - Moon at apogee (404,618 km)

* Aug. 20, 7:54 p.m. EDST - First Quarter Moon

* Aug. 21, 7:00 p.m. EDST - Saturn in conjunction with Sun (Saturn not visible)

* Aug. 21, 9:00 p.m. EDST - Star Antares 0.7 degree north of Moon; occultation: New Zealand, Antarctica, ocean areas near Antarctica.

* Aug. 21, 11:00 p.m. EDST - Jupiter 6 degrees north of Moon

* Aug. 23, 8:00 p.m. EDST - Mars 5 degrees north of Star Aldebaran (79 degrees west)

* Aug. 28, 6:35 a.m. EDST - Full Moon (Sturgeon Moon) and TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE or ECLIPSE OF THE MOON (part of eclipse visible in early morning in North America, prior to Moon set; Moon sets in Pittsburgh at 6:47 a.m. EDST). SPECIAL NOTE: ALL lunar eclipses or eclipses of the Moon are PERFECTLY SAFE to view with the naked-eye, binoculars, or a telescope; solar eclipses or eclipses of the Sun should NOT be viewed directly or with binoculars or a telescope, as SEVERE eye damage could occur-- SAFE WAY TO VIEW SOLAR ECLIPSE.

* Aug. 30, 8:00 p.m. EDST - Moon at perigee (364,171 km)

2008 September

Meteor Shower -- Aurigids: peaks Sept. 1;
Enhanced Activity Possible

Sept. 11 - Partial Solar Eclipse or
Partial Eclipse of the Sun
in Southern Hemisphere

Sept. 23 - 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

Astronomical Glossary
of Terms Used

* Sept. 1 - Beginning of Spring Season in Australia

* Sept. 1, 8:00 a.m. EDST - Peak of Aurigid Meteor Shower, which may display enhanced activity in 2007.

* Sept. 3 - Labor Day (Federal Holiday: U.S.A. - First Monday in September) * Sept. 3 - Asteroid Pallas at opposition.

* Sept. 3, 4:00 a.m. EDST - Moon 1.2 degrees north of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45)

* Sept. 3, 10:32 p.m. EDST - Last Quarter Moon

* Sept. 4, 10:00 a.m. EDST - Mars 6 degrees south of Moon

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

* Sept. 8, 2:00 a.m. EDST - Moon 1.1 degrees north of Beehive Star Cluster (M44)

* Sept. 8, 3:00 p.m. EDST - Venus 9 degrees south of Moon

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

* Sept. 9, 3:00 p.m. EDST - Uranus at opposition

* Sept. 9, 9:00 p.m. EDST - Star Regulus 0.2 degree south of Moon; occultation: Central Asia, Japan, Polynesia.

* Sept. 10, 12:00 Midnight EDST - Saturn 0.8 degree south of Moon; occultation: Extreme western edge of Australia, portion of Antarctica, southern portion of Indian Ocean.

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

* Sept. 11, 8:44 a.m. EDST - New Moon; Partial Eclipse of the Sun: observable in South America except northern portion of continent, South Atlantic Ocean, small part of Antarctica just south of South America and South Atlantic Ocean. Eclipses of the Sun should NOT be viewed directly or with binoculars or a telescope, as SEVERE eye damage could occur-- SAFE WAY TO VIEW SOLAR ECLIPSE.

* Sept. 12 - Rosh Hashanah begins at sunset (Pittsburgh: 7:35 p.m. EDST)

* Sept. 13 - Muslim month (of fasting) of Ramadan begins (based on predicted sighting of the New Moon)

* Sept. 13, 10:00 a.m. EDST - Mercury 2 degrees north of Moon

* Sept. 14, 9:00 a.m. EDST - Star Spica 2.0 degrees north of Moon

* Sept. 15, 5:00 p.m. EDST - Moon at apogee (405,642 km)

* Sept. 17 - Constitution Day (Sept. 17)

* Sept. 17 - Citizenship Day (Sept. 17)

* Sept. 18 - Mercury at aphelion

* Sept. 18, 4:00 a.m. EDST - Star Antares 0.7 degree south of Moon; occultation: southern Madagascar, southern oceans, Antarctica.

* Sept. 18, 11:00 a.m. EDST - Jupiter 6 degrees north of Moon

* Sept. 19, 12:48 p.m. EDST - First Quarter Moon

* Sept. 21 - The International Day of Peace (Sept. 21)

* Sept. 21 - Zodiacal Light dimly visible in northern lattitudes in eastern sky, before morning twilight, for next two weeks.

* Sept. 21 - Yom Kippur begins at sunset (Pittsburgh: 7:20 p.m. EDST)

* Sept. 22, 5:00 a.m. EDST - Mercury 0.08 degree north of Star Spica (24 degrees east)

* Sept. 23, 5:51 a.m. EDST - Autumnal Equinox; beginning of Season of Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere.

* Sept. 23 - Venus at brightest level of magnitude.

* Sept. 24 - National Punctuation DayŽ (Sept. 24)

* Sept. 24 - Family Day (Fourth Monday in September)

* Sept. 26, 3:45 p.m. EDST - Full Moon (Harvest Moon)

* Sept. 27, 10:00 p.m. EDST - Moon at perigee (359,419 km)

* Sept. 29 - World Wide Day of Play to keep children healthy. (Last Saturday in September)

* Sept. 30 - last day of Federal Fiscal Year: U.S.A..

* Sept. 30, 11:00 a.m. EDST - Moon 1.1 degrees north of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45)

2008 October

Meteor Showers:
Draconid peaks Oct. 8.
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

Astronomical Glossary
of Terms Used

* Oct. 1 to 15 - Great World Wide Star Count (First half of Oct.)

* Oct. 1 - First day of new Federal Fiscal Year: U.S.A..

* Oct. 2, 4:00 p.m. EDST - Mars 5 degrees south of Moon

* Oct. 3, 6:06 a.m. EDST - Last Quarter Moon

* Oct. 3, 4:00 p.m. EDST - Mars 0.9 degree south of M35 open star cluster (98 degrees west)

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

* Oct. 4 - 50th anniversary of the beginning of the "Space Age," with the first successful launch and orbiting of an artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, by Russia (then known as the Union of - Soviet Socialist Republics). In the United States of America, this was a shocking development which spurred the growth of the amateur Operation Moonwatch (in which lay observers watched for artificial satellites in the night sky), led to major improvements in the education of science and technology, and later led to the commitment, expressed by U.S. President John F. Kennedy, to land a man on the Moon and return him safely to the earth by 1970. Jet Propulsion Laboratory's first contact with Sputnik.

* Oct. 5, 7:00 a.m. EDST - Moon 1.1 degrees north of Beehive Star Cluster (M44)

* Oct. 6, 11:00 p.m. EDST - Venus 3 degrees south of Moon

* Oct. 7 to 13 - Fire Prevention Week (first full week of Oct.)

* Oct. 7, 3:00 a.m. EDST - Star Regulus 0.2 degree south of Moon; occultation: Europe including southern England and southern Ireland, Middle East, norhern and eastern Africa.

* Oct. 7, 12:00 Noon EDST - Saturn 1.3 degrees north of Moon; occultation: ocean areas south of Polynesia.

* Oct. 8 - Chistopher Columbus Day Observed: Federal Holiday in U.S.A. (2nd Mon. in Oct.)

* Oct. 8 - Thanksgiving Day: Federal Holiday in Canada (2nd Mon. in Oct.)

* Oct. 8, 3:00 p.m. EDST - Peak of Draconid Meteor Shower

* Oct. 9, 7:00 a.m. EDST - Venus 3 degrees south of Star Regulus (44 degrees west)

* Oct. 11, 1:01 a.m. EDST - New Moon

* Oct. 12 - Chistopher Columbus Day

* Oct. 12, 9:00 p.m. EDST - Mercury 1.3 degrees north of Moon

* Oct. 13, 6:00 a.m. EDST - Moon at apogee (406,492 km)

* Oct. 14 - National Children's Day (Second Sunday in Oct.)

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

* Oct. 15, 10:00 a.m. EDST - Venus 3 degrees south of Saturn (45 degrees west)

* Oct. 15, 11:00 a.m. EDST - Star Antares 0.6 degree north of Moon; occultation: southern half of South America, large part of Antarctica.

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

* Oct. 16, 2:00 a.m. EDST - Jupiter 5 degrees north of Moon

* Oct. 18, 4:42 a.m. EDST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope.

* Oct. 19, 4:33 a.m. EDST - First Quarter Moon

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

* Oct. 20 - Zodiacal Light dimly visible in northern lattitudes in eastern sky, before morning twilight, for next two weeks.

* Oct. 20, 11:00 p.m. EDST - Neptune 1.3 degrees north of Moon; occultation: portion of Antarctica including South Georgia Island

* Oct. 21, 5:39 p.m. EDST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope.

* Oct. 21, 6:00 p.m. EDST - Peak of Orionid Meteor Shower - remnants from Halley's Comet

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

* Oct. 23, 8:00 p.m. EDST - Mercury at inferior conjunction

* Oct. 24 - 62nd anniversary [1945], Founding of United Nations

* Oct. 24 - 68th anniversary [1939], Dedication of The Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science, with the Zeiss II Planetarium Projector, the oldest operable major planetarium projector in the world !

* Oct. 25, 6:36 a.m. EDST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope.

* Oct. 26, 12:52 a.m. EDST - Full Moon (Hunter's Moon) - LARGEST IN 2007!

* Oct. 26, 8:00 a.m. EDST - Moon at perigee (356,753 km) - LARGE TIDES!

* Oct. 27, 9:00 p.m. EDST - Moon 1.0 degrees north of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45)

* Oct. 28, 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 4, 2007.

* Oct. 28, 7:34 p.m. EDST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope.

* Oct. 30, 9:00 p.m. EDST (8:00 p.m. EST in 1938) - 69th anniversary (1938) of the CBS Radio network broadcast of Orson Welles' radio adaptation of the H.G. Wells science-fiction novel, The War of the Worlds, which caused a panic among some American listeners who thought the Earth was actually being invaded by beings from the Planet Mars.

* Oct. 30, 2:02 p.m. EDST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope.

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

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

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

* Oct. 31 - 9:00 p.m. EDST - Mercury at perihelion.

2008 November

Meteor Showers:
* South Taurid Meteor Shower: Nov. 5
* North Taurid Meteor Shower: Nov. 12
* 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

Astronomical Glossary
of Terms Used

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

* Nov. 1 - 8:31 a.m. EDST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope.

* Nov. 1 - 2:00 p.m. EDST - Moon 0.8 degree north of Beehive Star Cluster (M44)

* Nov. 1 - 5:18 p.m. EDST - Last Quarter Moon

* Nov. 2, 2:00 p.m. EDST (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.

* Nov. 2, 7:00 p.m. EDST (6:00 p.m. EST) - 87th anniversary (1920) of first commercial radio broadcast station: KDKA-AM, Pittsburgh

* Nov. 3 - 9:00 a.m. EDST - Star Regulus 0.03 degree north of Moon; occultation: southern portion of North America, Caribbean region.

* Nov. 4, 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 4, 2007.

* Nov. 4, 8:28 p.m. EST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope.

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

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

* Nov. 5, 5:00 p.m. EST - Peak of South Taurid Meteor Shower: Link 1 *** Link 2

* Nov. 6 - General Election Day: State and Local Elections (First Tuesday after the first Monday in November - U.S.A.)

* Nov. 6, 2:57 p.m. EST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope.

* Nov. 7, 2:09 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.

* Nov. 7, 9:00 p.m. EST - Star Spica 1.9 degrees north of Moon

* Nov. 8, 6:00 a.m. EST - Mercury 7 degrees north of Moon

* Nov. 8, 9:25 a.m. EST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope.

* Nov. 9 - Asteroid Ceres at oppostion

* Nov. 9, 8:00 a.m. EST - Moon at apogee (406,671 km)

* Nov. 9, 6:03 p.m. EST - New Moon

* Nov. 11 - Veterans' Day/Armistice Day (Nov. 11, unless Nov. 11 falls on Saturday or Sunday - U.S.A.) -- Observed in 2007 on Nov. 12; Remembrance Day (Nov. 11 - Canada)

* Nov. 11, 4:00 p.m. EST - Star Antares 0.4 degree north of Moon; occultation: southern portion of South America, southern Pacific Ocean, majority of New Zealand, Polynesia.

* Nov. 11, 10:38 p.m. EST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope.

* Nov. 12 to 18 - Children's Book Week (Next year, moving to May 12 to 18)

* Nov. 12 - Veterans' Day Observed (Federal holiday, as Veterans' Day occurs on Sunday)

* Nov. 12, 4:00 p.m. EST - Peak of North Taurid Meteor Shower: Link 1 *** Link 2

* Nov. 12, 5:00 p.m. EST - Jupiter 5 degrees north of Moon

* Nov. 13, 6:30 p.m. EST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope.

* Nov. 14 - Asteroid Juno in conjunction with Sun (Juno not visible).

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

* Nov. 15, 11:56 a.m. EST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope.

* Nov. 17 - National Adoption Day (Saturday before Thanksgiving Day)

* Nov. 17, 6:00 a.m. EST - Neptune 1.0 degree north of Moon; occultation: southern Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica

* Nov. 17, 10:32 p.m. EST - First Quarter Moon

* Nov. 17, 11:00 p.m. EST - Peak of Leonid Meteor Shower

* Nov. 19 - 66th anniversary (1941) of The People's Observatory of Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science.

* Nov. 19, 1:15 a.m. EST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope.

* Nov. 22 - Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November - U.S.A.)

* Nov. 22, 2:34 p.m. EST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope.

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

* Nov. 23, 7:00 p.m. EST - Moon at perigee (357,194 km) - LARGE TIDES PREDICTED ON OCEAN COASTS.

* Nov. 24, 7:00 a.m. EST - Moon 0.9 degree north of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45)

* Nov. 24, 9:30 a.m. EST - Full Moon (Beaver Moon)

* Nov. 26, 3:53 a.m. EST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope.

* Nov. 27, 1:00 a.m. EST - Mars 1.7 degrees south of Moon

* Nov. 28, 5:00 p.m. EST - Venus 4 degrees north of Star Spica (43 degrees west)

* Nov. 28, 9:00 p.m. EST - Moon 0.6 degree north of Beehive Star Cluster (M44)

* Nov. 29, 5:11 p.m. EST - Double shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter, visible through telescope.

* Nov. 30 - Venus at perihelion

* Nov. 30, 3:00 p.m. EST - Star Regulus 0.3 degree north of Moon; occultation: eastern India, Southeast Asia, northeastern portion of Australia, New Zealand, Micronesia, Melanesia

2008 December

WINTER BEGINS: Dec. 22

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

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

Planets *** Occultations
Constellations *** Star Chart

Astronomical Glossary
of terms used

* Dec. 1 - Beginning of Summer Season in Australia

* Dec. 1, 7:44 a.m. EST - Last Quarter Moon

* Dec. 1, 8:00 a.m. EST - Saturn 2 degrees north of Moon

* Dec. 4, Sunset (Pittsburgh: 4:54 p.m. EST) to Dec. 12 - Chanukah (Jewish festival of rededication, also known as the Festival of Lights.)

* Dec. 5 - International Volunteer Day (IVD)

* Dec. 5, 8:00 p.m. EST - Venus 7 degrees north of Moon

* Dec. 6 - Feast of Saint Nicholas

* Dec. 6, 12:00 Noon EST - Moon at apogee (406,235 km)

* Dec. 7 - 66th anniversary [1941] of Pearl Harbor Day

* Dec. 9, 12:40 p.m. EST - New Moon

* Dec. 12, 4:00 p.m. EST - Asteroid Vesta 0.4 degree north of Moon; occultation: South America except the northwestern portion; New Zealand.

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

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

* Dec. 14, 12:00 Noon EST - Peak of Geminid Meteor Shower

* Dec. 14, 1:00 p.m. EST - Neptune 0.7 degree north of Moon; occultation: South Africa, southern tip of South America, part of Antarctica.

* Dec. 15 - Mercury at aphelion

* Dec. 15, 4:00 p.m. EST - Asteroid Pallas 1.0 degree south of Moon; occultation: Hawaii, Alaska, northwestern Canada, eastern tip of Siberia.

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

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

* Dec. 17, 5:17 a.m. EST - First Quarter Moon

* Dec. 17, 11:00 a.m. EST - Mercury in superior conjunction with Sun (Mercury not visible)

* Dec. 18 - Closest approach of Mars and Earth in 2007 (0.589 AU = 88.42 million km). Apparent diameter of Mars is 15.88" (seconds of arc). [Note: The apparent diameter of the Moon is about 1/2 degree which is 1,800" (seconds of arc).]

* Dec. 20, 7:00 p.m. EST - Dwarf Planet Pluto in conjunction with Sun (Pluto not visible)

* Dec. 21, 6:00 p.m. EST - Moon 1.0 degree north of Pleiades Star Cluster (M45)

* Dec. 22, 1:08 a.m. EST - Winter Solstice: beginning of Winter season in Earth's Northern Hemisphere.

* Dec. 22, 5:00 a.m. EST - Moon at perigee (360,815 km)

* Dec. 22, 8:00 p.m. EST - Peak of the Ursid Meteor Shower

* Dec. 23, 1:00 a.m. EST - Jupiter in conjunction with Sun (Jupiter not visible)

* Dec. 23, 8:16 p.m. EST - Full Moon (Cold Moon or Long-Nights Moon)

* Dec. 23, 10:00 p.m. EST - Mars 0.9 degree south of Moon; occultation: Alaska, northwest portion of Canada, Arctic, northeastern portion of United Kingdom, eastern Europe, northern Russia.

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

* Dec. 24, 3:00 p.m. EST - Mars at opposition

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

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

* Dec. 25, 10:00 p.m. EST - Mars 2 degrees north of M35 open star cluster (179 degrees east)

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

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

* Dec. 26, 7:00 a.m. EST - Moon 0.4 degree north of Beehive Star Cluster (M44)

* Dec. 28, 12:00 Midnight EST - Star Regulus 0.6 degree north of Moon; occultation: South America except southern portion, South Atlantic Ocean.

* Dec. 28, 5:00 p.m. EST - Saturn 3 degrees north of Moon

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

2008 January

* 2008 - Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer (LBTI) Binocular First Light

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

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

* Jan. 31 - 50th anniversary 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

* Feb. 14 - Launch: STS-123 Space Shuttle

* Feb. 20 - Total Eclipse of the Moon - It will be seen in its entirety from the eastern US from about 7:30 p.m. EST 2/20 to about 1:15 a.m. the next morning. This is it for the next 2 1/2 years, because there will be no additional total lunar eclipses for Florida until December 21, 2010.

* Feb. 22 - Titan Flyby (1,000 km.) by Cassini Spacecraft

2008 March

* Launch: Chandrayaan-1 / Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3)

* March 12 - Enceladus Flyby (23 km.) by Cassini Spacecraft

* March 25 - Titan Flyby (1,000 km.) by Cassini Spacecraft

2008 April

* April 24 - Launch: STS 124 Space Shuttle

2008 May

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

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

* May 25/26 - Scheduled landing of the Phoenix Mars Mission (or 10 days later, depending on actual launch date).

2008 June

* Launch: Ocean Surface Topography Mission

* June 30 - Centennial of huge blast, of a comet or an asteroid in the atmosphere, which levelled 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.

2008 July

* Launch: Herschel Space Observatory

* Launch: Planck

2008 September

* Launch: Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO)

* Sept. 5 - Asteroid Steins Flyby by Rosetta Spacecraft

* Sept. 10 - Launch: STS-125 Space Shuttle for Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Mission

2008 October

* Launch: STS-125 Space Shuttle

* Oct. 1 - 50th anniversary of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

* Oct. 6 - MESSENGER mission flyby 2 of planet Mercury.

* Oct. 31 - Launch: Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

2008 November

* Launch: Kepler

2008 December

* Launch: Proton


NEWS: Astronomy, Space, Science

History of Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science, Pittsburgh

Astronomical Calendar - A.D. 2008

Authored By Glenn A. Walsh *** Sponsored By Friends of the Zeiss
Electronic Mail: < astrocalendar@planetarium.cc > *** Internet Web Cover Page: < http://www.planetarium.cc >
This Internet Web Page: < https://buhlplanetarium4.tripod.com/astrocalendar/2008.html >
Internet Web Site Master Index for the History of
The Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science, Pittsburgh

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