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

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

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

* Tue., Jan. 1 (1863) - 150th Anniversary - Emancipation Proclamation issued by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War, which decreed that slaves in the rebellious states are free forever (Jan. 1).

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

* Wed., Jan. 2, 12:00 Midnight EST - Earth at perihelion (closest approach to the Sun in new year): 147,098,161 kilometers.

* Thur., Jan. 3, 8:00 a.m. EST - Peak of Quadrantid Meteor Shower (Jan. 3-4).

* Thur., Jan. 3, 1:40 p.m. EST - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* .Fri, Jan. 4 - Mercury at aphelion.

* .Fri, Jan. 4, 10:58 p.m. EST - Moon Phase: Last Quarter.

* Sat., Jan. 5, 3:00 p.m. EST - Star Spica 0.6 degree north of the Moon; occultation: Java Island of Indonesia, southern portion of Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand (except northern tip), portions of Antarctica (Marie Bryd Land, Victoria Land).

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

* Sun., 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).

* Sun., Jan. 6, 8:00 p.m. EST - Saturn 4 degrees north of the Moon.

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

* Thur., Jan. 10, 5:00 a.m. EST - Moon at perigee: 360,048 kilometers.

* Thur., Jan. 10, 7:00 a.m. EST - Venus 3 degrees south of the Moon.

* .Fri, Jan. 11, 2:44 p.m. EST - Moon Phase: New Moon - Lunation 1114.

* .Fri, Jan. 11 - National Human Trafficking Awareness Day (Jan. 11).

* Sun., Jan. 13, 7:00 a.m. EST - Mars 6 degrees south of the Moon.

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

* .Fri, Jan. 18, 4:00 a.m. EST - Mercury in superior conjunction (Mercury not visible, even with a telescope).

* .Fri, Jan. 18, 6:45 p.m. EST - Moon Phase: First Quarter.

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

* Mon., Jan. 21, 10:00 p.m. EST - Jupiter 0.5 degree north of the Moon; occultation: French Polynesia, Pitcairn Islands, Galapagos Islands, central portion of South America.

* Tue., Jan. 22, 6:00 a.m. EST - Moon at apogee: 405,310 kilometers.

* Thur., Jan. 24 - Mars at perihelion.

* Sat., Jan. 26, 11:38 p.m. EST - Moon Phase: Full Moon (Wolf Moon).

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

* Sun., Jan. 27 - Holocaust Remembrance Day (UN) (Jan. 27).

* Mon., Jan. 28 (1986) - Anniversary of STS Space Shuttle Challenger explosion; seven astronauts perished (Jan. 27).
Viewed at Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science (a.k.a. Buhl Science Center).

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

* Tue., Jan. 29 - Zodiacal Light visible, with difficulty, after evening twilight in the western sky of the Northern Hemisphere, for the next two weeks.

* Jan. 31 to Feb. 9, - 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., Jan. 31 (1958) - Anniversary of the first successful launch, by the USA, of an artificial satellite: Explorer 1 (Jan. 31).

United Nations International Year
of Water Cooperation

* Fri., Feb. 1 (2003) - 10th Anniversary of STS Space Shuttle Columbia disintegration during re-entry; seven astronauts perished (Feb. 1).

* Fri., Feb. 1 - National Wear Red Day - Go Red for Women movement to heart disease in women (American Heart Association). (First Friday in Feb.).

* Fri., Feb. 1, 9:00 p.m., EST - Star Spica 0.3 degree north of the Moon; occultation: southwestern portion of Africa, South Africa, southern portion of Madagascar, eastern tip of Australia.

* Sat., 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) (Feb. 2).
(Groundhog Day at Gobler's Knob, Punxsutawney PA 15767, home of Punxsutawney Phil: - Sunrise: 7:25 a.m. EST) .
Actual Cross-Quarter Day.

* Sun., Feb. 3, 5:00 a.m. EST - Saturn 3 degrees north of the Moon.

* Sun., Feb. 3, 8:56 a.m. EST - Moon Phase: Last Quarter.

* Sun., Feb. 3, 6:07 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.

* Mon., Feb. 4 - Lichun - Beginning of first Solar term (of 24 Solar terms in one year) of traditional East Asia calendars (begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 315° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 330°); also known as the start of Spring (Occurs each year around Feb.4).

* Mon., Feb. 4,11:00 a.m. EST - Mars 0.4 degree south of Neptune.

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

* Thur., Feb. 7, 7:00 a.m. EST - Moon at perigee: 365,318 kilometers.

* Fri., Feb. 8 (1910) - Anniversary of founding of the Boy Scouts of America (Feb. 8).

* Fri., Feb. 8, 4:00 p.m. EST - Mercury 0.3 degree north of Mars.

* Sun., Feb. 10 - 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 Snake.

* Sun., Feb. 10, 2:20 a.m. EST - Moon Phase: New Moon - Lunation 1115.

* Mon., Feb. 11 (1732) - Anniversary of birth 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.

* Mon., Feb. 11 - National Inventors' Day (Feb. 11).

* Mon., Feb. 11, 9:00 a.m. EST - Mars 6 degrees south of the Moon.

* Mon., Feb. 11, 1:00 p.m. EST - Mercury 5 degrees south of the Moon.

* Tue., Feb. 12 (1809) - Anniversary of birth 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.

* Tue., Feb. 12 (1809) - Anniversary of birth of English naturalist, Charles Darwin; Darwin Day (Feb. 12).

* Tue., Feb. 12 - Shrove Tuesday/Fat Tuesday (Day before Ash Wednesday).

* Wed., Feb. 13 - Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent (46 days before Easter Sunday).

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

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

* Feb. 17 to 23 - National Engineers Week (Third week of Feb.).

Sun., Feb. 17 - Mercury at perihelion.

Sun., Feb. 17, 3:31 p.m. EST - Moon Phase: First Quarter.

* Mon., Feb. 18 - 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.

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

* Mon., Feb. 18, 7:00 a.m. EST - Jupiter 0.9 degree north of the Moon; occultation: Kerguelen Islands in the southern Indian Ocean, Wilkes Land of eastern Antarctica, southern portion of Australia, Tasmania.

* Mon., Feb. 18, 4:00 p.m. EST - Asteroid Vesta 0.3 degree north of the Moon; occultation: central portion of South America, Sierra Leone, Liberia, southern half of the Ivory Coast, southwestern portion of Africa.

* Tue., Feb. 19, 1:00 a.m. EST - Moon at apogee: 404,472 kilometers.

* Wed., Feb. 20 (1491) - Anniversary of the "Comet of 1491" which came within 1,406,219 kilometers (873,784 miles) of the Earth, the closest in recorded history.

* Thur., Feb. 21 - Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day (Thursday of National Engineering Week).

* Thur., Feb. 21 - Venus at aphelion.

* Thur., Feb. 21, 2:00 a.m. EST - Neptune in conjunction with the Sun (Neptune not visible, even with a telescope).

* Fri., Feb. 22 (1732) - Anniversary of birth 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.

* Feb. 24 to March 2 - Montessori Education Week (Last week of February).

* Mon., Feb. 25, 3:26 p.m. EST - Moon Phase: Full Moon (Snow Moon).

* Wed., Feb. 27 - Zodiacal Light visible, with difficulty, after evening twilight in the western sky of the Northern Hemisphere, for the next two weeks.

* Wed., Feb. 27 - International Polar Bear Day (Feb. 27).

* Thur. March 1 (1504 Feb. 29 to March 1) - Anniversary of total lunar eclipse used by Christopher Columbus, to scare the natives of Jamaica into providing food and other provisions for his sailors. (Feb. 29 to March 1)
Also see first recorded lunar eclipse in continental North America.

United Nations International Year
of Water Cooperation

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

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

* Fri., March 1 - 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).

* Thur. March 1 (1504 Feb. 29 to March 1) - Anniversary of total lunar eclipse used by Christopher Columbus, to scare the natives of Jamaica into providing food and other provisions for his sailors. (Feb. 29 to March 1)
Also see first recorded lunar eclipse in continental North America.

* Fri., March 1, 2:00 a.m. EST - Star Spica 0.1 degree north of the Moon; occultation: Galapagos Islands, eastern portion of Mexico and Central America, central portion of South America, and a portion of the Pacific Ocean adjacent to these areas.

* Sat., March 2, 10:00 a.m. EST - Saturn 3 degrees north of the Moon.

* March 3 to 9 - National Severe Weather Preparedness Week.

* March 3 to 9 - National Consumer Protection Week (First full week of March).

* March 3 to 12, - 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.

* March 4 to 10 - National Sleep Awareness Week® (last day of week coincides, each year, with conversion to Daylight Saving Time).

* Mon., March 4 (1681) - 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)

* Mon., March 4, 8:00 a.m. EST - Mercury in inferior conjunction with the Sun (Mercury not visible, even with a telescope).

* Mon., March 4, 4:53 p.m. EST - Moon Phase: Last Quarter.

* Tue., March 5, 6:00 p.m. EST - Moon at perigee: 369,957 kilometers.

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

* Sat., March 9, 3:15 a.m. EST - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* March 10 to 16 - Teen Tech Week.

* Sun., March 10, 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.

* March 11 to 15 - Open Education Week.

* Mon., March 11, 3:51 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase: New Moon - Lunation 1116.

* Tue., March 12 (1912) - Anniversary of the founding of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America (March 12).

* Wed., March 13 (1781) - Anniversary of the Planet Uranus discovery announced by Sir Frederick William Herschel (March 13).

* Wed., March 13 (1938) - Anniversary of beginning of the CBS World News Roundup, the longest-running network, news broadcast in America. (March 13).

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

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

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

* Sat., 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 16, 6:51 a.m. EDT - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* March 17 to 23 - Wildfire Prevention Week [Pennsylvania: Spring, Autumn].

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

* Sun., March 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT - Jupiter 1.5 degrees north of the Moon.

* March 18 to 22 - Flood Safety Awareness Week.

* March 18 to 24 - Fix-a-Leak Week (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency).

* Mon., March 18, 11:00 p.m. EDT - Moon at apogee: 404,261 kilometers.

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

* Mon., March 19, 1:27 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase: First Quarter.

* March 20 to April 14 - Annual National Cherry Blossom Festival, Washington DC.

* Wed., March 20, 7:02 a.m. EDT - Vernal Equinox - Spring Season begins in Northern Hemisphere of Earth: beginning of New Year (solar calendar) in Afghanistan and Iran.

* Fri., March 22 - Sun-Earth Day (NASA: Day of, or near, the Vernal Equinox, the first day of Spring).

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

* Sat., March 23 (1989) - Apollo Asteroid 1989FC, with a diameter of 300 meters, comes within 690,000 kilometers of the Earth in 1989 (March 23).

* Sat., March 23, 10:49 a.m. EDT - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Sat., March 23, 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Prevailing Time - Earth Hour annual environmental observance (Saturday Late in March, 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Prevailing Time).

* Sun., March 24 - Palm Sunday (Sunday before Easter Sunday).

* Sun., March 24, 2:00 p.m. EDT - Jupiter 5 degrees north of Star Aldebaran.

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

* Mon., March 25 - Lady Day in England, the first of the four traditional English quarter days, was New Year's Day up to 1752 when, following the move from the Julian Calendar to the Gregorian Calendar, January 1 became the start of the year. Lady Day (for the Virgin Mary) is the traditional name of the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin (March 25) in some English-speaking countries (March 25).

* Mon., March 25, Sunset (Sunset in Pittsburgh: 7:37 p.m. EDT) - Beginning of Passover.

* Wed., March 27, 5:27 a.m. EDT - Moon Phase: Full Moon (Worm Moon).

* Thur., March 28 - Maundy Thursday / Holy Thursday (Thursday before Easter Sunday).

* Thur., March 28, 11:00 a.m. EDT - Star Spica 0.01 degree south of the Moon; occultation: Southeast Asia, Philippines, Indonesia, northern portion of Australia, Melanesia, French Polynesia.

* Thur., March 28, 2:00 p.m. EDT - Venus in superior conjunction with the Sun (Venus not visible, even with a telescope).

* Thur., March 28, 8:00 p.m. EDT - Uranus in conjunction with the Sun (Uranus not visible, even with a telescope).

* Fri., March 29 - Good Friday (Friday before Easter Sunday).

* Fri., March 29, 4:00 p.m. EDT - Saturn 3 degrees north of the Moon.

* March 30 to May 5 - National Kite Month.

* Sat., March 30 - Holy Saturday (Saturday before Easter Sunday).

* March 31 to April 9, - 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., March 31 (Sunrise in Pittsburgh: 7:05 a.m. EDT) - Easter Sunday [46 days after Ash Wednesday; the first Sunday after the full moon (the Paschal Full Moon) following the March equinox (ecclesiastically, the equinox is reckoned to be on March 21, even though the equinox occurs, astronomically speaking, on March 20 in most years)].

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

* Sun., March 31, 12:00 Midnight EDT - Moon at perigee: 367,504 kilometers.

United Nations International Year
of Water Cooperation

* March 30 to May 5 - National Kite Month.

* March 31 to April 9, - 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.

* March 31 to April 6 - 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).
* Tue., April 2 - World Autism Awareness Day (April 2).

April 1 to 7 - National Public Health Week.

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

* Mon., April 1 - Easter Monday (Monday after Easter Sunday).

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

* Mon., April 1 (1960) - Anniversary of launch of first successful weather satellite, TIROS-1 (April 1).
Also see: Space Race To Create Quantum Satellite.

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

* Tue., April 2 - Mercury at aphelion.

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

* Wed., April 3 - National Walking Day.

* Wed., April 3 - 500th Anniversary of the Discovery of Florida by Ponce de Leon (April 3).

* Wed., April 3, 12:37 a.m. EDT - Moon Phase: Last Quarter.

* April 5 to 11 - International Dark-Sky Week (Week of the New Moon in April).

* April 6 to 14 - National Robotics Week.

* Sun., April 7, 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.

* Mon., April 8, 6:00 a.m. EDT - Mercury 7 degrees south of the Moon.

* Wed., April 10, 5:35 a.m. EDT - Moon Phase: New Moon - Lunation 1117.

* Fri., April 12 (1961) - Anniversary of when Russia launched first human into space and orbit of the Earth, Yuri Gagarin (April 12).

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

* Fri., 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.

* April 14 to 20 - National Library Week.

* April 14 to 20 - The Week of the Young Child™.

* April 14 to 20 - National Environmental Education Week (EE Week: Week before Earth Day).

* April 14 to 20 - Pan American Week (Week of April 14).

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

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

* Sun., April 14, 2:00 p.m. EDT - Jupiter 2 degrees north of the Moon.

* April 15 to 21 - International Astronomy Week (Begins on the Monday preceding the Saturday designated as Astronomy Day).

* April 15 to 21 - National Minority Cancer Awareness Week (Third week of April).

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

* Mon., April 15 - Patriots' Day (Third Monday in April).

* Mon., April 15, 6:00 p.m. EDT - Moon at apogee: 404,862 kilometers.

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

* Tue., April 16 - National Library Workers Day (Tuesday of National Library Week).

* Tue., April 16 - National Healthcare Decisions Day (April 16).

* Tue., April 16 - National Stress Awareness Day (April 16).

* Wed., April 17 - National Bookmobile Day (Wednesday of National Library Week).

* Wed., April 17, 8:00 p.m. EDT - Mars in conjunction with the Sun (Mars not visible, even with a telescope).

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

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

* Thur., April 18 - Support Teen Literature Day (Thursday of National Library Week).

* Thur., April 18, 8:31 a.m. EDT - Moon Phase: First Quarter.

* Fri., April 19, 5:00 p.m. EDT - Mercury 2 degrees south of Uranus.

* April 20 to 27 - National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW).

* April 20 to 27 - Money Smart Week®.

* April 20 to 28 - National Park Week.

* Sat., April 20 & Sat., Oct. 12 - International Astronomy Day [Saturdays in Spring (Saturday in Astronomy Week) and Autumn]: Link 1 *** Link 2

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

* Sat., April 20 - National Junior Ranger Day (Saturday in National Park Week).

* April 21 to 27 - National Volunteer Week.

* April 21 to 27 - 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 21 to 27 - Preservation Week for library and archive materials.

* April 21 to 27 - National Crime Victims' Rights Week (Week in April).

* April 21 to 27 - Administrative Professionals Week (Last week of April).

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

* Mon., April 22, 7:00 a.m. EDT - Peak of Lyrid Meteor Shower

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

* Tue., April 23 - Teach Children to Save Day (April 23).

* Wed., April 24 - Administrative Professionals Day (Wednesday of last week of April).

* Thur., April 25, 8:00 p.m. EDT - Star Spica 0.004 degree south of the Moon; occultation: southern portion of Central America, Caribbean Sea, northern portion of South America, southern portion of Africa, Madagascar.

* Thur., April 25 - National Take Our Daughters and Sons To Work Day (Fourth Thursday in April).

* Thur., April 25, 3:57 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase: Full Moon (Pink Moon).

* Thur., April 25, 4:07:30 p.m. EDT - Time of greatest eclipse for the Partial Eclipse of the Moon / Lunar Eclipse, visible in most of the Eastern Hemisphere of Earth, with a portion of the eclipse visible in the eastern section of South America, eastern half of the Atlantic Ocean and the extreme western portion of the Pacific Ocean.
This Eclipse of the Moon or Lunar Eclipse is safe to view with the naked-eye, binoculars, or a telescope.

* Thur., April 25, 10:00 p.m. EDT - Saturn 4 degrees north of the Moon.

* Fri., April 26 - World Intellectual Property Day (April 26).

* Fri., April 26 - Arbor Day - National Arbor Day Foundation (Last Friday of April).

* Sat., April 27 - Save the Frogs Day - Also see news article.

* Sat., April 27, 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.

* Sat., April 27, 4:00 p.m. EDT - Moon at perigee: 362,268 kilometers.

* Sun., April 28, 4:00 a.m. EDT - Saturn at opposition (Saturn visible approx. local sunset to local sunrise).

* April 29 to May 8, - 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.

* Wed., 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.

* Sun., May 5, 4:03 p.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.

United Nations International Year
of Water Cooperation

* April 29 to May 8, - 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.

* May - First Week - National Lab Day (First week of May).

* May 1 to 7 - Choose Privacy Week.

* Wed., 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.

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

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

* Thur., May 2, 7:14 a.m. EDT - Moon Phase: Last Quarter.

* Fri., May 3 - World Press Freedom Day (May 3).

* Sat., May 4 - Space Day (First week in May).

* May 4 to 12 - National Travel and Tourism Week (First full week of May).

* May 5 to 11 - Arson Awareness Week.

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

* Sun., May 5, 2:00 a.m. EDT - Peak of n-Aquarid (Eta Aquarid) Meteor Shower - remnants from Halley's Comet.

* Sun., May 5, 4:03 p.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 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 10 - National PTA Teacher Appreciation Week (First full week of May).

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

* Tue., May 7 - National Teacher Day (Tuesday of Teacher Appreciation Week).

* Tue., May 7 - World Asthma Day (First Tuesday of May).

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

* Wed., May 8 - National Bike to School Day.

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

* Wed., May 8 - National School Nurse Day (Wednesday Of National Nurses Week).

* Wed., May 8 (1945) - Victory in Europe Day (May 8).

** May 9 - 10 - Solar Eclipse ( Annular and Partial Eclipses) visible in Australia and the Pacific Ocean ---
* Thur., May 9, 8:26:19.9 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 Australia through the eastern section of Papua New Guinea, Solomon and Gilbert Islands, and the central part of the South Pacific Ocean. A partial eclipse of the Sun could be observed over a broader section of the South Pacific Ocean.
SAFE WAY TO VIEW A SOLAR ECLIPSE OR ECLIPSE OF THE SUN..

* Thur., May 9, 8:28 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase: New Moon - Lunation 1118.

* Fri., May 10, 5:00 p.m. EDT - Asteroid Pallas in conjunction with the Sun (Pallas not visible, even with a telescope).

* May 11 to 19 - Armed Forces Week (USA) - (Second Saturday to Sunday of following week in May).

* Sat., May 11 - International Migratory Bird Day (Second Saturday in May).

* Sat., May 11 - 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 11 - Stamp-Out Hunger Food Drive (Second Saturday of May).

* Sat., May 11, 5:00 p.m. EDT - Mercury in superior conjunction with the Sun (Mercury not visible, even with a telescope).

* May 12 to 18 - Women's Health Week (Week that begins on Mothers' Day).

* May 12 to 18 - Food Allergy Awareness Week (FAAW).

* May 12 to 18 - National Hospital Week.

* May 12 to 18 - National Transportation Week.

* May 12 to 18 - National Police Week (Week including May 15).

* Sun., May 12 - Mothers' Day (Second Sunday in May).

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

* Sun., May 12, 9:00 a.m. EDT - Jupiter 3 degrees north of the Moon.

* May 13 to 19 - Children's Book Week (Moved from 2007 Nov. 12 to 18).

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

* Mon., May 13 - Women's Checkup Day (Monday of Women's Health Week/Monday after Mothers' Day).

* Mon., May 13, 10:00 a.m. EDT - Moon at apogee: 405,825 kilometers.

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

* Thur., May 16 - Mercury at perihelion.

* Fri., May 17 - Bike-to-Work Day (Third Friday in May).

* Fri., May 17 - Food Revolution Day (May 17).

* May 18 to 24 - National Safe Boating Week (First full week before Memorial Day Weekend).

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

* Sat., May 18 - Armed Forces Day (USA) - (Third Saturday in May).

* Sat., May 18 - Visit Your Relatives Day (May 18).

* Sat., May 18, 12:34 a.m. EDT - Moon Phase: First Quarter.

* May 19 to 25 - Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week.

* May 19 to 25 - National Defense Transportation Week (Week during which National Defense Transportation Day falls).

* May 19 to 25 - National Dog-Bite Prevention Week.

* Mon., May 20 - Victoria Day - In Canada, informally considered the beginning of the Summer season (last Monday before May 25).

* Tue., May 21, 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., May 21 (1881) - Founding of the American Red Cross (May 21).

* Wed., 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.

* Wed., May 22 - Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Day (Wednesday of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week).

* Wed., May 22, 7:00 a.m. EDT - Star Spica 0.005 degree south of the Moon; occultation: Southeast Asia, Philippines, Indonesia, northeastern portion of Australia, Melanesia, French Polynesia, Pitcairn Islands.

* Thur., May 23 - World Turtle Day (May 23).

* Thur., May 23, 6:00 a.m. EDT - Saturn 4 degrees north of the Moon.

* Fri., May 24 - National Defense Transportation Day (Third Friday in May).

* Fri., May 24, 11:00 p.m. EDT - Mercury 1.4 degrees north of Venus.

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

* Sat., May 25 (1961) - Anniversary of when 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."

* Sat., May 25, 12:10:00 a.m. EDT - Time of greatest eclipse for the Penumbral Eclipse of the Moon, visible from most of the Americas and western Africa. This Lunar Eclipse or Eclipse of the Moon is safe to view with the naked-eyes, binoculars, or a telescope. However, this particular Penumbral Lunar Eclipse will be so faint to be practically undetectable, without professional observing equipment !

* Sat., May 25, 12:25 a.m. EDT - Moon Phase: Full Moon (Flower Moon).

* Sat., May 25, 10:00 p.m. EDT - Moon at perigee: 358,377 kilometers.
Large tides predicted.

* Mon., May 27 - Memorial Day - USA (Last Monday in May);
originally observed as Decoration Day - USA (May 30).

* Mon., May 27, 5:00 a.m. EDT - Mercury 2 degrees north of Jupiter.

* Tue., May 28, 4:00 p.m. EDT - Venus 1.0 degree north of Jupiter.

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

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

* Fri., May 31, 2:58 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase: Last Quarter.

.

United Nations International Year
of Water Cooperation

* Sat., June 1 - Beginning of Meteorological Season of Summer in Northern Hemisphere, Meteorological Season of Winter in Southern Hemisphere (June 1).

* Sat., June 1 - Beginning of Hurricane Season in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea (June 1).

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

* Sat., June 1 - National Trails Day® (First Saturday in June).

* Sat., June 1, 12:00 Noon EDT - Mercury 1.3 degrees north of the M35 open star cluster in the Constellation Gemini the Twins.

* Tue., June 4, 5:00 p.m. EDT - Venus visible in the M35 open star cluster in the Constellation Gemini the Twins.

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

* Thur., June 6 (1944) - Anniversary of the D-Day Allied invasion of Normandy during World War II (June 6),

* Fri., June 7 - Peak of Arietid Meteor Shower (June 7).

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

* Sat., June 8 - National Get Outdoors Day (Second Saturday in June).

* Sat., June 8, 11:56 a.m. EDT - Moon Phase: New Moon - Lunation 1119.

* Sun., June 9 - National Children's Day (Second Sunday in June).

* Sun., June 9, 6:00 p.m. EDT - Moon at apogee: 406,486 kilometers.

* June 10 to 16 - Men's Health Week (Week leading to and including Father's Day).

* Mon., June 10, 7:00 a.m. EDT - Venus 5 degrees north of the Moon.

* Mon., June 10, 7:00 p.m. EDT - Mercury 6 degrees north of the Moon.

* Tue., June 11 (1638; originally recorded as June 1 O.S. of the Julian Calendar) - First earthquake recorded in North America: New England / St. Lawrence Valley region. (June 11)

* Thur., June 13 - Venus at perihelion.

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

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

* Sat., June 15, 12:00 Noon EDT - Mars 6 degrees north of Star Aldebaran in the Constellation Taurus the Bull.

* Sun., June 16 - Fathers' Day (Third Sunday in June): Link 1 *** Link 2

* Sun., June 16, 1:24 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase: First Quarter.

* June 17 to 23 - National Pollinator Week (June).

* June 17 to 21 - National Small Business Week (50th anniversary).
* Thur., June 20 - National Small Business Week Conference in Pittsburgh (one of five cities involved in 50th anniversary conferences; other cities are Seattle, Dallas, St. Louis, and Washington).

* Tue., June 18 (1812) - Anniversary of the day the United States of America declared war on the British Empire, beginning the War of 1812 (June 18).

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

* Tue., June 18, 4:00 p.m. EDT - Star Spica, in the Constellation Virgo the Virgin, 0.1 degree south of the Moon; occultation: Caribbean Sea, northern and central portions of South America, southwestern portion of West Africa, Madagascar.

* Wed., June 19, 12:00 Noon EDT - Jupiter in conjunction with the Sun (Jupiter not visible, even with a telescope).

* Wed., June 19, 1:00 p.m. EDT - Saturn 4 degrees north of the Moon.

* Thur., June 20 - "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 20 - Recess at Work Day (Third Thursday in June).

* Thur., June 20 - World Refugee Day (June 20).

* Thur., June 20, 1:00 p.m. EDT - Mercury 1.9 degrees south of Venus.

* Fri., June 21 - National Aboriginal Day (Canada: June 21).

* Fri., June 21, 1:04 a.m. EDT - Summer Solstice; Season of Summer begins in Earth's Northern Hemisphere (Also see 1985-1991: Annual Free Day at Buhl Planetarium).

* June 22 to 23 Field Day, when ham radio operators test emergency radio operations (Always The Fourth Full Weekend In June).

* Sat., June 22, 9:00 p.m. EDT - Venus 5 degrees south of the Star Pollux in the Constellation Gemini the Twins.

* June 23 to 29 - National Lightning Safety Awareness Week; see article.

* Sun., June 23, 7:00 a.m. EDT - Moon at perigee: 356,991 kilometers.
Large tides predicted.

* Sun., June 23, 7:32 a.m. EDT - Moon Phase: Full Moon - Strawberry Moon.
Largest Full Moon in 2013.

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

* Tue., June 25, late evening (1638) - The first astronomical event recorded in continental North America was a total lunar eclipse on 1638 June 25 to 26. (June 25)
Also see total lunar eclipse used by Christopher Columbus to scare natives into providing food and other provisions for his sailors.

* Thur., June 27 - National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) (June 27).

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

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

* Sat., June 29 - Mercury at aphelion.

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

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

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

* Sun., June 30, 12:53 a.m. EDT - Moon Phase: Last Quarter.

United Nations International Year
of Water Cooperation

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

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

* July 1 to 3 (1863) - 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania of the American Civil War.

* Mon., July 1, 9:00 p.m. EDT - Dwarf Planet Pluto at opposition (Pluto visible, with a telescope, approx. sunset to sunrise).

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

* Wed., July 3, 3:00 p.m. EDT - Venus visible in the Beehive Open Star Cluster.

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

* Fri., July 5, 11:00 a.m. EDT - Earth at aphelion, furthest point in orbit from the Sun: 152,097,427 kilometers.

* Fri., July 5, 5:00 p.m. EDT - Jupiter 1.1 degrees south of the M35 Open Star Cluster.

* Sat., July 6, 8:00 a.m. EDT - Mars 4 degrees north of the Moon.

* Sat., July 6, 9:00 p.m. EDT - Moon at apogee: 406,490 kilometers.

* Mon., July 8, 3:14 a.m. EDT - Moon Phase: New Moon - Lunation 1120.

* July 8, Sunset to Aug. 7, Sunset - Ramadan, month of fasting in the Islamic lunar calendar; begins at sunset, based on the sighting of the New Moon (Sunset in Pittsburgh - July 8: 8:52 p.m. EDT; Aug. 7: 8:27 p.m. EDT).

* Tue., July 9, 3:00 p.m. EDT - Mercury at inferior conjunction with the Sun (Mercury not visible, even with a telescope).

* Wed., July 10, 7:00 p.m. EDT - Venus 7 degrees north of the Moon.

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

* Mon., 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 (July 15).

* Mon., July 15, 11:18 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase: First Quarter.

* Tue., July 16, 12:00 Midnight EDT - Star Spica 0.3 degree south of the Moon; occultation: North Pacific Ocean, Hawaii, Galapagos Islands, southern portion of Central America, northwestern portion of South America.

* Tue., July 16, 4:00 p.m. EDT - Mars 0.4 degree south of the M35 Open Star Cluster.

* Tue., July 16, 9:00 p.m. EDT - Saturn 3 degrees north of the Moon.

* Wed., July 17 - Military Consumer Protection Day (July 17).

* July 20 to 28 - National Moth Week - CITIZEN SCIENCE project where citizen scientists can help map moth distribution and provide needed information on other life history aspects around the globe (Last full week of July).

* Sat., July 20 (1969) - 10:56:20 p.m. EDT - "Moon Day" - The anniversary of the moment the first human (Neil Armstrong) set foot on the Earth's Moon, during the NASA mission of Apollo 11 (July 20).
Special Note: Neil Armstrong was originally scheduled to first step on the Moon during the early morning hours of Monday ("Moonday"), July 21. Although this historic moment actually occurred earlier than scheduled, during the July 20 television prime-time in America, it actually did occur on "Moonday," July 21 at 2:56:20 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the time-scale used by scientists.
Also see: personal remembrance of Apollo 11 mission.

* Sun., July 21, 4:00 p.m. EDT - Moon at perigee: 358,400 kilometers.
Large tides predicted.

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

* Mon., July 22, 12:00 Midnight EDT - Venus 1.2 degrees north of Star Regulus.

* Mon., July 22, 1:00 a.m. EDT - Mars 0.8 degree north of Jupiter.

* Mon., July 22, 2:16 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase: Full Moon (Buck Moon).

* Fri., July 26 (1990) - Anniversary: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) signed into law by U.S. President George H.W. Bush (July 26).

* Sun., July 28 - Parents' Day (fourth Sunday of July).

* Sun., July 28 - World Hepatitis Day (July 28).

* Sun., July 28, 11:00 p.m. EDT - Peak of S. Delta-Aquarid Meteor Shower

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

* Mon., July 29, 1:43 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase: Last Quarter.

* 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).

* Thur., Aug. 1 - Astronomical Mid-Point of Summer - 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.

* Tue., Aug. 6, 8:54 p.m. EDT - Astronomical Mid-Point of Summer - 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.

United Nations International Year
of Water Cooperation

* July 8, Sunset to Aug. 7, Sunset - Ramadan, month of fasting in the Islamic lunar calendar; begins at sunset, based on the sighting of the New Moon (Sunset in Pittsburgh - July 8: 8:52 p.m. EDT; Aug. 7: 8:27 p.m. EDT).

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

* Thur., Aug. 1 - Astronomical Mid-Point of Summer - 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.

* Thur., Aug. 1 - 195th Anniversary of the birth of America's first professional woman astronomer, Maria Mitchell, who won a gold medal prize presented by the King of Denmark, for her discovery of a comet named in her honor: Miss Mitchell's Comet (Aug. 1).

* Sat., Aug. 3, 5:00 a.m. EDT - Moon at apogee: 405,832 kilometers.

* Sat., Aug. 3, 6:00 p.m. EDT - Jupiter 4 degrees north of the Moon.

* Sat., Aug. 3, 9:00 p.m. EDT - Asteroid Juno at opposition (visible, with a telescope, approx. sunset to sunrise).

* Aug. 4 to 10 - National Farmers Market Week (First week of August).

* Aug. 4 to 10 - National Stop on Red Week (First week of August).

* Sun., Aug. 4 - Friendship Day (First Sunday in August).

* Sun., Aug. 4, 7:00 a.m. EDT - Mars 5 degrees north of the Moon.

* Sun., Aug. 4, 11:00 p.m. EDT - Mercury 7 degrees south of Star Pollux in Constellation Gemini the Twins.

* Mon., Aug. 5 - Civic Holiday in certain Canadian provinces (First Monday in August).

* Mon., Aug. 5, 5:00 a.m. EDT - Mercury 4 degrees north of the Moon.

* Tue., Aug. 6, 12:00 Midnight EDT - Asteroid Vesta in conjunction with the Sun (Vesta not visible, even with a telescope).

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

* Tue., Aug. 6, 5:51 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase: New Moon - Lunation 1121.

* Tue., Aug. 6, evening - National Night Out (First Tuesday in August).

* Tue., Aug. 6, 8:54 p.m. EDT - Astronomical Mid-Point of Summer - 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.

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

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

* Wed., Aug. 7 (In America, Thur. Aug. 8), Sunset - Eid al-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 on Aug. 8: 8:26 p.m. EDT).

* Fri., Aug. 9, 10:00 p.m. EDT - Venus 5 degrees north of the Moon.

* Aug. 9, 10, 11 weekend and September 6, 7, 8 weekend, 30 minutes before sunset - A Swift Night-Out - CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECT to observe bird roosts of Chimney Swifts and Vaux's Swifts.
More on Citizen Science & Chimey Swifts.

* Sat., Aug. 10, after sunset - International Starry Night (Aug. 10, coinciding with annual Perseid Meteor Shower).

* Aug. 11 to 17 - National Health Center Week (Second week of August).

* Mon., Aug. 12 - Mercury at perihelion.

* Mon., Aug. 12 - International Youth Day (Aug. 12).

* Mon., Aug. 12 - Middle Child's Day (Aug. 12).

* Mon., Aug. 12, 5:00 a.m. EDT - Star Spica 0.6 degree south of the Moon; occultation: Central Asia, northern India, China, southern Japan, Southeast Asia, Philippines, Marshall Islands.

* Mon., Aug. 12, 2:00 p.m. EDT - Peak of Perseid Meteor Shower, considered one of the best of the year! (Aug. 11 to 13).
Also see: NASA: Perseid Meteor Shower Has Most Fireballs.

* Tue., Aug. 13 - Public Housing Health Centers Day (Tuesday of National Health Center Week).

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

* Tue., Aug. 13, 4:00 a.m. EDT - Saturn 3 degrees north of the Moon.

* Wed., Aug. 14 - Health Care for the Homeless Day (Wednesday of National Health Center Week).

* Wed., Aug. 14, 6:56 a.m. EDT - Moon Phase: First Quarter.

* Thur., Aug. 15 - Farmworker Health Day (Thursday of National Health Center Week).

* Thur., Aug. 15 (1945) - Victory Over Japan Day (United Kingdom) - Day of initial announcement of Japan surrender ending World War II (Aug. 15).
Celebrated on September 2 in USA, for formal surrender on Battleship USS Missouri.

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

* Aug. 17 to 23 - National Book Week.

* Sat., Aug. 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT - Asteroid and Dwarf Planet Ceres in conjunction with the Sun (Ceres not visible, even with a telescope).

* Sun., Aug. 18, 9:00 p.m. EDT - Moon at perigee: 362,264 kilometers.

* Mon., Aug. 19 - National Aviation Day, anniversary of the 1871 birth of Orville Wright, who with brother Wilbur, is credited with the first powered flight of a man (Aug. 19).

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

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

* Mon., Aug. 19, 7:00 a.m. EDT - Mars 6 degrees south of Star Pollux in Constellation Gemini the Twins.

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

* Tue., Aug. 20, 9:45 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase: Full Moon - Sturgeon Moon.

* Aug. 23 to 25 - . Pledge to Fledge ! campaign for birders to share their love and information about the birding hobby with others (Last weekend in August).

* Fri., Aug. 23 (1991) - Internaut Day - Anniversary, in 1991, of the Internet's World Wide Web (www) (Aug. 23).

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

* Sat., Aug. 24, 5:00 p.m. EDT - Mercury in superior conjunction with the Sun (Mercury not visible, even with a telescope).

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

* Mon., Aug. 26 (1920) - Women's Equality Day - Anniversary: Certification of 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, granting women the right to vote (Aug. 26).

* Mon., Aug. 26, 10:00 p.m. EDT - Neptune at opposition (With telescope, Neptune visible approx. sunset to sunrise).

* Wed., Aug. 28 (1912) - Anniversary: New Allegheny Observatory building dedicated (Aug. 28).

* Wed., Aug. 28, 5:35 a.m. EDT - Moon Phase: Last Quarter.

* Fri., Aug. 30, 8:00 p.m. EDT - Moon at apogee: 404,881 kilometers.

* Sat., 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., Aug. 31, 1:00 p.m. EDT - Jupiter 4 degrees north of the Moon.

* Sun., Sept. 1 - Peak of Aurigid Meteor Shower (Sept. 1).

United Nations International Year
of Water Cooperation

* Sun., Sept. 1 - Beginning of Meteorological Season of Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere (Sept. 1).

* Sun., Sept. 1 - Beginning of Spring Season in Australia (Sept. 1).

* Sun., Sept. 1 - Mid-point in Atlantic Ocean Hurricane Season (Sept. 1).

* Sun., Sept. 1 - Peak of Aurigid Meteor Shower (Sept. 1).

* Sun., Sept. 1 (1939) - World War II began (Sept. 1).

* Mon., Sept. 2 (1945) - Victory Over Japan Day / V-J Day (USA) - Day Japan formally surrendered, on Battleship USS Missouri, ending World War II (Sept. 2).
Celebrated on August 15 in the United Kingdom, for initial announcement of Japan's surrender .

* Mon., Sept. 2 - Labor Day (Federal Holiday: U.S.A. - First Monday in September)

* Mon., Sept. 2, 6:00 a.m. EDT - Mars 6 degrees north of the Moon.

* Tue., Sept. 3 (1783) - Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Paris, which formally ended the American Revolutionary War (Sept. 3).

* Tue., Sept. 3 - Zodiacal Light dimly visible in northern lattitudes in eastern sky, before morning twilight, for next two weeks (September).

* Wed., Sept. 4, Sunset - Rosh Hashanah - Jewish New Year (Sunset in Pittsburgh: 7:47 p.m. EDT): Link 1 *** Link 2.
Days in the Hebrew calendar begin at sunset. Although the Jewish calendar is based on the Lunar Cycle, so that the first day of each month originally began with the first sighting of a New Moon, since the Fourth Century it has been arranged so that Rosh Hashanah never falls on a Sunday, Wednesday, or Friday.

* Thur., Sept. 5, 7:36 a.m. EDT - Moon Phase: New Moon - Lunation 1122.

* Thur., Sept. 5, 9:00 a.m. EDT - Venus 1.8 degrees north of Star Spica.

* Aug. 9, 10, 11 weekend and September 6, 7, 8 weekend, 30 minutes before sunset - A Swift Night-Out - CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECT to observe bird roosts of Chimney Swifts and Vaux's Swifts.
More on Citizen Science & Chimey Swifts.

* Sat., Sept. 7 - 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)

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

* Sun., Sept. 8 - Grandparents Day (First Sunday after Labor Day).

* Sun., Sept. 8, 11:00 a.m. EDT - Star Spica 0.8 degree south of the Moon; occultation: eastern Canada, southern Greenland, Europe, northern Africa, Arabian Peninsula, central Asia, western Russia.

* Sun., Sept. 8, 11:20 a.m. EDT - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Sun., Sept. 8, 5:00 p.m. EDT - Venus 0.4 degree north of the Moon; occultation: Kiribati, French Polynesia, Pitcairn Islands, southern portion of South America, Falkland Islands.

* Sun., Sept. 8, 6:00 p.m. EDT - Mars visible in the Beehive Open Star Cluster (M44).

* Mon., Sept. 9, 1:00 p.m. EDT - Saturn 2 degrees north of the Moon.

* Tue., Sept. 10 - Traditional peak in Atlantic Ocean Hurricane Season (Sept. 10).

* Tue., Sept. 10 - Swap Ideas Day (Sept. 10).

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

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

* Thur., Sept. 12, 1:08 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase: First Quarter.

* Fri., Sept. 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., Sept. 13, Sunset - Yom Kippur the Hebrew Day of Atonement (Sunset in Pittsburgh: 7:32 p.m. EDT).
Days in the Hebrew calendar begin at sunset. The Jewish calendar is based on the Lunar Cycle, so that the first day of each month originally began with the first sighting of a New Moon.

* Sat., Sept. 14 - World First Aid Day (Second Saturday in September).

* Sept. 15 to 21 - International Book Week (third week of September).

* Sept. 15 to 21 - Child Passenger Safety Week (third week of September).

* Sun., Sept. 15 - National Tell a Police Officer "Thank You!" Day (Sept. 15).

* Sun., Sept. 15, 1:00 p.m. EDT - Moon at perigee: 367,391 kilometers.

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

* Sept. 17 to 19 - National Postal Customer Council Week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday of third week of September).

* Tue., 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).

* Wed., 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).

* Wed., Sept. 18, Sunset (to Wed., Sept. 25, Sunset) - Sukkot - Feast of Tabernacles of the Jewish faith begins Sunset Sept. 18 in Pittsburgh: 7:23 p.m. EDT).
Days in the Hebrew calendar begin at sunset. The Jewish calendar is based on the Lunar Cycle, so that the first day of each month originally began with the first sighting of a New Moon.

* Thur., Sept. 19 - 'No Text on Board' Pledge Day (TXTNG & DRIVNG...IT CAN WAIT) (Sept. 19).

* Thur., Sept. 19 - 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 Harvest Moon.

* Thur., Sept. 19, 7:13 a.m. EDT - Moon Phase: Full Moon - Harvest Moon.

* Thur., Sept. 19, 8:00 p.m. EDT - Venus 4 degrees south of Saturn.

* Sat., Sept. 21 - Software Freedom Day (Third Saturday in September).

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

* Sat., Sept. 21 - International Day of Peace (Sept. 21).

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

* Sept. 22 to 28 - Banned Books Week (BBW) - An annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment (Last week of September).

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

* Sun., Sept. 22 - Falls Prevention Awareness Day (First day of Fall).

* Sun., Sept. 22, 4:44 p.m. EDT - Autumnal Equinox; beginning of Season of Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere.
Also see: Harvest Moon.

* Mon., Sept. 23 (1846) - Neptune first planet discovered by mathematical prediction (Sept. 23).

* Tue., Sept. 24, 3:00 p.m. EDT - Mercury 0.8 degree north of Star Spica.

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

* Wed., Sept. 25 - Mercury at aphelion.

* Thur., Sept. 26, 11:55 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase: Last Quarter.

* Fri., Sept. 27 - World Maritime Day (Sept. 27).
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.

* Fri., Sept. 27, 2:00 p.m. EDT - Moon at apogee: 404,308 kilometers.

* Fri., Sept. 27, 8:46 p.m. EDT - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

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

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

* Sat., Sept. 28 - Museum Day Live! - Free admission to participating museums, with Museum Day ticket from the Smithsonian Magazine web site (Fourth Saturday in September).

* Sat., Sept. 28 - National Public Lands Day (Saturday in late September).

* Sat., Sept. 28, 5:00 a.m. EDT - Jupiter 5 degrees north of the Moon.

* Sun., Sept. 29 - World Heart Day (Last Sunday in September).

* Sun., Sept. 29 - Gold Star Mother's Day (Last Sunday in September).

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

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

* Mon., Sept. 30 (1452) - Anniversary of the first publication of the Gutenberg Bible, the first major book published using movable type in the Western World (Sept. 30).

United Nations International Year
of Water Cooperation

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

* Tue., Oct. 1, 2:00 a.m. EDT - Mars 7 degrees north of the Moon.

* Tue., Oct. 1, 9:43 a.m. EDT - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Thur., Oct. 3 - Venus at aphelion.

* Thur., Oct. 3 - Zodiacal Light dimly visible in northern lattitudes in eastern sky, before morning twilight, for next two weeks.

* Thur., Oct. 3, 10:00 a.m. EDT - Uranus at opposition (Uranus visible with a telescope approx. sunset to sunrise).

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

* Fri., Oct. 4 (1957) - Anniversary of the beginning of the Space Age 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. 4).

* Fri., Oct. 4, 8:34 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase: New Moon - Lunation 1123.

* Fri., Oct. 4, 10:39 p.m. EDT - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Sat., 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).

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

* Oct. 6 to 12 - National Metric Week [Week containing Oct. 10 (10-10)].

* Oct. 6 to 12 - Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) / Mental Health Awareness Week (First Full Week of October).

* Oct. 6 to 12 - Fire Prevention Week (Week, from Sunday to Saturday, which includes October 9).

* Sun., Oct. 6, 6:00 p.m. EDT - Mercury 3 degrees north of the Moon.

* Oct. 7 to 13 - Financial Planning Week.

* Mon., Oct. 7 - U.S. Supreme Court begins new term (first Monday in October).

* Mon., Oct. 7, 12:00 Midnight EDT - Saturn 1.9 degrees north of the Moon.

* Tue., Oct. 8, 4:00 a.m. EDT (Best viewing: Midnight to Dawn) - Peak of October Draconid Meteor Shower. (Oct. 8)

* Tue., Oct. 8, 8:00 a.m. EDT - Venus 5 degrees south of the Moon.

* Tue., Oct. 8, 11:36 a.m. EDT - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Wed., Oct. 9 - International Walk to School Day (Second Wed. in October).

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

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

* Thur., Oct. 10 - National Metric Day (10-10).

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

* Thur., Oct. 10 - National Depression Screening Day® (NDSD) (During Mental Illness Awareness Week).

* Thur., Oct. 10, 2:00 p.m. EDT - Mercury 5 degrees south of Saturn.

* Thur., Oct. 10, 7:00 p.m. EDT - Moon at perigee: 369,813 kilometers.

* Fri., Oct. 11 - 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. 11, 7:02 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase: First Quarter.

* Fri., Oct. 11, 11:25 p.m. EDT - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

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

* Sat., April 20 & Sat., Oct. 12 - International Astronomy Day [Saturdays in Spring (Saturday in Astronomy Week) and Autumn]: Link 1 *** Link 2

* Sat., Oct. 12, 12:33 a.m. EDT - TRIPLE-SHADOW (shadows of 3 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Sat., Oct. 12, Evening - International Observe the Moon Night (InOMN).
More info.

* Sat., Oct. 12, 10:00 p.m. EDT - Asteroid Juno 0.9 degree north of the Moon; occultation: Antarctica except Wilkes Land, Falkland Islands, southern tip of South America.

* Oct. 13 to 19 - Earth Science Week (Second full week of October).

* Oct. 13 to 19 - Teen Read Week (Third Week of October).

* Sun., Oct. 13 - Clergy Appreciation National Day of Honoring (Second Sunday in October).

* Mon., Oct. 14 - Chistopher Columbus Day Observed: Federal Holiday in U.S.A. (Second Monday in October).

* Mon., Oct. 14 - Thanksgiving Day: Federal Holiday in Canada (Second Monday in October).

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

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

* Mon., Oct. 14, 6:00 p.m. EDT - Mars 1.0 degree north of the Star Regulus.

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

* Tue., Oct. 15, 1:29 p.m. EDT - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Wed., Oct. 16 - National Fossil Day.

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

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

* Wed., Oct. 16, 11:00 a.m. EDT - Venus 1.6 degrees north of the Star Antares.

* Thur., Oct. 17 - Get Smart About Credit Day (Oct.).

* Thur., Oct. 17, 7:58 a.m. EDT - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Fri., Oct. 18, 7:38 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase: Full Moon - Hunter's Moon.

* Fri., Oct. 18, 7:50:16.9 p.m. EDT - Time of greatest eclipse during Penumbral Lunar Eclipse, visible in most of the world, except Australia, Japan, Pacific Ocean islands, a large portion of Alaska, most of Siberia, and a small portion of northeastern China.
More info.

* Sat., Oct. 19 - Sweetest Day (Third Saturday in October).

* Sat., Oct. 19, 2:26 a.m. EDT - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Oct. 20 to 26 - National Chemistry Week (NCW).

* Oct. 20 to 26 - Male Breast Cancer Awareness Week (Third full week of October).

* Oct. 20 to 26 - National Teen Driver Safety Week (Third full week of October).

* Oct. 20 to 26 - National Legal Pro-Bono Celebration Week

* Oct. 20 to 26 - Open Access Week (Last full week of October).

* Sun., 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).

* Mon., Oct. 21, 7:00 a.m. EDT (Best viewing: Midnight to Dawn) - Peak of Orionid Meteor Shower - remnants from Halley's Comet. (Oct. 21)

* Oct. 21 to 25 - National School Bus Safety Week (Third Week in October).

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

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

* Thur., Oct. 24 (1939) - Anniversary of the 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).

* Thur., Oct. 24 (1945) - Anniversary of the founding of United Nations (Oct. 24).

* Thur., Oct. 24, 10:30 a.m. EDT - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Oct. 25 to Nov. 8 - Great World Wide Star Count.

* Fri., Oct. 25, 10:00 a.m. EDT - Moon at apogee: 404,557 kilometers.

* Fri., Oct. 25, 6:00 p.m. EDT - Jupiter 5 degrees north of the Moon.

* Sat., April 27 and Sat., Oct. 26, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Prevailing Time - National Prescription Drug Take-Back Days sponsored by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

* Sat., Oct. 26, 4:38 a.m. EDT - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Sat., Oct. 26, 7:40 p.m. EDT - Moon Phase: Last Quarter.

* Sun., Oct. 27 - Mother-in-Law Day (Fourth Sunday in October).

* Sun., Oct. 27, 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.

* Tue., Oct. 29 (1969) - Anniversary of the connection of the first two nodes of the ARPANET, which led to the formation of the Internet (Oct. 29).

* Tue., Oct. 29, 5:56 p.m. EDT - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Tue., Oct. 29, 9:00 p.m. EDT - Mars 6 degrees north of the Moon.

* Wed., Oct. 30 (1938), 9:00 p.m. EDT (8:00 p.m. EST in 1938) - 75th Anniversary 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.

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

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

* Sun., Nov. 3, 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.

* Wed., Nov. 6, 1:57 p.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.

United Nations International Year
of Water Cooperation

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

* Fri., Nov. 1, 1:00 p.m. EST (Note: Daylight Saving Time was not observed in November until 2007, long after Buhl Planetarium closed as public museum in 1991) - 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 (First Friday in November).

* Fri., Nov. 1, 4:00 p.m. EDT - Mercury in inferior conjunction with the Sun (Mercury not visible, even with a telescope).

* Sat., Nov. 2, 3:00 a.m. EDT - Star Spica 0.8 degree south of the Moon; occultation: central and northern sections of Europe, most of Asia except the extreme southeastern portion and the southeastern and southern portions of India.

* Sat., Nov. 2, 7:14 a.m. EDT - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Sat., 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. 3 - 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.

* Sun., Nov. 3, 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.

* Sun., Nov. 3, 7:46:28.3 a.m. EST - Time of greatest eclipse for the Hybrid Eclipse of the Sun / Hybrid Solar Eclipse visible in a path roughly from the center of the North Atlantic Ocean to the equator and running generally along the equator through the vast majority of Africa.
Pittsburgh: Slight Partial Solar Eclipse, with a maximum obscuration of the Sun by the Moon of ~ 5 percent at ~ 7:00 a.m. EST. This will be difficult to view, as the Sun rises at 6:52 a.m. EST.
NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN OR A SOLAR ECLIPSE WITH A TELESCOPE, BINOCULARS, OR ANY OPTICAL AID--IT COULD LEAD TO IMMEDIATE BLINDNESS. VIEWING THE SUN OR A SOLAR ECLIPSE WITH THE NAKED-EYE COULD ALSO CAUSE EYE DAMAGE.
SAFE WAY TO VIEW SOLAR ECLIPSE OR ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.

* Sun., Nov. 3, 7:50.a.m. EST - Moon Phase: New Moon - Lunation 1124.

* Sun., Nov. 3, Sunset (Sunset in Pittsburgh: 5:14 p.m. EST) - Islamic New Year ( Muharram): Based on lunar calendar, but the New Moon must be observable ( astronomical considerations).

* Nov. 4 to 8 - Winter Safety Awareness Week (First full week of November).

* Tue., 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).

* Tue., Nov. 5, 6:00 a.m. EST (Best viewing: Midnight to Dawn) - Peak of South Taurid Meteor Shower. (Nov. 5)

* Tue., Nov. 5 - General Election Day - Pennsylvania Election Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST. (First Tuesday after the first Monday of November)

* Tue., Nov. 5, 7:32 p.m. EST - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

* Wed., Nov. 6, 4:00 a.m. EST - Moon at perigee: 365,361 kilometers.

* Wed., Nov. 6, 7:00 a.m. EST - Saturn in conjunction with the Sun (Saturn not visible, even with a telescope).

* Wed., Nov. 6, 1:57 p.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.

* Wed., Nov. 6, 8:00 p.m. EST - Venus 8 degrees south of the Moon.

* Fri., Nov. 8 - International Day of Radiology: X-Rays discovered in 1895. 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. (Nov. 8)

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

* Sat., Nov. 9 - 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. 9, 8:50 a.m. EST - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

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

* Sun., Nov. 10, 12:57 a.m. EST - Moon Phase: First Quarter.

* Mon., 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).

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

* Tue., Nov. 12, 5:00 a.m. EST (Best viewing: Midnight to Dawn) - Peak of North Taurid Meteor Shower. (Nov. 12)

* Tue., Nov. 12, 10:09 p.m. EST - Double-shadow (shadows of 2 Galilean Moons) transit on Jupiter; visible, with difficulty, through telescope after sunset or before sunrise.

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

* Fri., 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.

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

* Nov. 17 to 23 - Winter Safety Awareness Week: Ohio.

* Sun., Nov. 17, 10:16 a.m. EST - Moon Phase: Full Moon ( Beaver Moon).

* Sun., Nov. 17, 12:00 Noon EST (Best viewing: Midnight to Dawn) - Peak of Leonid Meteor Shower. (Nov. 17)

* Nov. 18 to 22 - American Education Week.

* Nov. 18 to 22 - National Rural Health Week.

* Mon., Nov. 18 - African Statistics Day (ASD) (Nov. 18).

* Mon., 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.

* Tue., Nov. 19 - Parents Day of American Education Week.

* Tue., 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).

* Tue., 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).

* Tue., 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.

* Wed., Nov. 20 - World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Day (Third Wednesday in November).

* Wed., Nov. 20 - Education Support Professionals Day of American Education Week.

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

* Thur., Nov. 21 - "Great American Smokeout," to assist people to quit smoking (Third Thursday in November).

* Thur., Nov. 21 - National Rural Health Day (Thursday of National Rural Health Week).

* Fri., Nov. 22 - Substitute Educators Day of American Education Week.

* Fri., Nov. 22, 12:00 Midnight EST - Jupiter 5 degrees north of the Moon.

* Fri., Nov. 22, 5:00 a.m. EST - Moon at apogee: 405,443 kilometers.

* Sat., Nov. 22 (1963), 12:30 p.m. CST (1:30 p.m. EST) - Anniversary of the Assassination of John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the United States of America, in Dallas' Dealey Plaza, the man who sent us to the Moon.

* Fri., Nov. 22, evening - Pittsburgh Golden Triangle Light-Up Night, beginning of holiday shopping season; includes evening of downtown buildings lit-up and fireworks. (Friday evening before Thanksgiving Day)

* Sat., Nov. 23 - 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.).

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

* Mon., Nov. 25, 2:28 p.m. EST - Moon Phase: Last Quarter.

* Mon., Nov. 25, 10:00 p.m. EST - Mercury 0.3 degree south of Saturn.

* Tue., 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. (Nov. 26)

* Wed., 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.

* Wed., Nov. 27, 11:00 a.m. EST - Mars 6 degrees north of the Moon.

* Nov. 27, Sunset (Sunset in Pittsburgh: 4:55 p.m. EST) to Dec. 5 - Hanukkah or Chanukah (Jewish festival of rededication, also known as the Festival of Lights.); date of Hanukkah based on the Hebrew calendar, which is a lunisolar calendar.

* Nov. 28 to Dec. 2 - 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. 28 - Thanksgiving Day: Link 1 *** Link 2 (Fourth Thursday in November - U.S.A.).

* Fri., Nov. 29 - "Black Friday" - Was one of the busiest days of the year (sometimes the busiest !) at Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science (Day after Thanksgiving Day, U.S.A.).

* Fri., Nov. 29, 12:00 Noon EST - Star Spica 0.9 degree south of the Moon; occultation: North America excluding Central America and southern Caribbean Sea islands.

* Sat., Nov. 30 - Small Business Saturday (Saturday after Black Friday).

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

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

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

United Nations International Year
of Water Cooperation

* Nov. 28 to Dec. 2 - 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

* Dec. 1 to 7 - National Handwashing Awareness Week (First full week of December).

* Sun., Dec. 1 - First day of Meteorological Winter (Dec. 1).

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

* Sun., 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).

* Sun., Dec. 1 - First Sunday in Advent (Traditional) (First of four Sundays in Advent prior to Christmas Day).

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

* Sun., Dec. 1, 5:00 a.m. EST - Saturn 1.3 degrees north of the Moon; occultation: Marie Byrd Land section of Antarctica.

* Sun., Dec. 1, 5:00 p.m. EST - Mercury 0.4 degree south of the Moon.

* Mon., Dec. 2 - Cyber Monday (Monday after Black Friday).

* Mon., Dec. 2 - 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., Dec. 2, 7:22 p.m. EST - Moon Phase: New Moon - Lunation 1125.

* Tue., Dec. 3 - 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).

* Wed., Dec. 4, 5:00 a.m. EST - Moon at perigee: 360,067 kilometers.
Large tides predicted.

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

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

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

* Fri., Dec. 6, 10:00 a.m. EST - Dedication of the Southwestern Pennsylvania World War II Memorial located near other memorials, remembering veterans of the Korea and Vietnam conflicts, in the Roberto Clemente North Shore Riverfront Park, a few blocks southwest of Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science.

* Sat., Dec. 7 (1941) - Anniversary of Japanese surprise attack on American Naval Fleet, leading to American entry into World War II: Pearl Harbor Day (Dec. 7).

* Dec. 8 to 14 - National Influenza Vaccination Week.

* Mon., Dec. 9, 10:12 a.m. EST - Moon Phase: First Quarter.

* Fri., Dec. 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., 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).

* Sat., Dec. 14, 1:00 a.m. EST (Best viewing: Midnight to Dawn) - Peak of Geminid Meteor Shower (Dec. 13-14).

* 2013 Dec. 14 to 2014 Jan. 5 - CITIZEN SCIENCE: Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count (Dec. 14 to Jan. 5).

* Sat., 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).

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

* Tue., 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).

* Tue., Dec. 17 - Wright Brothers Day, commemorating the first powered flight of a man in 1903, credited to the Wright Brothers (Dec. 17).

* Tue., Dec. 17, 4:28 a.m. EST - Moon Phase: Full Moon (Cold Moon or Long-Nights Moon).
Smallest Full Moon in 2013.

* Wed., Dec. 18 - Free Shipping Day by Internet merchants for delivery of Christmas gifts by Christmas Eve (Third week in December).

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

* Thur., Dec. 19, 2:00 a.m. EST - Jupiter 5 degrees north of the Moon.

* Thur., Dec. 19, 7:00 p.m. EST - Moon at apogee: 406,269 kilometers.

* Dec. 21 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. 21 - Homeless Persons' Memorial Day - The first day of winter. The longest night of the year (Dec. 21).

* Sat., Dec. 21, 12:11 p.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.

* Sun., Dec. 22, 9:00 a.m. EST (Best viewing: Midnight to Dawn) - Peak of the Ursid Meteor Shower (Dec. 22).

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

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

* 2013 Dec. 25 to 2014 Jan. 5 - The 12 days of Christmas (Dec. 25).

* Wed., 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.

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

* Wed., Dec. 25, 8:48 a.m. EST - Moon Phase: Last Quarter.

* Wed., Dec. 25, 10:00 p.m. EST - Mars 5 degrees north of the Moon.

* 2013 Dec. 26 to 2014 Jan. 1 - Kwanzaa - Week-long holiday observance honoring African-American heritage (Dec. 26).

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

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

* Thur., Dec. 26, 10:00 p.m. EST - Star Spica 1.1 degrees south of the Moon; occultation: northern section of Scandinavia, majority of the Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and the northern section of China.

* Sat., Dec. 28, 8:00 p.m. EST - Saturn 0.9 degree north of the Moon; occultation: Kerguelen Islands, all of Antarctica except the Antarctic Peninsula.

* Sun., Dec. 29, 2:00 a.m. EST - Mercury in superior conjunction with the Sun (Mercury not visible, even with a telescope).

* Tue., Dec. 31 - Make Up Your Mind Day (Dec. 31).

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

* Tue., Dec. 31, 7:00 p.m. EST - 00:00:00 Coordinated Universal Time marking the beginning of the New Year (A.D. 2014) by the Coordinated Universal Time scale, the time scale used by many scientists (Dec. 31).

* Wed., 2014 Jan. 1, 12:00:00 Midnight (00:00:00) Prevailing Time (5:00:00 Coordinated Universal Time which correlates with 12:00:00 Midnight EST) - New Year's Day: Calendar Year A.D. 2014 begins (Jan. 1).