2008 Astronomical Calendar

2008 March 30

Compiled for Los Angeles, California

The Moon's orbit carries it past Venus, creating this close dusk encounter. Copyright 2005, Brian Webb.

To receive this calendar in monthly installments by e-mail, click here.

Date	Time PST/PDT	Event	Comments
JAN 4	00:00-05:30	Quadrantid Meteor Shower	Observers in dark locations should see several meteors per hour under good conditions. Shower is predicted to peak on JAN 3 at 23:00 PST (JAN 4 07:00 UTC).
JAN 5-6	---	Dark Sky Weekend	Best time this month to observe faint objects. Amateur astronomers may hold observing sessions at dark sites
JAN 8	03:37	New Moon	Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun and is invisible. Moon rises at sunrise and sets at sunset
JAN 15	11:46	First Quarter Moon	Moon rises at noon and sets at midnight
JAN 19	16:00	Conjunction	The Moon passes 1.1° south of Mars. Time of closest approach and separation computed for the Earth's center and may vary significantly depending on your location
JAN 21	21:25	Mercury Eastern Elongation	Mercury attains its greatest angular separation from the Sun and is visible low in the west at dusk.
JAN 22	05:35	Full Moon	Moon rises at sunset, sets at sunrise, and is visible all night
JAN 24	22:00	Conjunction	The Moon passes 3° north of Saturn. Time of closest approach and separation computed for the Earth's center and may vary significantly depending on your location
JAN 29	21:03	Last Quarter Moon	Moon rises at midnight and sets at noon
FEB 1	04:00	Conjunction	Venus 0.6° north of Jupiter
FEB 2-3	---	Dark Sky Weekend	Best time this month to observe faint objects. Amateur astronomers may hold observing sessions at dark sites
FEB 4	04:00	Conjunction	The Moon passes 4° north of Venus. Time of closest approach and separation computed for the Earth's center and may vary significantly depending on your location
FEB 6	10:19	Mercury Inferior Conjunction	Mercury passes between the Earth and the Sun and is lost in the Sun's glare.
FEB 6	19:44	New Moon	Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun and is invisible. Moon rises at sunrise and sets at sunset
FEB 9-10	---	Dark Sky Weekend	Best time this month to observe faint objects. Amateur astronomers may hold observing sessions at dark sites
FEB 10	18:04	Neptune Conjunction	Neptune passes behind the Sun and is lost in the Sun's glare.
FEB 13	19:33	First Quarter Moon	Moon rises at noon and sets at midnight
FEB 16	00:00	Conjunction	The Moon passes 1.6° north of Mars. Time of closest approach and separation computed for the Earth's center and may vary significantly depending on your location
FEB 20	17:43-21:09	Total Lunar Eclipse	Moon enters umbra 17:43, totality begins 19:00, totality ends 19:51, and Moon leaves umbra 21:09.
FEB 20	19:30	Full Moon	Moon rises at sunset, sets at sunrise, and is visible all night
FEB 24	01:48	Saturn Opposition	Saturn is opposite the Sun with respect to Earth and rises at sunset.
FEB 28	18:18	Last Quarter Moon	Moon rises at midnight and sets at noon
MAR 3	03:13	Mercury Western Elongation	Mercury attains its greatest angular separation from the Sun and is visible low in the east at dawn.
MAR 5	06:00	Conjunction	The Moon passes 0.2° south of Mercury. Time of closest approach and separation computed for the Earth's center and may vary significantly depending on your location
MAR 7	09:14	New Moon	Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun and is invisible. Moon rises at sunrise and sets at sunset
MAR 8-9	---	Dark Sky Weekend	Best time this month to observe faint objects. Amateur astronomers may hold observing sessions at dark sites
MAR 8	12:19	Uranus Conjunction	Uranus passes behind the Sun and is lost in the Sun's glare.
MAR 9	02:00	Time Change	Daylight Savings Time begins. Set clocks ahead one hour
MAR 14	03:46	First Quarter Moon	Moon rises at noon and sets at midnight
MAR 14	20:00	Conjunction	The Moon passes 1.7 ° north of Mars. Time of closest approach and separation computed for the Earth's center and may vary significantly depending on your location
MAR 21	11:40	Full Moon	Moon rises at sunset, sets at sunrise, and is visible all night
MAR 23	03:00	Conjunction	Mercury 1.0T° south of Venus
MAR 29	14:47	Last Quarter Moon	Moon rises at midnight and sets at noon
APR 5-6	---	Dark Sky Weekend	Best time this month to observe faint objects. Amateur astronomers may hold observing sessions at dark sites
APR 5	20:55	New Moon	Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun and is invisible. Moon rises at sunrise and sets at sunset
APR 11	23:00	Conjunction	The Moon passes 1.2° north of Mars. Time of closest approach and separation computed for the Earth's center and may vary significantly depending on your location
APR 12	11:32	First Quarter Moon	Moon rises at noon and sets at midnight
APR 16	00:24	Mercury Superior Conjunction	Mercury passes behind the Sun and is lost in the Sun's glare.
APR 20	03:25	Full Moon	Moon rises at sunset, sets at sunrise, and is visible all night
APR 28	07:12	Last Quarter Moon	Moon rises at midnight and sets at noon
MAY 3-4	---	Dark Sky Weekend	Best time this month to observe faint objects. Amateur astronomers may hold observing sessions at dark sites
MAY 5	05:18	New Moon	Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun and is invisible. Moon rises at sunrise and sets at sunset
MAY 5	20:00	Large Tides	Moon at perigee. Large tides
MAY 11	20:47	First Quarter Moon	Moon rises at noon and sets at midnight
MAY 13	20:51	Mercury Eastern Elongation	Mercury attains its greatest angular separation from the Sun and is visible low in the west at dusk.
MAY 19	19:11	Full Moon	Moon rises at sunset, sets at sunrise, and is visible all night
MAY 24	04:00	Conjunction	The Moon passes 2° south of Jupiter. Time of closest approach and separation computed for the Earth's center and may vary significantly depending on your location
MAY 27	19:57	Last Quarter Moon	Moon rises at midnight and sets at noon
JUN 1-2	---	Dark Sky Weekend	Best time this month to observe faint objects. Amateur astronomers may hold observing sessions at dark sites
JUN 3	06:00	Large Tides	Moon at perigee. Large tides
JUN 3	12:23	New Moon	Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun and is invisible. Moon rises at sunrise and sets at sunset
JUN 7	08:27	Mercury Inferior Conjunction	Mercury passes between the Earth and the Sun and is lost in the Sun's glare.
JUN 7	19:00	Conjunction	The Moon passes 1.1° south of Mars. Time of closest approach and separation computed for the Earth's center and may vary significantly depending on your location
JUN 8	21:19	Venus Superior Conjunction	Venus passes behind the Sun and is lost in the Sun's glare.
JUN 10	08:04	First Quarter Moon	Moon rises at noon and sets at midnight
JUN 18	10:30	Full Moon	Moon rises at sunset, sets at sunrise, and is visible all night
JUN 20	06:00	Conjunction	The Moon passes 3° south of Jupiter. Time of closest approach and separation computed for the Earth's center and may vary significantly depending on your location
JUN 26	05:10	Last Quarter Moon	Moon rises at midnight and sets at noon
JUN 28-29	---	Dark Sky Weekend	Best time this month to observe faint objects. Amateur astronomers may hold observing sessions at dark sites
JUL 1	10:54	Mercury Western Elongation	Mercury attains its greatest angular separation from the Sun and is visible low in the east at dawn.
JUL 2	19:19	New Moon	Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun and is invisible. Moon rises at sunrise and sets at sunset
JUL 5-6	---	Dark Sky Weekend	Best time this month to observe faint objects. Amateur astronomers may hold observing sessions at dark sites
JUL 9	00:39	Jupiter Opposition	Jupiter is opposite the Sun with respect to Earth and rises at sunset.
JUL 9	21:35	First Quarter Moon	Moon rises at noon and sets at midnight
JUL 17	05:00	Conjunction	The Moon passes 3° south of Jupiter. Time of closest approach and separation computed for the Earth's center and may vary significantly depending on your location
JUL 18	00:59	Full Moon	Moon rises at sunset, sets at sunrise, and is visible all night
JUL 25	11:42	Last Quarter Moon	Moon rises at midnight and sets at noon
JUL 29	13:04	Mercury Superior Conjunction	Mercury passes behind the Sun and is lost in the Sun's glare.
AUG 1	03:13	New Moon	Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun and is invisible. Moon rises at sunrise and sets at sunset
AUG 2-3	---	Dark Sky Weekend	Best time this month to observe faint objects. Amateur astronomers may hold observing sessions at dark sites
AUG 8	13:20	First Quarter Moon	Moon rises at noon and sets at midnight
AUG 12	00:00-04:40	Perseid Meteor Shower	Observers in dark locations should see several meteors per hour under good conditions. Shower is predicted to peak on AUG 12 at 04:00 PDT (AUG 12 11:00 UTC).
AUG 15	00:43	Neptune Opposition	Neptune is opposite the Sun with respect to Earth and rises at sunset.
AUG 16	14:16	Full Moon	Moon rises at sunset, sets at sunrise, and is visible all night
AUG 22	22:00	Conjunction	Mercury 1.3° south of Venus
AUG 23	16:50	Last Quarter Moon	Moon rises at midnight and sets at noon
AUG 30-31	---	Dark Sky Weekend	Best time this month to observe faint objects. Amateur astronomers may hold observing sessions at dark sites
AUG 30	12:58	New Moon	Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun and is invisible. Moon rises at sunrise and sets at sunset
SEP 3	19:00	Saturn Conjunction	Saturn passes behind the Sun and is lost in the Sun's glare.
SEP 7	07:04	First Quarter Moon	Moon rises at noon and sets at midnight
SEP 10	21:00	Conjunction	Mercury 4° south of Venus
SEP 10	21:32	Mercury Eastern Elongation	Mercury attains its greatest angular separation from the Sun and is visible low in the west at dusk.
SEP 11	13:00	Conjunction	Venud 0.3° north of Mars
SEP 12	22:00	Conjunction	Mercury 3° south of Mars
SEP 12	19:21	Uranus Opposition	Uranus is opposite the Sun with respect to Earth and rises at sunset.
SEP 15	02:13	Full Moon	Moon rises at sunset, sets at sunrise, and is visible all night
SEP 21	22:04	Last Quarter Moon	Moon rises at midnight and sets at noon
SEP 27-28	---	Dark Sky Weekend	Best time this month to observe faint objects. Amateur astronomers may hold observing sessions at dark sites
SEP 29	01:12	New Moon	Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun and is invisible. Moon rises at sunrise and sets at sunset
OCT 6	13:53	Mercury Inferior Conjunction	Mercury passes between the Earth and the Sun and is lost in the Sun's glare.
OCT 7	02:04	First Quarter Moon	Moon rises at noon and sets at midnight
OCT 14	13:02	Full Moon	Moon rises at sunset, sets at sunrise, and is visible all night
OCT 21	04:55	Last Quarter Moon	Moon rises at midnight and sets at noon
OCT 22	02:34	Mercury Western Elongation	Mercury attains its greatest angular separation from the Sun and is visible low in the east at dawn.
OCT 25-26	---	Dark Sky Weekend	Best time this month to observe faint objects. Amateur astronomers may hold observing sessions at dark sites
OCT 28	16:14	New Moon	Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun and is invisible. Moon rises at sunrise and sets at sunset
NOV 2	02:00	Time Change	Standard Time begins. Set clocks back one hour
NOV 5	21:03	First Quarter Moon	Moon rises at noon and sets at midnight
NOV 12	22:17	Full Moon	Moon rises at sunset, sets at sunrise, and is visible all night
NOV 14	20:00	Large Tides	Moon at perigee. Large tides
NOV 17	00:00-05:00	Leonid Meteor Shower	Observers in dark locations should see several meteors per hour under good conditions. Shower is predicted to peak on NOV 17 at 02:00 PST (NOV 17 10:00 UTC).
NOV 19	13:31	Last Quarter Moon	Moon rises at midnight and sets at noon
NOV 25	08:52	Mercury Superior Conjunction	Mercury passes behind the Sun and is lost in the Sun's glare.
NOV 27	08:55	New Moon	Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun and is invisible. Moon rises at sunrise and sets at sunset
NOV 29-30	---	Dark Sky Weekend	Best time this month to observe faint objects. Amateur astronomers may hold observing sessions at dark sites
DEC 5	14:04	Mars Conjunction	Mars passes behind the Sun and is lost in the Sun's glare.
DEC 5	14:26	First Quarter Moon	Moon rises at noon and sets at midnight
NOV 30	16:00	Conjunction	Venus 2° south of Jupiter
DEC 12	08:37	Full Moon	Moon rises at sunset, sets at sunrise, and is visible all night
DEC 12	14:00	Large Tides	Closest lunar perigee in 15 years. Large tides
DEC 13, 14	00:00-05:20	Geminid Meteor Shower	Observers in dark locations should see several meteors per hour under good condition. The shower is predicted to peak on DEC 13 at 15:00 PST (DEC 13 23:00 UTC).
DEC 19	02:29	Last Quarter Moon	Moon rises at midnight and sets at noon
DEC 27	04:22	New Moon	Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun and is invisible. Moon rises at sunrise and sets at sunset
DEC 27-28	---	Dark Sky Weekend	Best time this month to observe faint objects. Amateur astronomers may hold observing sessions at dark sites

Notes

Unless otherwise noted, the visibility of events, times, and other information are computed for downtown Los Angeles. This location is assumed to be at latitude 34° 05' north, longitude 118° 22' west.
All dates and times are given in Pacific Time using 24-hour military time. In military time, midnight corresponds to 00:00, 1 p.m. corresponds to 13:00, and so on. To convert from military time to regular time, go to Military Time.
The above calendar makes no distinction between Pacific Standard Time (PST) and Pacific Daylight Savings Time (PDT). PST is in effect from the first Sunday in November to the second Sunday in March. PDT is in effect from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.
The Pacific Time zone lags UTC by 7 hours when standard time is in effect and by 8 hours during daylight savings time. To convert from PST or PDT to UTC, go to Coordinated Universal Time.
For each month, the Saturday and Sunday closest to the new Moon are identified as a Dark Sky weekend. If the new Moon falls on a Wednesday, the weekends immediately before and after are both identified as a Dark Sky Weekend.
Lunar eclipses are only listed if the Moon will pass deep enough into the Earth's shadow to produce an obvious darkening of the lunar disk. Penumbral lunar eclipses are not listed.
Occultations of stars by the Moon are only listed for the brighter stars.
Only major meteor showers are listed. Less productive meteor showers are listed if there is a real possibility they will have an unusually rich display for the year in question.

Home | Site Map | Search | About | Contact