2008

2008 Sunrise and Sunset for CANADA/EDMONTON

2008 Moonrise and Moonset for CANADA/EDMONTON

2008 Astronomical Highlights

 January  |  February  |  March  |  April  |  May  |  June  |   July 
 August  |  September  |  October  |  November  |  December

January

The Visible Planets  

Venus continues to shine brightly to the east before sunrise.  It will remain in the eastern morning sky until mid-May.  

Mercury becomes visible low in the southwest immediately after sunset during the middle of the month and will only be visible for a short period of time.    

Mars is found shining high in the east after sunset in the constellation of Taurus, the bull.  It has just passed opposition and its closest distance to the Earth on December 24^th.  

Jupiter comes into view, low in the southeast, shortly before sunrise by the end of the month.  It is located in the constellation of Sagittarius, the archer.  

Saturn rises about two hours after sunset in the east-northeast and is visible all night long.  It is located within the constellation of Leo, the lion.  

Moon Phases

New Moon      January 8
First Quarter   January 15
Full Moon        January 22
Last Quarter   January 29  

Special Events

January 2          Earth at perihelion (closest to the Sun this year), 147 096 448 km
January 2          Space Shuttle STS-122 earliest launch date 
January 3/4       Quadrantid Meteor Shower Peaks
January 8          Cosmologist Stephen Hawking’s 66^th Birthday
January 18        Moon 0.8 degrees North of the Pleiades star cluster
January 22        Mercury at greatest elongation east (19 degrees)
January 31        50^th Anniversary of the U.S. Explorer 1 (first U.S. Satellite)  

February 

The Visible Planets  

Mercury starts the month very low in the southwest sky immediately after sunset and will be difficult to see.  By midmonth Mercury will have moved into our morning sky and will be found just above the bright planet Venus, low in the southeast, before sunrise on February 29. 

Venus is the brightest object seen in the east-southeast sky at sunrise.  It will remain in our predawn sky until the end of April when it disappears into the glow of the rising Sun.  

Mars is found high in the sky in the constellation of Taurus, the bull, at sunset.  Telescopic views of Mars will become poor this month as the distance between Mars and the Earth increases quickly.  

Jupiter can be seen very low to the southeast just prior to sunrise.  Look for the brighter planet Venus near it on the morning of February 1.  

Saturn rises shortly after sunset in the northeast and can be found all night long within the constellation of Leo, the lion.  

Moon Phases

February 6       New Moon
February 13     First Quarter Moon
February 20     Full Moon (the Snow Moon)
February 28     Last Quarter Moon  

Special Events

February 1       Venus close to Jupiter in the morning sky
February 6       Annular solar eclipse (only visible from Antarctica )
February 7       Chinese New Year
February 11     Royal Astronomical Society of Canada ( Edmonton Centre) Meeting
                         7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. in the Margaret Zeidler Star Theatre
                         TELUS World of Science
February 14     Valentines Day
February 14     Space Shuttle STS-123 launch (tentative)

February 20     Total Lunar Eclipse (visible from all of North America  
                          and South America )

                        Details for Edmonton (Moonrise at  5:41 p.m. MST )
 
                        Penumbral eclipse begins                5:36 p.m. MST
                        Umbral eclipse begins                      6:43 p.m. MST
                        Total eclipse begins                          8:01 p.m. MST
                        Mid-eclipse                                        8:27 p.m. MST
                        Total eclipse ends                             8:50 p.m. MST
                        Partial eclipse ends                         10:08 p.m. MST
                        Penumbral eclipse ends                  11:15 p.m. MST

(The TELUS World of Science Edmonton’s Observatory will be open for this event, weather permitting)

Lunar Eclipse of February 20, 2008

February 24     Saturn at opposition

March

The Visible Planets  

Mercury is found very low to the southeast at sunset during the first week of March.  It can found just above the brighter planet, Venus.  

Venus is the brightest object seen in the southeast at sunrise.  It will remain in our predawn eastern sky until early April when it disappears into the glow of the rising Sun.  

Mars still shines high in the sky during the early evening hours and will move from the constellation of Taurus, the bull, into the constellation of Gemini, the twins, on March 5.  Mars will also continue to fade in brightness as the Earth/Mars distance increases.  

Jupiter is found very low to the southeast before sunrise.  Jupiter rises before Venus, but Venus outshines Jupiter in our eastern predawn sky.  

Saturn is visible all night long, from sunset to sunrise.  It is found in the constellation of Leo, the lion, just to the east of the bright star of Leo, Regulus.  

Moon Phases

March 7           New Moon
March 14         First Quarter Moon
March 21         Full Moon (the Worm Moon)
March 29         Last Quarter Moon  

Special Events

March 9           Daylight Saving Time begins (add one hour of time at 2:00 a.m. )
March 10         Royal Astronomical Society of Canada ( Edmonton Centre) Meeting
                         7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. in the Margaret Zeidler Star Theatre
                         TELUS World of Science
March 19         Spring Equinox occurs at 11:49 p.m. MDT
March 21         Good Friday
March 23         Easter Sunday

April  

The Visible Planets  

Mercury will become visible in the northwest sky just after sunset by the end of the month. 

Venus is found very low to the east, just prior to sunrise.  It will slowly disappear into the glare of the rising Sun by the middle of the month.  

Mars can be found high in the sky in the constellation of Gemini, the twins, during the early evening hours.  It sets off to the northwest around 4:00 a.m.  

Jupiter rises around 4:00 a.m. in the southeast during the month of April and is located in the constellation of Sagittarius, the archer.  Look for the Moon below Jupiter on the morning of April 27.  

Saturn is found in close proximity to the bright star, Regulus, of the constellation of Leo, the lion, during the month of April.  Look for Saturn and the constellation of Leo about half way up the southern sky at sunset.    

Moon Phases  

April 5              New Moon
April 12            First Quarter Moon
April 20            Full Moon (the Pink Moon)
April 28            Last Quarter Moon  

Special Events

April 8              Moon occults part of the Pleiades star cluster (early evening)
April 11            Moon and Mars conjunction
April 14            Royal Astronomical Society of Canada ( Edmonton Centre) Meeting
                        7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. in the Margaret Zeidler Star Theatre
                         TELUS World of Science
April 21            Lyrid meteors peak
April 22            Earth Day (Earth week April 19 – April 27)
April 24            Space Shuttle STS-124 launch (tentative)

May

The Visible Planets  

Mercury can be seen with some difficulty low in the northwest just after sunset from early May to June 1.  On May 6^th, look for the Mercury just below the slim crescent waxing Moon.  This is the best opportunity to view Mercury this year. 

Venus cannot be seen this month.  It is too close to the Sun.  

Mars moves from the constellation of Gemini, the twins, into the constellation of Cancer, the crab, this month.  It can be found about 45 degrees above the northwest horizon in the early evening.  On the nights of May 21^st, 22^nd and 23^rd, individuals using binoculars or a telescope can watch Mars move through the beehive star cluster (M44).    

Jupiter rises in the east-southeast in the early morning hours and is found fairly low in the south by sunrise.  

Saturn is found near the bright star Regulus, of the constellation of Leo, all month long.  Look for Saturn about 45 degrees above the southern horizon at sunset.  The Moon will be near Saturn on the evenings of May 11th and 12th.  

Moon Phases

May 5              New Moon
May 11            First Quarter Moon
May 20            Full Moon (the Flower Moon)
May 27            Last Quarter Moon  

Special Events

May 2              Space Day
May 5              International Astronomy Week begins (May 5 through May 11)
May 10            International Astronomy Day
May 11            Mother’s Day
May 12            Royal Astronomical Society of Canada ( Edmonton Centre) Meeting
                        7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. in the Margaret Zeidler Star Theatre
                        TELUS World of Science

May 19            Victoria Day
May 21            Mars within Beehive cluster (M44)
May 25            Mars Phoenix spacecraft lands on Mars (Canadian involvement)!  This is the first mission set to explore the polar region of Mars.

June  

The Visible Planets  

Mercury will become visible by the end of the month, low toward the northeast before sunrise.

Venus is not visible this month as it will be at superior conjunction (immediately behind the Sun) on June 9^th.  

Mars is now found low in the west at sunset.  It moves from the faint zodiac constellation of Cancer, the crab, into the zodiac constellation of Leo, the lion, on June 10^th.  Look for the crescent Moon near Mars on the evening of June 7^th.  

Jupiter rises around midnight in the southeast and is visible till dawn low in the southern sky.  Jupiter remains within the constellation of Sagittarius, the archer.  Look for Jupiter above the waning gibbous Moon on the morning of June 20^th.  

Saturn remains visible to the west at sunset, in the constellation of Leo, the lion.  Look for the Moon near Saturn on the evening of June 8^th.  

Moon Phases

June 3              New Moon
June 10            First Quarter Moon
June 18            Full Moon (the Strawberry Moon)
June 26            Last Quarter Moon  

Special Events

June 9              Royal Astronomical Society of Canada ( Edmonton Centre) Meeting
                          7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. in the Margaret Zeidler Star Theatre
                          TELUS World of Science
June 9              Venus in superior conjunction
June 15            Father’s Day
June 20            Summer Solstice begins at 6:00 p.m. MDT
June 30            Tunguska Event in Siberia occurred 100 years ago

July  

The Visible Planets  

Mercury will be seen in our early morning sky toward the northeast until July 20, after which it becomes lost in the glare of the rising Sun.  

Venus begins to slowly emerge out of the setting Sun’s glare at the start of the month, to return to our early evening sky for the rest of the year.  

Mars is visible low to the west after sunset during the month.  Look for a close conjunction of the planet Mars with the planet Saturn on the evenings of July 9^th to 12^th .  

Jupiter is found at opposition on July 9^th and consequently will rise at sunset and set at sunrise.  Jupiter is the brightest object seen in the south throughout the night.  

Saturn is found low to the west at sunset but by the end of the month it will become lost in the glare of the setting Sun. 

Moon Phases          

July 2               New Moon
July 9               First Quarter Moon
July 18             Full Moon (the Buck Moon)
July 25             Last Quarter Moon  

Special Events

July 1   Canada Day
July 4   Earth at aphelion (152,104,200 km from the Sun)
July 9   Jupiter at opposition

August  

The Visible Planets  

Mercury becomes visible, with some difficulty, in the west after sunset by the middle of the month.  Look for Mercury near the bright planet Venus during this time. 

Venus begins to gain elevation and becomes the bright beacon in our western early evening sky.  

Mars is found very low in the west at sunset and is now located in the zodiac constellation of Virgo, the maiden.  By the end of the month, Mars slowly disappears into the Sun’s glare.  

Jupiter is found low in the southeast sky at sunset and will be visible most of the night.  

Saturn is visible low in the west during early part of August.  Thereafter, it becomes lost in the glare of the setting Sun.   

Moon Phases

August 1           New Moon
August 8           First Quarter Moon
August 16         Full Moon (the Sturgeon Moon)
August 23         Last Quarter Moon
August 30         New Moon  

Special Events

August 1           Total Solar eclipse visible from parts of arctic Canada , Greenland ,
                           Russia , Mongolia and China .
August 2-10     Mount Kobau Star Party, Osoyoos, B.C.
August 4           Civic holiday
August 7           Space Shuttle STS-125 launch (tentative)
August 12/13    Perseid meteor shower peaks
August 15         Neptune at opposition
August 16         Partial lunar eclipse (not visible from North America )
August 28-31   Saskatchewan Star Party at Cypress Hills

September  

The Visible Planets

Mercury can be seen very low to the west shortly after sunset at the beginning of the month.  Look for a nice grouping of the slim crescent Moon with the planets Mercury, Mars and Venus low in the west at sunset on September 2^nd.  

Venus can be seen shining brightly very low in the west after sunset.  It will be the brightest object visible in the western sky after sunset.  

Mars sinks lower to the west in the early evening sky, appearing near the bright planet Venus during the early part of the month.  

Jupiter remains visible very low in south at sunset in the constellation of Sagittarius, the archer, and sets in the southwest around midnight .  

Saturn is not visible during the early part of the month, as it is in conjunction with the Sun on September 4^th.  It returns to our early morning eastern sky by the end of the month.  

Moon Phases

September 7     First Quarter Moon
September 15   Full Moon (the Harvest Moon)
September 21   Last Quarter Moon
September 29   New Moon  

Special Events

September 1     Labour Day holiday
September 1     First day of Ramadan
September 2-7 Northern Prairie Starfest, near Tofield , AB
September 3     Saturn in conjunction with the Sun
September 8     Royal Astronomical Society of Canada ( Edmonton Centre) Meeting
                           7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. in the Margaret Zeidler Star Theatre
                           TELUS World of Science
September 13   Uranus at opposition
September 18   Space Shuttle STS-126 launch (tentative)
September 12   Uranus at opposition
September 23   Autumnal Equinox occurs at 9:45 a.m. MDT

October  

The Visible Planets  

Mercury quickly emerges into our eastern morning sky after October 11, making its best morning appearance for northern observers this year.  It will remain visible in our eastern predawn sky until the second week of November.  Look for the waning crescent Moon below Mercury on the morning of October 27.  

Venus is found shining brightly, low to the west immediately after sunset.  The slim crescent Moon can be found south of Venus on October 2^nd. 

Mars is lost in the glare of the Sun and will not be visible this month.  

Jupiter is the bright object seen low in the south at sunset and sets around 11:00 p.m. in the west-southwest.  

Saturn can be found rising in the east-northeast in early morning hours and is well up in the east at sunrise.  Saturn is located in the constellation of Leo, the lion.  On the morning of October 25^th you can see the waning crescent Moon just below Saturn.  

Moon Phases

October 7        First Quarter Moon
October 14      Full Moon (The Hunter’s Moon)
October 21      Last Quarter Moon
October 28      New Moon  

Special Events

October 1        NASA’s 50^th Birthday (formed in 1958)
October 13      Thanksgiving Day
October 17      Moon occults Pleiades (between 3:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. MDT )
October 20      Royal Astronomical Society of Canada ( Edmonton Centre) Meeting
                         7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. in the Margaret Zeidler Star Theatre
                         TELUS World of Science
October 20      Orionid meteor shower peaks
October 31      Hallowe’en

November  

The Visible Planets  

Mercury is visible to the east-southeast in the morning sky before sunrise for the first week of November.

Venus continues to be the brightest planet in our early evening sky, shining brightly low in the southwest after sunset.  On the evening of November 30^th and December 1^st look for Venus near the planet Jupiter and the waxing crescent Moon.   

Mars is not visible this month as it will be in conjunction with the Sun 
on December 5^th.  

Jupiter can be seen low to the south-southwest at sunset within the constellation of Sagittarius, the archer.  On the evening of November 3^rd look for the Jupiter just above the waxing crescent Moon.  

Saturn rises in the northeast around 2:00 a.m. local time and is found about 45 degrees above the southeast horizon at sunrise.  Saturn remains situated within the zodiac constellation of Leo, the lion.  

Moon Phases

November 5     First Quarter Moon
November 12   Full Moon (the Beaver Moon)
November 19   Last Quarter Moon
November 27   New Moon  

Special Events

November 2     Daylight Saving Time ends.  Turn clocks back 1 hour.
November 4     South Taurid meteor shower
November 10   Royal Astronomical Society of Canada ( Edmonton Centre) Meeting
                           7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. in the Margaret Zeidler Star Theatre
                           TELUS World of Science
November 11   Remembrance Day
November 11   North Taurid meteor shower
November 17   Leonid meteor shower peaks in the predawn hours
November 30   Jupiter/Venus conjunction in the southwest after sunset

December  

The Visible Planets  

Mercury will become visible low in the southwest sky shortly after sunset on December 22^nd.  Look for it in the southwest near the brighter planet Jupiter shortly after sunset on December 30^th and 31^st.  

Venus continues to shine brightly in the southwest sky at sunset.  Look for a nice grouping of the planets Venus and Jupiter with the waxing crescent Moon in the early evening hours of December 1^st.   As the month progresses, watch Venus gain elevation in our early evening sky.  

Mars is not visible this month as it is in conjunction (behind the Sun) 
on December 5^th.

Jupiter begins the month still visible low to the south-southwest at sunset, but it slowly disappears into the glare of the setting Sun by the end of the month.  

Saturn is located in the constellation of Leo, the lion, and rises shortly after midnight along the east-northeast horizon during the month.  It stands high in the south by sunrise and can be found in between two bright stars, Regulus, of the constellation of Leo, and Spica, of the constellation of Virgo.  

Moon Phases

December 5     First Quarter Moon
December 12   Full Moon (the Cold Moon)
December 19   Last Quarter Moon
December 27   New Moon  

Special Events

December 1     Conjunction of the crescent Moon, Venus and Jupiter in the southwest 
                           after sunset
December 5     Mars in conjunction with the Sun
December 8     Royal Astronomical Society of Canada ( Edmonton Centre) Meeting
                          7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. in the Margaret Zeidler Star Theatre
                          TELUS World of Science
December 11   Moon occults the Pleiades ( 2 a.m. )
December 12   Largest Full Moon of 2008 (closest lunar perigee 356 566 km)
December 13   Geminid Meteor Shower peaks
December 21   Winter Solstice occurs at 5:04 a.m. MST
December 25   Christmas Day
December 26   Farthest lunar apogee (Earth/Moon distance) of 2008 (406 601 km)