This document provides a sky event almanac for 2021 listing important astronomical events for each month in Eastern Standard Time, including dates and times for moon phases, planetary alignments and oppositions, meteor showers, and solar and lunar eclipses. It also defines common astronomical terms used such as perihelion, apogee, conjunction, and occultation.

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2021
Sky Event Almanac
Eastern Standard Time
The following table gives the date and time of the important astronomical events for the year. The times listed are for Eastern Standard
Time
(Coordinated Universal Time − 5 hours)
.
This time zone may have different names in different countries. If Daylight Saving Time is in
effect, add one hour to the times listed. A key to astronomical terms appears below the almanac.
2021
Sky Event Almanac
Eastern Standard Time
January - June July - December
Date EST Event
(h:m)
Jan 02 09 Earth at Perihelion: 0.98325 AU
02 16:58 Regulus 4.7°S of Moon
03 10 Quadrantid Meteor Shower
06 04:37 LAST QUARTER MOON
09 10:39 Moon at Perigee: 367390 km
10 15:14 Moon at Descending Node
11 15:12 Venus 1.5°N of Moon
13 00:00 NEW MOON
14 03:15 Mercury 2.3°N of Moon
20 16:02 FIRST QUARTER MOON
21 08:11 Moon at Apogee: 404361 km
23 21 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.6°E
23 21 Saturn in Conjunction with Sun
24 16:47 Moon at Ascending Node
27 10:46 Pollux 3.8°N of Moon
28 14:16 FULL MOON
28 20 Jupiter in Conjunction with Sun
28 21 Mercury at Perihelion
29 23:56 Regulus 4.6°S of Moon
Feb 03 14:33 Moon at Perigee: 370127 km
04 12:37 LAST QUARTER MOON
06 19:29 Moon at Descending Node
08 09 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
10 06:16 Saturn 3.4°N of Moon
11 14:06 NEW MOON
18 05:22 Moon at Apogee: 404467 km
18 17:47 Mars 3.7°N of Moon
19 13:47 FIRST QUARTER MOON
20 00 Venus at Aphelion
20 20:44 Moon at Ascending Node
23 03 Mercury 4.0°N of Saturn
23 20:10 Pollux 3.7°N of Moon
26 09:04 Regulus 4.6°S of Moon
27 03:17 FULL MOON
Mar 02 00:19 Moon at Perigee: 365422 km
03 18:36 Mars 2.6°S of Pleiades
05 00 Mercury 0.3°N of Jupiter
05 19:56 Moon at Descending Node
05 20:30 LAST QUARTER MOON
06 06 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 27.3°W
09 18:02 Saturn 3.7°N of Moon
10 10:35 Jupiter 4.0°N of Moon
10 19 Neptune in Conjunction with Sun
10 20:02 Mercury 3.7°N of Moon
13 05:21 NEW MOON
13 21 Mercury at Aphelion
18 00:04 Moon at Apogee: 405253 km
19 12:48 Mars 1.9°N of Moon
Date EST Event
(h:m)
Jul 01 16:11 LAST QUARTER MOON
04 15 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 21.6°W
05 09:48 Moon at Apogee: 405342 km
05 18 Earth at Aphelion: 1.01673 AU
06 17:41 Moon at Ascending Node
07 23:38 Mercury 3.7°S of Moon
09 20:17 NEW MOON
12 04:10 Venus 3.3°S of Moon
12 05:10 Mars 3.8°S of Moon
12 19 Mars at Aphelion: 1.66596 AU
13 08 Venus 0.5°N of Mars
17 05:11 FIRST QUARTER MOON
20 07:06 Antares 4.7°S of Moon
20 08:22 Moon at Descending Node
21 05:30 Moon at Perigee: 364520 km
21 16:21 Venus 1.0°N of Regulus
23 20 Mercury at Perihelion
23 21:37 FULL MOON
24 11:42 Saturn 3.8°N of Moon
25 20:17 Jupiter 4.2°N of Moon
27 22 Delta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
29 09:09 Mars 0.6°N of Regulus
31 08:16 LAST QUARTER MOON
Aug 01 09 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
02 00 Saturn at Opposition
02 02:35 Moon at Apogee: 404412 km
02 21:51 Moon at Ascending Node
06 14:42 Pollux 3.1°N of Moon
08 08:50 NEW MOON
09 19:42 Mars 4.3°S of Moon
11 02:00 Venus 4.3°S of Moon
12 14 Perseid Meteor Shower
15 10:20 FIRST QUARTER MOON
16 11:04 Moon at Descending Node
16 13:34 Antares 4.5°S of Moon
17 04:23 Moon at Perigee: 369127 km
18 22 Mercury 0.1°S of Mars
19 18 Jupiter at Opposition
20 17:19 Saturn 3.7°N of Moon
21 23:52 Jupiter 4.0°N of Moon
22 07:02 FULL MOON
29 21:22 Moon at Apogee: 404100 km
30 00:13 Moon at Ascending Node
30 02:13 LAST QUARTER MOON
Sep 02 23:04 Pollux 3.0°N of Moon
05 09:32 Venus 1.4°N of Spica
05 19 Mercury at Aphelion
06 19:52 NEW MOON

2. 2021
Sky Event Almanac
Eastern Standard Time
January - June July - December
19 22:31 Moon at Ascending Node
20 04:37 Vernal Equinox
21 09:40 FIRST QUARTER MOON
23 05:26 Pollux 3.5°N of Moon
25 19:17 Regulus 4.7°S of Moon
26 01 Venus at Superior Conjunction
28 13:48 FULL MOON
30 01:12 Moon at Perigee: 360311 km
Apr 01 15:49 Antares 4.9°S of Moon
01 21:41 Moon at Descending Node
04 05:02 LAST QUARTER MOON
06 03:34 Saturn 4.0°N of Moon
07 02:15 Jupiter 4.4°N of Moon
11 21:31 NEW MOON
14 12:47 Moon at Apogee: 406120 km
16 00:53 Moon at Ascending Node
17 07:09 Mars 0.1°N of Moon: Occn.
18 21 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
19 13:18 Pollux 3.2°N of Moon
20 01:59 FIRST QUARTER MOON
22 07 Lyrid Meteor Shower
26 20 Mercury at Perihelion
26 22:31 FULL MOON
27 10:24 Moon at Perigee: 357379 km
29 01:07 Antares 4.8°S of Moon
29 04:17 Moon at Descending Node
30 16 Uranus in Conjunction with Sun
May 03 12:02 Saturn 4.2°N of Moon
03 14:50 LAST QUARTER MOON
03 22:03 Mercury 2.1°S of Pleiades
04 16:00 Jupiter 4.6°N of Moon
04 20 Eta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
11 14:00 NEW MOON
11 16:54 Moon at Apogee: 406512 km
13 05:29 Moon at Ascending Node
13 12:59 Mercury 2.1°N of Moon
15 23:47 Mars 1.5°S of Moon
16 19:39 Pollux 3.1°N of Moon
17 01 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 22.0°E
19 14:13 FIRST QUARTER MOON
25 20:52 Moon at Perigee: 357310 km
26 06:14 FULL MOON
26 06:19 Total Lunar Eclipse; mag=1.009
26 11:55 Antares 4.8°S of Moon
26 14:38 Moon at Descending Node
28 22 Mercury 0.4°S of Venus
30 20:22 Saturn 4.2°N of Moon
Jun 01 03:57 Jupiter 4.6°N of Moon
02 02:24 LAST QUARTER MOON
07 21:27 Moon at Apogee: 406230 km
09 11:42 Moon at Ascending Node
10 05:42 Annular Solar Eclipse; mag=0.943
10 05:53 NEW MOON
10 20 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
12 01:44 Venus 1.5°S of Moon
12 08 Venus at Perihelion
13 01:19 Pollux 3.1°N of Moon
13 14:52 Mars 2.8°S of Moon
17 22:54 FIRST QUARTER MOON
20 22:32 Summer Solstice
22 22:26 Antares 4.8°S of Moon
23 01:07 Moon at Descending Node
23 04:58 Moon at Perigee: 359960 km
24 13:40 FULL MOON
27 04:30 Saturn 4.0°N of Moon
28 13:38 Jupiter 4.5°N of Moon
09 21:09 Venus 4.1°S of Moon
11 05:05 Moon at Perigee: 368464 km
12 11:35 Moon at Descending Node
12 18:59 Antares 4.2°S of Moon
13 15:39 FIRST QUARTER MOON
13 23 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 26.8°E
14 03 Neptune at Opposition
16 21:37 Saturn 3.8°N of Moon
18 01:50 Jupiter 4.0°N of Moon
20 18:55 FULL MOON
20 21:00 Mercury 1.2°S of Spica
22 14:21 Autumnal Equinox
26 02:33 Moon at Ascending Node
26 16:44 Moon at Apogee: 404641 km
28 20:57 LAST QUARTER MOON
30 07:44 Pollux 2.8°N of Moon
Oct 02 17 Venus at Aphelion
06 06:05 NEW MOON
07 23 Mars in Conjunction with Sun
08 12:28 Moon at Perigee: 363388 km
09 11 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
09 13:36 Venus 2.9°S of Moon
09 14:35 Moon at Descending Node
10 01:27 Antares 4.0°S of Moon
12 22:25 FIRST QUARTER MOON
14 02:12 Saturn 3.9°N of Moon
15 04:58 Jupiter 4.1°N of Moon
16 08:24 Venus 1.4°N of Antares
19 19 Mercury at Perihelion
20 09:57 FULL MOON
21 06 Orionid Meteor Shower
23 00:45 Pleiades 4.5°N of Moon
23 06:47 Moon at Ascending Node
24 10:30 Moon at Apogee: 405616 km
25 00 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 18.4°W
27 15:40 Pollux 2.6°N of Moon
28 15:05 LAST QUARTER MOON
29 17 Venus at Greatest Elong: 47.0°E
Nov 01 20:18 Mercury 3.7°N of Spica
03 13:40 Mercury 1.2°S of Moon: Occn.
04 16:15 NEW MOON
04 19 Uranus at Opposition
05 07 S Taurid Meteor Shower
05 17:23 Moon at Perigee: 358845 km
05 22:38 Moon at Descending Node
06 10:29 Antares 3.9°S of Moon
08 00:21 Venus 1.1°S of Moon: Occn.
10 09:27 Saturn 4.1°N of Moon
11 07:46 FIRST QUARTER MOON
11 12:13 Jupiter 4.4°N of Moon
12 06 N Taurid Meteor Shower
17 13 Leonid Meteor Shower
19 03:58 FULL MOON
19 04:03 Partial Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.974
19 07:21 Pleiades 4.5°N of Moon
19 12:59 Moon at Ascending Node
20 21:14 Moon at Apogee: 406276 km
23 22:22 Pollux 2.5°N of Moon
27 07:28 LAST QUARTER MOON
29 00 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
Dec 02 19:28 Mars 0.7°S of Moon: Occn.
03 09:58 Moon at Descending Node
04 02:33 Total Solar Eclipse; mag=1.037
04 02:43 NEW MOON
04 05:01 Moon at Perigee: 356794 km
06 19:48 Venus 1.9°N of Moon
07 20:52 Saturn 4.2°N of Moon
09 01:07 Jupiter 4.5°N of Moon
10 20:36 FIRST QUARTER MOON
14 02 Geminid Meteor Shower
16 13:30 Pleiades 4.5°N of Moon

3. 2021
Sky Event Almanac
Eastern Standard Time
January - June July - December
16 19:12 Moon at Ascending Node
17 21:16 Moon at Apogee: 406322 km
18 23:36 FULL MOON
21 04:20 Pollux 2.6°N of Moon
21 10:59 Winter Solstice
22 10 Ursid Meteor Shower
26 21:24 LAST QUARTER MOON
27 04:15 Mars 4.4°N of Antares
29 00 Mercury 4.2°S of Venus
30 20:07 Moon at Descending Node
31 08:54 Antares 3.9°S of Moon
31 15:13 Mars 1.0°N of Moon: Occn.
Terms Used in Sky Event Almanac
Perihelion - instant when a planet is closest to the Sun
Aphelion - instant when a planet is furthest from the Sun
Perigee - instant when the Moon is closest to Earth
Apogee - instant when the Moon is furthest from Earth
Inferior Conjunction - instant when a planet (Mercury or Venus) passes between Earth and the Sun
Superior Conjunction - instant when a planet (Mercury or Venus) passes on the opposite side of the Sun from Earth
Greatest Elongation - the maximum angular separation between the Sun and the planet (Mercury or Venus) as seen from Earth
- during eastern elongation (E), the planet appears as an evening star;
- during western elongation (W), the planet appears as a morning star
Opposition - instant when a planet appears opposite the Sun as seen from Earth
Conjunction - instant when a planet appears closest the Sun as seen from Earth
Occultation - the Moon occults or eclipses a star or planet
Ascending Node - point where the Moon crosses from the southern to northern portion of its orbit
Descending Node - point where the Moon crosses from the northern to the southern portion of its orbit
Aldebaran - bright star in the constellation Taurus
Pollux - bright star in the constellation Gemini
Regulus - bright star in the constellation Leo
Spica - bright star in the constellation Virgo
Antares - bright star in the constellation Scorpius
Pleiades - bright star cluster in the constellation Taurus
2021
Phases of the Moon
Eastern Standard Time
The following table gives the date and time of the Moon's phases for the year. The times listed are for Eastern Standard Time
(Coordinated
Universal Time − 5 hours)
. This time zone may have different names in different countries. If Daylight Saving Time is in effect, add one
hour to the times listed.
2021 Phases of the Moon
Eastern Standard Time
New Moon First Quarter Full Moon Last Quarter
- - - Jan 06 04:37
Jan 13 00:00 Jan 20 16:02 Jan 28 14:16 Feb 04 12:37
Feb 11 14:06 Feb 19 13:47 Feb 27 03:17 Mar 05 20:30
Mar 13 05:21 Mar 21 09:40 Mar 28 13:48 Apr 04 05:02
Apr 11 21:31 Apr 20 01:59 Apr 26 22:31 May 03 14:50
May 11 14:00 May 19 14:13 May 26 06:14 t Jun 02 02:24
Jun 10 05:53 A Jun 17 22:54 Jun 24 13:40 Jul 01 16:11
Jul 09 20:17 Jul 17 05:11 Jul 23 21:37 Jul 31 08:16
Aug 08 08:50 Aug 15 10:20 Aug 22 07:02 Aug 30 02:13
Sep 06 19:52 Sep 13 15:39 Sep 20 18:55 Sep 28 20:57
Oct 06 06:05 Oct 12 22:25 Oct 20 09:57 Oct 28 15:05

4. 2021 Phases of the Moon
Eastern Standard Time
New Moon First Quarter Full Moon Last Quarter
Nov 04 16:15 Nov 11 07:46 Nov 19 03:58 p Nov 27 07:28
Dec 04 02:43 T Dec 10 20:36 Dec 18 23:36 Dec 26 21:24
For a collection of images showing the Moon's phases see: Phases of the Moon Photo Gallery.
The Phases of the Moon table also shows when an eclipse takes place. An eclipse of the Sun can only occur at New Moon (see: Solar
Eclipses for Beginners), while an eclipse of the Moon can only occur at Full Moon (see: Lunar Eclipses for Beginners). In any calendar year
there are a minimum of two solar and two lunar eclipses.
If an eclipse of the Sun or Moon takes place on a given date, it is noted by a character next to the date in the Phases of the Moon table.
Solar eclipses are indicated as: T=Total, A=Annular, H=Hybrid and P=Partial.
Lunar eclipses are indicated as: t=Total, p=Partial, and
n=Penumbral.
Solar Eclipses
The following table contains links to a series of web pages covering the 21st Century. Each one summarizes ten years of solar eclipses.
Every eclipse has links to a global visibility map, an interactive Google map, tables, and additional information.
Decade Pages of Solar Eclipses
Decades
2001-2010 2011-2020 2021-2030 2031-2040 2041-2050
2051-2060 2061-2070 2071-2080 2081-2090 2091-2100
Lunar Eclipses
The following table contains links to a series of web pages covering the 21st Century. Each one summarizes ten years of lunar eclipses.
Every eclipse has links to an eclipse diagram, a global visibility map, tables, and additional information.
Decade Pages of Lunar Eclipses
Decades
2001-2010 2011-2020 2021-2030 2031-2040 2041-2050
2051-2060 2061-2070 2071-2080 2081-2090 2091-2100
Sky Event Almanacs: 2021 to 2030
The Americas
Below are links to sky event almanacs from 2021 to 2030 for eight time zones in the Americas.
Choose a time zone and click on a year to get a sky event almanac for that year.
Sky Event Almanacs - The Americas
ART 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
AST 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
EST 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
CST 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
MST 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
PST 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
AKST 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
HST 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
Time Zones Abbreviations
ART = Argentina Time (= UTC - 3 hours)
AST = Atlantic Standard Time (= UTC - 4 hours)
EST = Eastern Standard Time (= UTC - 5 hours)
CST = Central Standard Time (= UTC - 6 hours)
MST = Mountain Standard Time (= UTC - 7 hours)
PST = Pacific Standard Time (= UTC - 8 hours)
AKST = Alaskan Standard Time (= UTC - 9 hours)

5. HST = Hawaiian Standard Time (= UTC - 10 hours)
(where UTC = Coordinated Universal Time)
A time zone may have a different name in different countries. Note the difference in hours between a given time zone and Coordinated
Universal Time to help in identification.
For other years and other time zones, visit: Sky Event Almanacs.
Accuracy of the Sky Event Almanacs
The goal of the Sky Event Almanacs is to present a wide range of solar system phenomena with reasonable accuracy. In general, events
listed to the nearest hour are accurate to ± 30 minutes.
Events listed with a precision in hours and minutes (i.e., hh:mm) are typically
accurate to ± 5 minutes or less.
The following table gives a more detailed breakdown of the accuracy of times for various astronomical events.
Accuracy of the Sky Event Almanacs
Solstice/Equinox (Earth) ± 0.5 minute
Aphelion/Perihelion (Earth) ± 30 minutes; ± 0.00001 AU
Solar and Lunar Eclipses ± 0.5 minute
Phases of the Moon ± 0.5 minute
Moon at Nodes ± 2 minutes
Apogee/Perigee of Moon ± 5 minutes; ± 5 kilometers
Conjunctions of Moon with Star or Planet ± 10 minutes
Conjunctions of Planet with Planet ± 3 hours
Inferior/Superior Conjunctions (Mercury & Venus) ± 30 minutes
Greatest Elongation (Mercury & Venus) ± 30 minutes
Opposition/Conjunction (Outer Planets) ± 3 hours
Aphelion/Perihelion of Planets ± 30 minutes
Fifty Year Almanac of Astronomical Events - 2021 to 2070
For more information and sample pages, see Fifty Year Almanac of Astronomical Events - 2021 To 2070.

6. Acknowledgements
All calculations are by Fred Espenak and he assumes full responsibility for their accuracy. Algorithms used in predicting many of the
astronomical events are based on Astronomical Algorithms by Jean Meeus (Willmann-Bell Inc. Richmond 1998).
Permission is freely granted to reproduce this data when accompanied by the acknowledgment:
"Sky Event Almanacs Courtesy of Fred Espenak, www.AstroPixels.com".
Return to: Sky Event Almanacs
Return to: Planetary Ephemeris Data
Useful External Links
Interactive Sky Chart (Sky and Telescope)
Sky Maps (sky-map.org)
Astronomical Almanac (Sky and Telescope)
Weather Forecast for Astronomy (Clear Outside)
GOES-East Images (NOAA-GOES)
Astronomy Tools (Astronomy Tools)
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Last Updated: 2021 Jan 26