A year of reasons to look up
Your sky calendar.
Moon phases, changing seasons and astronomical events, connected to the sky in Cape Town.
Times use Africa/Johannesburg, including clock changes. Meteor periods are estimates; other milestones are calculated instants.
moon · calculated
Full Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →planet · calculated
Jupiter at opposition
The planet is opposite the Sun in our sky, marking a useful observing season. Its exact position and local viewing window still matter.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
Last quarter Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
New Moon
A useful marker for planning darker nights; check the Moon’s rise and set times on your observing night.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
First quarter Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
Full Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
Last quarter Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
New Moon
A useful marker for planning darker nights; check the Moon’s rise and set times on your observing night.
Understand this event →eclipse · calculated
partial solar eclipse
Local eclipse circumstances. Use certified solar viewing equipment; ordinary sunglasses and unfiltered cameras or telescopes are unsafe. Check whether the Sun is above the horizon during the phase you plan to observe.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
First quarter Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
Full Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
Last quarter Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
New Moon
A useful marker for planning darker nights; check the Moon’s rise and set times on your observing night.
Understand this event →season · calculated
March equinox
An astronomical season milestone. Seasons are opposite in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
First quarter Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
Full Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
Last quarter Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
New Moon
A useful marker for planning darker nights; check the Moon’s rise and set times on your observing night.
Understand this event →meteor · seasonal estimate
Lyrids · typical peak period
Typical annual timing; the actual maximum varies by year. Look on several nearby nights under dark, clear skies. Check Moon times and seek darker surroundings. Radiant visibility depends on latitude.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
First quarter Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
Full Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →meteor · seasonal estimate
Eta Aquariids · typical peak period
Typical annual timing; the actual maximum varies by year. Look on several nearby nights under dark, clear skies. Bright moonlight may hide fainter meteors. Radiant visibility depends on latitude.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
Last quarter Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
New Moon
A useful marker for planning darker nights; check the Moon’s rise and set times on your observing night.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
First quarter Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
Full Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
Last quarter Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
New Moon
A useful marker for planning darker nights; check the Moon’s rise and set times on your observing night.
Understand this event →season · calculated
June solstice
An astronomical season milestone. Seasons are opposite in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
First quarter Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
Full Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
Last quarter Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
New Moon
A useful marker for planning darker nights; check the Moon’s rise and set times on your observing night.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
First quarter Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
Full Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
Last quarter Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →meteor · seasonal estimate
Perseids · typical peak period
Typical annual timing; the actual maximum varies by year. Look on several nearby nights under dark, clear skies. Check Moon times and seek darker surroundings. Radiant visibility depends on latitude.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
New Moon
A useful marker for planning darker nights; check the Moon’s rise and set times on your observing night.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
First quarter Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →eclipse · calculated
partial lunar eclipse
Part of the eclipse is above a level horizon here. The Moon is above your horizon at maximum. Weather and terrain still matter.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
Full Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
Last quarter Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
New Moon
A useful marker for planning darker nights; check the Moon’s rise and set times on your observing night.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
First quarter Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →season · calculated
September equinox
An astronomical season milestone. Seasons are opposite in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
Full Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
Last quarter Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →planet · calculated
Saturn at opposition
The planet is opposite the Sun in our sky, marking a useful observing season. Its exact position and local viewing window still matter.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
New Moon
A useful marker for planning darker nights; check the Moon’s rise and set times on your observing night.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
First quarter Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →meteor · seasonal estimate
Orionids · typical peak period
Typical annual timing; the actual maximum varies by year. Look on several nearby nights under dark, clear skies. Bright moonlight may hide fainter meteors. Radiant visibility depends on latitude.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
Full Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
Last quarter Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
New Moon
A useful marker for planning darker nights; check the Moon’s rise and set times on your observing night.
Understand this event →meteor · seasonal estimate
Leonids · typical peak period
Typical annual timing; the actual maximum varies by year. Look on several nearby nights under dark, clear skies. Check Moon times and seek darker surroundings. Radiant visibility depends on latitude.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
First quarter Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
Full Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
Last quarter Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
New Moon
A useful marker for planning darker nights; check the Moon’s rise and set times on your observing night.
Understand this event →meteor · seasonal estimate
Geminids · typical peak period
Typical annual timing; the actual maximum varies by year. Look on several nearby nights under dark, clear skies. Check Moon times and seek darker surroundings. Radiant visibility depends on latitude.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
First quarter Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →season · calculated
December solstice
An astronomical season milestone. Seasons are opposite in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
Full Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →moon · calculated
Last quarter Moon
The phase occurs at this instant worldwide. Local Moon visibility depends on its height and the time of day.
Understand this event →