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Astronomy wall calendar
2018 Sun, Moon, planets, star clusters, nebulae, galaxies, meteor showers, comets, star par�es, and special events to celebrate.
© 2017 Centre for Astronomical Heritage NPC 2016/295672/08 January 2018
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31 1 2 3 4
Moon: The Full Moon on the 2nd is the largest Full Moon during 2018. The Full Moon on the 31st is a Blue Moon. Planets: Mercury is well placed for observing in the morning sky early in the month, being at greatest western elongation on the 1st. Venus is too near the Sun to be seen. Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are visible after midnight until daybreak. Uranus and Neptune are early-evening objects. During January, Mars lies near Jupiter, closest on the 7th. The pair are joined by the crescent Moon on the 11th. Mercury lies near Saturn and are at appulse on the 13th. Celebrations: International Outer Space Day is celebrated on the 27th. Photo: NGC 1097 in Fornax is in the evening sky from late October to late February. Image by Leslie Rose. February 2018
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
29 30 31 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 1 2 3 4
Moon: There are only three lunar phases this month. The Lunar X formation is visible during the evening of the 22nd. Planets: Mercury, at superior conjunction on the 17th, may be seen at dawn early in the month and at dusk at month-end, but will be very near the Sun and challenging to see. Near the end of the month, Venus shines as the brilliant Evening Star very low in the west soon after sunset. Mars and Jupiter are visible from late night until dawn. Saturn rises in the morning and can be seen until daybreak. Uranus is an early-evening target this month, while Neptune is only visible at dusk very early in February (conjunction is on March 4th). Photo: The Moon as imaged by Oleg Toumilovich. March 2018
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
26 27 28 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31 1
Moon: There are five lunar phases this month. The Full Moon on the 31st is a Blue Moon. Planets: Mercury is visible for most of March low in the west soon after sunset, making its least-favourable dusk appearance for the year (greatest eastern elongation is on the 15th). It is outshone by Venus which is the bright Evening Star very low in the west. Mars and Saturn are visible from late-night until daybreak, while Jupiter rises early in the evening and remains visible until dawn. Events: SAAO History Symposium (7th & 8th at SAAO in Cape Town), 11th ASSA Symposium (9th to 11th at SAAO, Cape Town), and the 15th Southern Star Party (14th to 19th). Celebrations: World Meteorological Day (23rd) and Earth Hour (24th). Photo: Solar activity on the Sun’s limb during the partial solar eclipse of 2016 September. Image by Brett du Preez. April 2018
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
26 27 28 29 30 31 1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 1 2 3 4 5 6
Moon: The Lunar X formation is visible during the night of the 22nd. Planets: Mercury is at inferior conjunction on the 1st but soon becomes visible in the morning sky. It makes its best dawn appearance for the year this month and is a prominent Morning Star by mid-month. It is at greatest western elongation (27°) on the 29th. Venus shines brightly as Evening Star. Mars and Saturn rise before midnight and remain visible until daybreak. Jupiter rises early in the evening and is prominent late at night and early morning. Celebrations: Yuri’s Night (12th) and Earth Day (22nd). Photo: The Gem Cluster (NGC 3293) in Carina, surrounded by bright and dark nebulae, is well placed for evening observing from March to early July. Image by Brett du Preez. May 2018
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
30 1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 31 1 2 3
The Moon: The Moon lies near Saturn on the 5th, Mars on the 6th, Venus on the 17th, and Jupiter on the 29th. Planets: Mercury is the prominent Morning Star for most of May, and is at greatest southern latitude on the 13th. By month-end the tiny planet is lost in the solar glare. Venus is the prominent Evening Star, well-placed for observing after the end of evening twilight. Mars and Saturn rise well before midnight and remain visible until sunrise. Jupiter can be seen for most of the night during May and is at opposition on the 9th. During early May, Jupiter is seen rising as Venus sets. Events: Rights Farm Star Party, May 18 – 20. Celebrations: International Towel Day (25th). Photo: Messier 95 (NGC 3351) in Leo is visible through binoculars in the evening sky from early-April to early-June. Image by Dale Liebenberg. June 2018
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
28 29 30 31 1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 1
Moon: The crescent Moon is near Venus on the evening of the 16th. The Lunar X formation is visible during the night of the 20th. Planets: Mercury, at superior conjunction on the 6th, returns to the evening sky around mid-June and by month-end is prominent in the west after sunset. Venus is the brilliant Evening Star, setting over two hours after the Sun. Mars rises early evening and can be seen until daybreak. Jupiter is visible after sunset until early in the morning. Saturn rises during twilight and is an all-night target, being at opposition on June 27. Uranus and Neptune can be seen in the morning sky. Events: Free State Star Party (8th to 10th). Deep-sky: The Big Five are best seen around midnight this month. Celebrations: International SUN-day (24th) and International Asteroid Day (30th). Photo: Saturn imaged by Clyde Foster. July 2018
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
26 27 28 29 30 31 1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31 1 2 3 4 5
Moon: The total eclipse of the Moon on the 27th starts at 19:14. Maximum eclipse is at 22:21. Planets: All five naked-eye planets can be seen together in the sky for most of July. July is also the best time this year to see Mercury in the evening sky, reaching greatest elongation on the 12th. It is outshone by the brilliant Venus, which takes the crown as Evening Star, setting about three hours after the Sun. Mars is well placed for observing throughout the night (opposition on the 27th) and makes a close approach (57.6 million km) to Earth on the 31st at 09:51. Jupiter can be seen during the evening setting shortly after midnight. Saturn can be seen for most of the night setting early in the morning. Events: Mountain Sanctuary Park Star Party (13th to 15th). Photo: Total lunar eclipse, 2015 September 28, imaged by Leslie Rose. August 2018
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
30 31 1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31 1 2
Moon: The Full Moon on the 26th is the smallest Full Moon for 2018. The Lunar X formation is visible during the evening of the 18th. Planets: Mercury may be glimpsed in the evening sky right at the start of the month before slipping into the solar glare (at inferior conjunction on the 9th). By late August it can be seen just before sunrise. Venus is the magnificent Evening Star. By mid-month it sets more than three hours after the Sun. Mars is visible until shortly before daybreak. Jupiter can be seen in the evening sky while Saturn is visible from sunset until early morning. Deep-sky: The Big Five are best seen in the evening sky this month. Events: Karoo Star Party (9th to 12th). Photo: Messier 7 in the Scorpius Milky Way is well placed for evening observing from mid-June to mid-October. Image by Auke Slotegraaf. September 2018
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
27 28 29 30 31 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Moon: The crescent Moon is near Venus on the 12th and 13th and Saturn on the 17th. Planets: Mercury can be glimpsed at the start of the month (at dawn) and at the end of the month (at dusk). Venus dominates the sky at dusk as the brilliant Evening Star, setting more than two hours after the Sun. Mars sets before daybreak and can be seen for most of the night. Jupiter is visible after sunset but sets well before midnight. Saturn can be seen from sunset for more than half the night, setting a while after midnight. Uranus and Neptune are visible at midnight. Comets: Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner is visible. Events: Southern Star Party (5th to 10th). Photo: The Helix Nebula (NGC 7293) in Aquarius is well placed in the evening sky from mid-August to mid- December. Image by Leslie Rose. October 2018
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31 1 2 3 4
Moon: There are five lunar phases this month. The Lunar X formation can be seen on the 16th. Planets: Around mid-October all the planets can be seen shortly after sunset. Mercury starts the month well within the solar glare but by month-end is prominent during deep twilight. Venus is Evening Star for the first half of the month. It is at inferior conjunction on the 26th and for the last days of October serves as Morning Star, a role it maintains for the remainder of the year. Mars sets while in the morning sky. Jupiter sets early evening whilst Saturn remains visible for a few hours more. Comets: Comet 21P/Giacobini- Zinner is visible. Celebrations: World Space Week (4th to 10th) and Dark Matter Day (31st). Photo: NGC 7184 in Aquarius is well placed in the evening sky from mid-September to late-November. Image by Dale Liebenberg. November 2018
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
29 30 31 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 1 2
Moon: The crescent Moon is near Saturn on the 11th. Planets: Mercury serves as Evening Star and is visible during evening twilight for the first three weeks of November. Venus shines brightly as the Morning Star, becoming more prominent as the month progresses. Mars is visible for the first half of the night, as is Neptune. Jupiter is visible shortly after sunset only for the first part of the month before being lost in the solar glare for the rest of the month, reaching solar conjunction on the 26th. Saturn sets during the course of the evening. Comets: Comet 46P/ Wirtanen, in Fornax and Cetus, is visible. Photo: The Furious Dancer (NGC 6744) in Pavo can be seen in the evening sky from late June until mid-November. Image by Leslie Rose. December 2018
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
27 28 29 30 31 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 1 2 3 4 5 6
Moon: The crescent Moon lies near Venus on the 3rd and 4th. The Lunar X formation is visible on the 14th. Planets: Mercury can be seen low in the east shortly before sunrise accompanied by Venus. Mars is visible for the first half of the night, setting around midnight. Jupiter may be glimpsed in the morning twilight, becoming more prominent towards the end of the year. Saturn sets during the evening twilight. Meteor showers: The Geminid meteor shower is one of the finest of the major annual showers, peaking around the morning of the 14th. Comets: Comet 46P/ Wirtanen is visible, moving through Eridanus, Taurus, Perseus, and Auriga. Photo: The spectacular Tarantula Nebula (NGC 2070) in the Large Magellanic Cloud, easily visible in binoculars, lies in an extensive field of intricate nebulosity. Image by Leslie Rose.