Astronomical Diary for 1999 for Maine
All times and dates in Eastern Time

The Astronomical Diary for 1999 (giving times of equinoxes, solstices, an eclipse, New and Full Moon phases, and beginning/ending dates of Daylight Savings time) is tabulated below.  It reports these in the time format most useful to Maine, i.e.all times are given in Eastern Time (Standard or Daylight Savings, as appropriate). Some almanacs and calendars are casual about this time change, and/or give the data in Universal Time (Greenwich Mean Time).

The lunar and solar events given below (except for the solar eclipse of August 11) do not depend on one's location on Earth. Therefore the times given are the moments (in Eastern Time) when they precisely occur. However, sunrise, sunset, moonrise and moonset do depend on location. Link to the U.S. Naval Observatory's Astronomical Applications: Data Online page to calculate these at need.

As you are sure to notice below, there is no Full Moon in February, 1999!  The moon's synodic period of revolution around the Earth is approximately 29.5 days -- known as 1 lunation, when counted from one Full Moon phase to the next.  Because the year begins with a Full Moon on January 1, the first two of the year just happen to both squeeze into January.  February is a short month of 28 days, and thus just misses the next lunation. The next two Full Moons fall in March -- giving us two lunar doubleheaders in one year, so to speak!  The year closes with a Full Moon almost exactly on the Winter Solstice, an infrequent happenstance of the two cycles, solar and lunar.

Astronomical diary for 1999 for Maine

All times and dates in Eastern Time

date

event

time

Fri., Jan. 1 Full Moon

9:49 am EST

Sun., Jan. 17 New Moon

10:46 am EST

Sun., Jan. 31 Full Moon

11:06 am EST

Tues., Feb. 16 New Moon

1:39 am EST

Tues., Mar. 2 Full Moon

1:58 am EST

Wed., Mar. 17 New Moon

1:48 pm EST

Sat., Mar. 20 Vernal Equinox

8:46 pm EST

Wed., Mar. 31 Full Moon

5:49 pm EST

Sun., Apr. 4 Daylight Savings Time begins 2:00 am
Fri., Apr. 16 New Moon

12:22 am EDST

Fri., Apr. 30 Full Moon

10:55 am EDST

Sat., May 15 New Moon

8:05 am EDST

Sun., May 30 Full Moon

2:40 am EDST

Sun., June 13 New Moon

3:03 pm EDST

Mon., June 21 Summer Solstice

3:49 pm EDST

Mon., June 28 Full Moon

5:37 pm EDST

Mon., July 12 New Moon

10:24 pm EDST

Wed., July 28 Full Moon

7:25 am EDST

Wed.., Aug. 11 New Moon

7:08 am EDST

Wed.., Aug. 11 Solar Eclipse begins approximately 5:30 am EDST in Maine.*
Thurs., Aug. 26 Full Moon

7:48 pm EDST

Thurs., Sept. 9 New Moon

6:02 pm EDST

Thurs., Sept. 23 Autumnal Equinox

7:31 am EDST

Sat., Sept. 25 Full Moon

6:51 am EDST

Sat., Oct. 9 New Moon

7:34 am EDST

Sun., Oct. 24 Full Moon

5:02 pm EDST

Sun., Oct. 31 Standard Time resumes 2:00 am
Sun., Nov. 7 New Moon

10:53 pm EST

Tues., Nov. 23 Full Moon

2:04 am EST

Tues., Dec. 7 New Moon

5:32 pm EST

Wed., Dec. 22 Full Moon

12:31 pm EST

Wed., Dec. 22 Winter Solstice

2:44 am EST

Adapted by Frank Wihbey from: Astronomical Phenomena for the Year 1999, U. S. Naval Observatory and Royal Greenwich Observatory

*The solar eclipse of August 11 will not be total in Maine.  The Sun will rise almost fully eclipsed at about 5:30 am EDST; and the Moon will continue to move away from the Sun's disc.  The eclipse ends locally about 6:30 am.  Protect your eyes during observations!  Sunglasses are insufficient!

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