This calendar is made to help you with all your stargazing on Hawaii, and is best used in combination with our Astronomy calendar for Hawaii. On this page, you can find the sunrise and sunset times for each day of the year, as well as the lunar phases and moonrise and moon set times. All these times are listed in Hawaiian Standard Time (HST)
Use this page to find the best times to go out and look at the stars. For example, use it to find the best time to see shooting stars (and have a look at our meteor shower guide for Hawaii for viewing tips), or find a moonless night to drive up to the Mauna Kea visitor center to get the most out of their free stargazing evenings (more Big Island stargazing tips).
How to use this calendar
Each day on the calendar lists the times of sunset and sunrise, as well as the times the moon rises and sets and the ‘twi a’ (see below). The days of full moon (white circle) and new moon (dark circle) and intermediate phases are also marked. Good viewing times are between sunset and sunrise when the moon is below the horizon. You will get even better viewing conditions if you wait for the astronomical twilight (twi a) to be over.
Astronomical Twilight (Twi A)
Astronomical twilight (wikipedia) is the time when the center of the sun is between 12 and 18 degrees below the horizon. For reference, if you hold your hand out at arm’s length and make a fist, the back of your fist spans about 10 degree.
From the end of astronomical twilight in the evening to the beginning of astronomical twilight in the morning, the sky is dark enough for all astronomical observations. As a non professional astronomer you can smuggle a little bit with these times, and most casual observers consider the entire sky fully dark even when astronomical twilight is just beginning in the evening or just ending in the morning.
Extra: The moon in Hawaiian culture and mythology
In Polynesian mythology the goddess of the Moon is called “Hina”, and the moon itself “Mahina”. In Hawaii, Hina is also called ‘Rono’ or ‘Lono. She is the mother of Maui and is mostly described as a very attractive, smart, beautiful, determined young woman pursued by men and other creatures.
The moon was important for the ancient Hawaiians, who lived by the Hawaiian moon calendar. The moon dictated when the planting, harvesting and fishing activities happened.
Calendar for January 2013
January has a full moon on the 26th and a new moon on the 11th. Look out for the Quadrantids meteor shower which peaks on on Hawaii on January the 3rd.
Calendar for February 2013
February has a full moon on the 25th and a new moon on the 9th. Stargazing wise February is not very exiting, so why not look down and profit from humpback whale season on Hawaii?
Calendar for March 2013
March has a full moon on the 26th and a new moon on the 12th. Make sure to sleep well because in the coming months you will be able to spend many nights stargazing.
Calendar for April 2013
April has a full moon on the 25th and a new moon on the 9th. Don’t forget to check out the Lyrids meteor shower on April 25th.
Calendar for May 2013
May has a full moon on the 24th and a new moon on the 9th. May is packed with stargazing goodness. Don’t forget to watch the May 6th Eta Aquariids meteor shower, the May 9th partial solar eclipse, and the conjunction of Venus and Jupiter on May 28.
Calendar for June 2013
June has a full moon on the 23rd and a new moon on the 8th. The longest day of the year falls on June 20th.
Calendar for July 2013
Calendar for August 2013
August has a full moon on the 20th and a new moon on the 6th. The Perseids meteor shower peaks at August 12th.
Calendar for September 2013
September has a full moon on the 19th and a new moon on the 5th. September is low season both for tourism and for stargazing as there is nothing special going on in the skies this month.
Calendar for October 2013
October starts with a new moon on the 4th and has a full moon on the 18th. October has its own supply of shooting stars with the Orionids meteor shower which peaks at October 21st.
Calendar for November 2013
November starts with dark skies and a new moon on the 3rd. The 17th brings a full moon but is also special for stargazing purposes because of the peak of the Leonids meteor shower.
Calendar for December 2013
December has a full moon on the 16th and a new moon on the 2nd. December is a good month for stargazing with the Geminids meteor shower (December 13), the Ursids meteor shower (December 22), and the shortest day/longest night during the winter solstice at december 21st.