Southern Hemisphere Astronomy Calendar 2027
Complete guide to celestial events, planets, and deep-sky objects for southern observers
Moon Phases
Meteor Showers
Planet Events
Deep Sky
January 2027
Moon Phases
New Moon
Jan 7
20:24 UTC
First Quarter
Jan 15
20:34 UTC
Full Moon (Supermoon)
Jan 22
12:17 UTC
Last Quarter
Jan 29
10:55 UTC
Key Events
- •Venus at greatest western elongation (47°) Jan 3
- •First Supermoon of 2027 Jan 22
- •Summer Milky Way core spectacular
- •Comet 2P/Encke passes perigee Jan 17 (magnitude 6-7)
- •Comet C/2026 C1 (Tsuchinshan) - may reach magnitude ~10, morning sky
Planet Visibility
Mercury
Not visible (superior conjunction)
Venus
Brilliant morning star, magnitude -4.5
Mars
Approaching opposition, brightening
Jupiter
Evening sky, magnitude -2.5
Saturn
Lost in evening twilight
Prime Deep-Sky Targets
- ★Large Magellanic Cloud overhead
- ★Small Magellanic Cloud and 47 Tucanae
- ★Eta Carinae Nebula prime viewing
- ★Jewel Box Cluster in Crux
- ★Omega Centauri rising
Evening Sky Constellations
Centaurus, Crux high; Carina, Vela prominent; Scorpius rising; Orion visible north
February 2027
Moon Phases
New Moon
Feb 6
15:56 UTC
First Quarter
Feb 14
07:58 UTC
Full Moon (Supermoon)
Feb 20
23:23 UTC
Last Quarter
Feb 28
05:16 UTC
Key Events
- •Annular Solar Eclipse Feb 6 - EXCELLENT from South America!
- •Jupiter at opposition Feb 10 - best viewing
- •Mars at opposition Feb 19 - closest to Earth
- •Penumbral Lunar Eclipse Feb 20 (visible South America)
- •Last Supermoon of 2027
Planet Visibility
Mercury
Evening sky early month northwest
Venus
Morning star, magnitude -4.4
Mars
At opposition, visible all night at magnitude -1.1
Jupiter
At opposition, magnitude -2.6
Saturn
Not visible
Prime Deep-Sky Targets
- ★Tarantula Nebula in LMC
- ★NGC 3532 Wishing Well Cluster
- ★IC 2944 Running Chicken
- ★NGC 2516 Southern Beehive
- ★Eta Carinae complex at zenith
Evening Sky Constellations
Carina overhead; Vela, Centaurus high; Crux prominent; Sagittarius rising pre-dawn
March 2027
Moon Phases
New Moon
Mar 8
09:29 UTC
First Quarter
Mar 15
16:25 UTC
Full Moon
Mar 22
10:44 UTC
Last Quarter
Mar 30
00:54 UTC
Key Events
- •Autumnal Equinox Mar 20 at 20:25 UTC
- •Mercury at greatest western elongation (28°) Mar 17
- •Mars passes close to Jupiter (4.3°) Mar 31
- •Omega Centauri at prime position
Planet Visibility
Mercury
Morning sky, excellent visibility
Venus
Morning star, magnitude -4.3
Mars
Evening sky, fading after opposition
Jupiter
Evening sky
Saturn
Emerging morning sky
Prime Deep-Sky Targets
- ★Omega Centauri overhead - spectacular!
- ★NGC 5139 Centaurus A galaxy
- ★Coal Sack dark nebula
- ★Southern Pleiades (IC 2602)
- ★NGC 4372, 4833 globulars
Evening Sky Constellations
Centaurus at zenith; Crux high; Corvus visible; Scorpius rising; Orion setting northwest
April 2027
Moon Phases
New Moon
Apr 6
23:51 UTC
First Quarter
Apr 13
22:57 UTC
Full Moon
Apr 20
22:27 UTC
Last Quarter
Apr 28
20:18 UTC
Key Events
- •Lyrids visible in northern sky Apr 22-23
- •Autumn Milky Way core rising evening
- •Best month for Centaurus observation
- •Venus at aphelion Apr 17
- •Comet 22P/Kopff approaching - may brighten to magnitude ~8-9 later in year
Planet Visibility
Mercury
Not visible (superior conjunction)
Venus
Morning star, magnitude -4.2
Mars
Evening sky, fading
Jupiter
Evening western sky
Saturn
Morning sky before dawn
Prime Deep-Sky Targets
- ★Globular cluster season begins
- ★NGC 6121, 6397, 6752
- ★NGC 6302 Bug Nebula
- ★NGC 6541 in Corona Australis
- ★Pipe Nebula dark clouds
Evening Sky Constellations
Scorpius high; Sagittarius rising; Centaurus west; Lupus overhead; Southern Cross prominent
May 2027
Moon Phases
New Moon
May 6
10:58 UTC
First Quarter
May 13
04:44 UTC
Full Moon
May 20
10:59 UTC
Last Quarter
May 28
13:58 UTC
Key Events
- •Eta Aquariids peak May 5-6 (60 meteors/hr) - EXCELLENT in SH!
- •Venus conjuncts Saturn (0.6°) May 7
- •Best Milky Way viewing begins
- •Mars very close to Regulus May 14
Planet Visibility
Mercury
Evening sky late month
Venus
Morning star with Saturn, magnitude -4.1
Mars
Faint evening western sky
Jupiter
Low western twilight
Saturn
Morning sky, magnitude +0.8
Prime Deep-Sky Targets
- ★Sagittarius Milky Way rising
- ★M8 Lagoon Nebula
- ★M20 Trifid Nebula
- ★M22 globular cluster
- ★NGC 6334 Cat's Paw
- ★NGC 6357 Lobster Nebula
Evening Sky Constellations
Sagittarius rising; Scorpius high; Centaurus setting; Triangulum Australe prominent
June 2027
Moon Phases
New Moon
Jun 4
19:40 UTC
First Quarter
Jun 11
10:56 UTC
Full Moon
Jun 19
00:44 UTC
Last Quarter
Jun 27
04:54 UTC
Key Events
- •Winter Solstice Jun 21 at 14:11 UTC - longest night!
- •BEST Milky Way viewing month
- •Venus low in evening after sunset
- •Optimal deep-sky imaging conditions
Planet Visibility
Mercury
Morning sky
Venus
Low evening sky
Mars
Not visible
Jupiter
Not visible
Saturn
Rising earlier evening
Prime Deep-Sky Targets
- ★M8, M20, M21, M23, M24, M25 all visible
- ★NGC 6618 Omega Nebula
- ★NGC 6523 Lagoon at zenith
- ★NGC 6611 Eagle Nebula
- ★Entire Milky Way horizon to horizon
Evening Sky Constellations
Sagittarius at zenith; Scorpius high; Ara, Corona Australis visible; Cygnus low north
July 2027
Moon Phases
New Moon
Jul 4
03:02 UTC
First Quarter
Jul 10
18:39 UTC
Full Moon
Jul 18
15:45 UTC
Last Quarter
Jul 26
16:55 UTC
Key Events
- •Delta Aquariids peaks Jul 28 (40+ meteors/hr)
- •Best deep-sky imaging all year
- •Penumbral Lunar Eclipse Jul 18 (barely visible)
- •Jupiter passes close to Regulus Jul 25
- •Comet 22P/Kopff brightening - may reach magnitude ~8, excellent southern target
Planet Visibility
Mercury
Morning sky
Venus
Evening sky, getting higher
Mars
Not visible
Jupiter
Morning sky, magnitude -2.0
Saturn
Rising evening, excellent
Prime Deep-Sky Targets
- ★NGC 6752 finest southern globular after Omega Cen
- ★IC 4665 large open cluster
- ★NGC 6744 spiral in Pavo
- ★NGC 6188 emission in Ara
- ★Milky Way core spectacular
Evening Sky Constellations
Scorpius-Sagittarius overhead; Aquila north; Grus, Phoenix rising; Centaurus setting
August 2027
Moon Phases
New Moon
Aug 2
10:05 UTC
First Quarter
Aug 9
04:54 UTC
Full Moon
Aug 17
07:29 UTC
Last Quarter
Aug 25
02:27 UTC
New Moon
Aug 31
17:41 UTC
Key Events
- •Total Solar Eclipse Aug 2 - visible from parts of Africa, Middle East, Asia
- •Perseids visible low in north Aug 12-13 (reduced rate)
- •Penumbral Lunar Eclipse Aug 17 (magnitude 0.546)
- •Venus at superior conjunction Aug 12
- •Mars passes near Spica Aug 23
- •Comet 22P/Kopff at or near peak brightness - magnitude ~8, prime southern viewing
Planet Visibility
Mercury
Not visible (superior conjunction)
Venus
Transitioning to evening sky
Mars
Morning sky, magnitude +1.3
Jupiter
Not visible (conjunction)
Saturn
Rising before midnight
Prime Deep-Sky Targets
- ★NGC 253 Sculptor Galaxy rising
- ★NGC 288 globular in Sculptor
- ★NGC 7293 Helix Nebula excellent
- ★Small Magellanic Cloud rising
- ★IC 1613 dwarf galaxy
Evening Sky Constellations
Sagittarius past meridian; Capricornus high; Fomalhaut rising; Grus overhead
September 2027
Moon Phases
First Quarter
Sep 7
18:31 UTC
Full Moon
Sep 15
23:04 UTC
Last Quarter
Sep 23
10:20 UTC
New Moon
Sep 30
02:36 UTC
Key Events
- •Spring Equinox Sep 23 at 06:02 UTC
- •Neptune at opposition Sep 28
- •Mercury passes very close to Spica Sep 21
- •Magellanic Clouds returning prominence
Planet Visibility
Mercury
Evening sky northwest
Venus
Evening star, magnitude -3.9
Mars
Morning sky
Jupiter
Morning sky, magnitude -2.3
Saturn
Evening sky
Prime Deep-Sky Targets
- ★Small Magellanic Cloud and 47 Tucanae
- ★NGC 362 globular near SMC
- ★NGC 104 (47 Tucanae) best viewing
- ★NGC 6752 still high
- ★NGC 55, 300 galaxies in Sculptor
Evening Sky Constellations
Phoenix, Grus at zenith; Tucana, Pavo high; Pegasus low north; Eridanus rising
October 2027
Moon Phases
First Quarter
Oct 7
11:47 UTC
Full Moon
Oct 15
13:47 UTC
Last Quarter
Oct 22
17:29 UTC
New Moon
Oct 29
13:36 UTC
Key Events
- •Orionids visible in northern sky Oct 21-22
- •Saturn at opposition Oct 18 - best viewing
- •Venus in conjunction with Mercury Oct 11
- •Mars passes near Antares Oct 29
Planet Visibility
Mercury
Transitioning to morning sky
Venus
Evening star, magnitude -4.2
Mars
Morning sky, magnitude +1.1
Jupiter
Morning sky, magnitude -2.5
Saturn
At opposition, all night at magnitude +0.5
Prime Deep-Sky Targets
- ★Large Magellanic Cloud rising
- ★Tarantula Nebula excellent
- ★NGC 2070 complex in LMC
- ★NGC 1261 globular in Horologium
- ★IC 2391 Omicron Velorum
Evening Sky Constellations
Grus overhead; Tucana high south; Eridanus prominent; Orion rising northeast
November 2027
Moon Phases
First Quarter
Nov 6
08:00 UTC
Full Moon
Nov 14
03:26 UTC
Last Quarter
Nov 21
00:48 UTC
New Moon
Nov 28
04:38 UTC
Key Events
- •Alpha Monocerotids possible outburst Nov 21-22
- •Mercury passes close to Spica Nov 5
- •Venus in conjunction with Antares Nov 9
- •Summer Milky Way rising pre-dawn
Planet Visibility
Mercury
Morning sky
Venus
Evening star, magnitude -4.4
Mars
Morning sky, magnitude +0.9
Jupiter
Visible most of night
Saturn
Evening sky
Prime Deep-Sky Targets
- ★Large Magellanic Cloud overhead
- ★NGC 2070 Tarantula at zenith
- ★Eta Carinae rising
- ★NGC 2516, 2547 clusters
- ★47 Tucanae high
Evening Sky Constellations
Dorado, Reticulum overhead; Pictor, Caelum visible; Carina rising; Orion prominent north
December 2027
Moon Phases
First Quarter
Dec 5
22:52 UTC
Full Moon
Dec 13
19:09 UTC
Last Quarter
Dec 20
09:48 UTC
New Moon
Dec 27
19:13 UTC
Key Events
- •Geminids visible northern sky Dec 13-14 (reduced)
- •Ursids visible Dec 22
- •Summer Solstice Dec 21 at 21:20 UTC - longest day
- •Mercury at greatest eastern elongation Dec 21
Planet Visibility
Mercury
Evening sky
Venus
Evening star, magnitude -4.5
Mars
Morning sky, magnitude +0.8
Jupiter
Visible most of night
Saturn
Early evening western sky
Prime Deep-Sky Targets
- ★Eta Carinae Nebula prime viewing
- ★Large Magellanic Cloud at zenith
- ★IC 2602 Southern Pleiades
- ★NGC 3372 Carina complex
- ★Jewel Box and Coalsack in Crux
Evening Sky Constellations
Carina overhead; Crux, Centaurus rising; LMC at zenith; Orion high north
Observing Notes
- • All times are in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). Convert to your local time zone.
- • Meteor shower rates often higher in Southern Hemisphere for some showers.
- • The Magellanic Clouds and 47 Tucanae are exclusive showpieces of southern skies.
- • Southern observers have superior views of the Milky Way core and center.
- • Eta Carinae Nebula and Omega Centauri are unmissable southern gems.
- • Guide optimized for 35°S latitude; adjust for your specific location.
- • 2027 features an AMAZING Total Solar Eclipse visible from parts of Africa and Asia on Aug 2!