Moon nodes

When the moon crosses the ecliptic, it is said to be at a node. The ascending node is the point when it's crossing the ecliptic going northward. The descending node is where the moon crosses the ecliptic going southward.

The ecliptic is the path along which the sun travels in the sky as the earth orbits. Since the earth is tilted on its axis, the sun spends half the year north of the equator and half the year south of the equator. Understably then, the ecliptic is not the same line as the celestial equator, however, the two lines intersect at the equinoxes.

Most of the planets travel around the sun in orbits that are at low angles compared to Earth's. So they also appear close to the ecliptic in our sky. Many astronomers find the ecliptic a useful reference for describing planetary motion for that reason. Other objects, like the moon, which travel farther from the ecliptic may still be described in terms of being north or south of the ecliptic.

Here are the ecliptic crossing times for the moon during for 2010 to 2029. Dates and times are in Universal Time.

Year Ascending Node Descending Node
2010  
January 14 - 23:17
February 11 - 04:58
March 10 - 08:07
April 6 - 09:43
May 3 - 12:34
May 30 - 18:07
June 27 - 01:19
July 24 - 07:57
August 20 - 12:11
September 16 - 13:55
October 13 - 15:34
November 9 - 20:13
December 7 - 04:13
January 1 - 12:29
January 29 - 00:03
February 25 - 09:12
March 24 - 13:06
April 20 - 13:38
May 17 - 15:38
June 13 - 21:54
July 11 - 07:30
August 7 - 17:23
September 4 - 00:14
October 1 - 02:41
October 28 - 03:14
November 24 - 06:26
December 21 - 14:07

2011 January 3 - 12:46
January 30 - 18:27
February 26 - 20:17
March 25 - 21:08
April 22 - 01:05
May 19 - 09:02
June 15 - 18:33
July 13 - 02:25
August 9 - 06:33
September 5 - 07:33
October 2 - 09:07
October 29 - 14:58
November 26 - 01:00
December 23 - 11:35
January 18 - 00:05
February 14 - 08:12
March 13 - 11:54
April 9 - 12:46
May 6 - 14:52
June 2 - 20:19
June 30 - 04:11
July 27 - 12:01
August 23 - 17:22
September 19 - 19:36
October 16 - 20:58
November 13 - 00:32
December 10 - 07:00

2012  
January 19 - 18:25
February 15 - 20:13
March 13 - 20:39
April 10 - 00:46
May 7 - 09:41
June 3 - 20:36
July 1 - 05:43
July 28 - 10:32
August 24 - 11:35
September 20 - 12:51
October 17 - 18:25
November 14 - 04:36
December 11 - 15:55
January 6 - 14:26
February 2 - 19:58
February 29 - 22:33
March 28 - 00:14
April 24 - 03:40
May 21 - 09:17
June 17 - 15:38
July 14 - 20:51
August 11 - 00:01
September 7 - 02:04
October 4 - 05:12
October 31 - 10:33
November 27 - 17:01
December 24 - 22:23

2013 January 7 - 23:48
February 4 - 02:12
March 3 - 02:27
March 30 - 05:53
April 26 - 14:04
May 24 - 00:37
June 20 - 09:48
July 17 - 14:56
August 13 - 16:18
September 9 - 17:27
October 6 - 22:07
November 3 - 06:51
November 30 - 16:57
December 28 - 00:18
January 21 - 01:15
February 17 - 02:53
March 16 - 06:11
April 12 - 12:09
May 9 - 19:10
June 6 - 00:56
July 3 - 04:12
July 30 - 05:46
August 26 - 08:15
September 22 - 13:45
October 19 - 21:44
November 16 - 05:27
December 13 - 10:07

2014  
January 24 - 02:54
February 20 - 03:27
March 19 - 06:29
April 15 - 13:22
May 12 - 22:05
June 9 - 05:35
July 6 - 09:50
August 2 - 11:25
August 29 - 13:13
September 25 - 17:40
October 23 - 00:45
November 19 - 08:16
December 16 - 13:27
January 9 - 11:23
February 5 - 12:39
March 4 - 17:44
April 1 - 02:27
April 28 - 11:33
May 25 - 17:54
June 21 - 20:28
July 18 - 21:18
August 15 - 00:16
September 11 - 07:31
October 8 - 17:42
November 5 - 03:12
December 2 - 08:31
December 29 - 09:25

2015 January 12 - 15:32
February 8 - 17:09
March 7 - 21:04
April 4 - 03:17
May 1 - 09:49
May 28 - 14:40
June 24 - 17:24
July 21 - 19:32
August 17 - 23:06
September 14 - 04:38
October 11 - 10:54
November 7 - 15:55
December 4 - 18:35
December 31 - 20:20
January 25 - 10:23
February 21 - 16:06
March 21 - 02:18
April 17 - 13:06
May 14 - 20:36
June 10 - 23:29
July 8 - 00:06
August 4 - 02:53
August 31 - 10:17
September 27 - 21:05
October 25 - 07:36
November 21 - 13:56
December 18 - 15:14

2016  
January 28 - 00:00
February 24 - 06:13
March 22 - 13:01
April 18 - 18:06
May 15 - 20:42
June 11 - 22:22
July 9 - 01:43
August 5 - 07:52
September 1 - 15:30
September 28 - 22:08
October 26 - 01:48
November 22 - 02:52
December 19 - 04:49
January 14 - 15:48
February 10 - 20:46
March 9 - 06:31
April 5 - 17:27
May 3 - 01:27
May 30 - 04:46
June 26 - 05:30
July 23 - 07:51
August 19 - 14:16
September 15 - 23:57
October 13 - 09:43
November 9 - 15:58
December 6 - 17:38

2017  
January 15 - 10:49
February 11 - 19:52
March 11 - 04:20
April 7 - 09:17
May 4 - 10:46
May 31 - 12:00
June 27 - 16:30
July 25 - 00:50
August 21 - 10:37
September 17 - 18:32
October 14 - 22:14
November 10 - 22:44
December 8 - 00:43
January 2 - 18:17
January 29 - 22:24
February 26 - 06:31
March 25 - 15:44
April 21 - 22:33
May 19 - 01:34
June 15 - 02:44
July 12 - 05:21
August 8 - 10:59
September 4 - 18:44
October 2 - 02:08
October 29 - 06:45
November 25 - 08:27
December 22 - 10:09

2018 January 4 - 07:52
January 31 - 18:50
February 28 - 05:08
March 27 - 11:01
April 23 - 12:24
May 20 - 13:18
June 16 - 17:55
July 14 - 02:54
August 10 - 13:44
September 6 - 22:46
October 4 - 03:14
October 31 - 03:50
November 27 - 05:22
December 24 - 11:57
January 18 - 14:32
February 14 - 21:15
March 14 - 03:52
April 10 - 08:14
May 7 - 10:28
June 3 - 12:43
June 30 - 16:51
July 27 - 22:44
August 24 - 04:54
September 20 - 09:36
October 17 - 12:09
November 13 - 14:09
December 10 - 18:03

2019  
January 20 - 22:52
February 17 - 09:47
March 16 - 16:26
April 12 - 18:13
May 9 - 18:54
June 5 - 22:51
July 3 - 06:58
July 30 - 17:06
August 27 - 01:53
September 23 - 06:34
October 20 - 07:32
November 16 - 08:53
December 13 - 14:19
January 7 - 00:13
February 3 - 06:40
March 2 - 11:08
March 29 - 13:13
April 25 - 15:06
May 22 - 19:17
June 19 - 01:55
July 16 - 09:10
August 12 - 14:49
September 8 - 17:40
October 5 - 18:54
November 1 - 21:44
November 29 - 04:17
December 26 - 13:05
2020 January 9 - 23:33
February 6 - 09:03
March 4 - 15:03
March 31 - 16:55
April 27 - 17:58
May 24 - 21:38
June 21 - 04:28
July 18 - 12:37
August 14 - 19:27
September 10 - 23:09
October 8 - 00:33
November 4 - 02:44
December 1 - 07:50
December 28 - 15:06
January 22 - 20:36
February 19 - 00:16
March 17 - 01:04
April 13 - 03:03
May 10 - 09:05
June 6 - 18:14
July 4 - 03:22
July 31 - 09:36
August 27 - 11:56
September 23 - 12:36
October 20 - 15:57
November 17 - 00:10
December 14 - 11:06

2021 January 24 - 21:51
February 21 - 01:48
March 20 - 03:34
April 16 - 05:56
May 13 - 10:33
June 9 - 16:45
July 6 - 22:43
August 3 - 02:55
August 30 - 05:16
September 26 - 07:35
October 23 - 11:50
November 19 - 18:02
December 17 - 00:14
January 10 - 20:18
February 7 - 00:32
March 6 - 00:58
April 2 - 02:44
April 29 - 09:20
May 26 - 19:40
June 23 - 06:09
July 20 - 13:24
August 16 - 16:07
September 12 - 16:37
October 9 - 19:37
November 6 - 03:40
December 3 - 15:00
December 31 01:09

2022 January 13 - 04:21
February 9 - 06:14
March 8 - 08:23
April 4 - 13:07
May 1 - 19:55
May 29 - 02:36
June 25 - 07:12
July 22 - 09:23
August 18 - 11:00
September 14 - 14:50
October 11 - 21:50
November 8 - 06:09
December 5 - 12:39
January 27 - 06:17
February 23 - 06:56
March 22 - 08:13
April 18 - 14:02
May 15 - 23:46
June 12 - 10:04
July 9 - 17:29
August 5 - 20:33
September 1 - 21:14
September 28 - 23:44
October 26 - 06:32
November 22 - 16:25
December 20 - 01:36

2023 January 1 - 15:26
January 28 - 16:05
February 24 - 18:58
March 24 - 02:09
April 20 - 11:32
May 17 - 19:36
June 14 - 00:06
July 11 - 01:24
August 7 - 02:46
September 3 - 07:45
September 30 - 16:49
October 28 - 03:15
November 24 - 11:03
December 21 - 13:55
January 16 - 06:34
February 12 - 07:33
March 11 - 08:55
April 7 - 13:53
May 4 - 21:58
June 1 - 06:24
June 28 - 12:25
July 25 - 15:07
August 21 - 16:24
September 17 - 19:19
October 15 - 01:12
November 11 - 08:50
December 8 - 15:25

2024 January 17 - 14:05
February 13 - 17:03
March 12 - 01:18
April 8 - 12:20
May 5 - 21:54
June 2 - 03:08
June 29 - 04:26
July 26 - 05:33
August 22 - 10:27
September 18 - 19:51
October 16 - 07:06
November 12 - 15:59
December 9 - 19:37
January 4 - 18:53
January 31 - 20:18
February 27 - 22:54
March 26 - 04:08
April 22 - 10:45
May 19 - 16:36
June 15 - 20:19
July 12 - 22:28
August 9 - 01:07
September 5 - 05:44
October 2 - 11:53
October 29 - 17:45
November 25 - 21:33
December 22 - 23:23

2025 January 5 - 19:46
February 1 - 22:05
March 1 - 05:40
March 28 - 16:29
April 25 - 02:22
May 22 - 08:05
June 18 - 09:41
July 15 - 10:41
August 11 - 14:53
September 7 - 23:08
October 5 - 09:20
November 1 - 17:44
November 28 - 21:33
December 25 - 22:03
January 19 - 01:49
February 15 - 06:55
March 14 - 13:47
April 10 - 19:57
May 7 - 23:45
June 4 - 01:34
July 1 - 03:46
July 28 - 08:31
August 24 - 15:42
September 20 - 23:14
October 18 - 04:35
November 14 - 06:39
December 11 - 07:35

2026 January 22 - 00:03
February 18 - 06:19
March 17 - 15:23
April 13 - 23:42
May 11 - 04:36
June 7 - 06:19
July 4 - 07:50
July 31 - 11:53
August 27 - 18:46
September 24 - 02:39
October 21 - 08:52
November 17 - 11:48
December 14 - 13:02
January 7 - 11:23
February 3 - 19:19
March 3 - 04:35
March 30 - 11:34
April 26 - 14:36
May 23 - 15:26
June 19 - 17:57
July 17 - 00:28
August 13 - 09:57
September 9 - 19:17
October 7 - 01:19
November 3 - 03:02
November 30 - 03:33
December 27 - 07:54

2027 January 10 - 15:56
February 6 - 21:43
March 6 - 04:40
April 2 - 10:16
April 29 - 13:23
May 26 - 15:19
June 22 - 18:24
July 19 - 23:32
August 16 - 05:47
September 12 - 11:24
October 9 - 14:56
November 5 - 16:51
December 2 - 19:35
December 30 - 00:49
January 23 - 17:26
February 20 - 04:40
March 19 - 13:06
April 15 - 16:31
May 12 - 17:03
June 8 - 19:23
July 6 - 02:14
August 2 - 12:33
August 29 - 23:00
September 26 - 06:02
October 23 - 08:13
November 19 - 08:32
December 16 - 12:18

2028 January 26 - 07:29
February 22 - 13:08
March 20 - 16:16
April 16 - 17:52
May 13 - 20:42
June 10 - 02:15
July 7 - 09:32
August 3 - 16:16
August 30 - 20:35
September 26 - 22:18
October 23 - 23:51
November 20 - 04:30
December 17 - 12:37
January 12 - 21:25
February 9 - 08:55
March 7 - 18:05
April 3 - 22:07
April 30 - 22:45
May 28 - 00:38
June 24 - 06:40
July 21 - 16:08
August 18 - 02:02
September 14 - 09:02
October 11 - 11:34
November 7 - 12:05
December 4 - 15:11
December 31 - 22:46

2029 January 13 - 21:17
February 10 - 03:03
March 9 - 04:56
April 5 - 05:46
May 2 - 09:38
May 29 - 17:30
June 26 - 03:05
July 23 - 11:08
August 19 - 15:27
September 15 - 16:29
October 12 - 17:55
November 8 - 23:40
December 6 - 09:46
January 28 - 08:37
February 24 - 16:41
March 23 - 20:25
April 19 - 21:23
May 16 - 23:27
June 13 - 04:44
July 10 - 12:29
August 6 - 20:16
September 3 - 01:39
September 30 - 03:55
October 27 - 05:18
November 23 - 08:50
December 20 - 15:15