2016Calendar of Astronomical Events

    
2016Phases of the Moon
Atlantic Standard Time
The following table gives the date and time of the Moon's phases for the year. The times listed are for Atlantic Standard Time(Greenwich Mean Time - 4 hours).If Daylight Saving Time is in effect, add one hour to the times listed. 
   
      2016 Phases of the Moon   
      Atlantic Standard Time
 New Moon  First Quarter  Full Moon  Last Quarter 
--- Jan  2  01:30   
 Jan  9  21:30    Jan 16  19:26    Jan 23  21:46    Jan 31  23:28   
 Feb  8  10:39    Feb 15  03:46    Feb 22  14:20    Mar  1  19:11   
 Mar  8  21:54 T  Mar 15  13:03    Mar 23  08:01 n  Mar 31  11:17   
 Apr  7  07:24    Apr 13  23:59    Apr 22  01:24    Apr 29  23:29   
 May  6  15:30    May 13  13:02    May 21  17:15    May 29  08:12   
 Jun  4  23:00    Jun 12  04:10    Jun 20  07:02    Jun 27  14:19   
 Jul  4  07:01    Jul 11  20:52    Jul 19  18:57    Jul 26  19:00   
 Aug  2  16:45    Aug 10  14:21    Aug 18  05:27    Aug 24  23:41   
 Sep  1  05:03 A  Sep  9  07:49    Sep 16  15:05 n  Sep 23  05:56   
 Sep 30  20:12    Oct  9  00:33    Oct 16  00:23    Oct 22  15:14   
 Oct 30  13:38    Nov  7  15:51    Nov 14  09:52    Nov 21  04:33   
 Nov 29  08:18    Dec  7  05:03    Dec 13  20:06    Dec 20  21:56   
 Dec 29  02:53   ---
An eclipse of the Sun can only occur at New Moon (see: Solar Eclipses for Beginners), while an eclipse of the Moon can only occur at Full Moon (see: Lunar Eclipses for Beginners). In any calendar year there are a minimum of two solar and two lunar eclipses.
If an eclipse of the Sun or Moon takes place on a given date, it is noted by a character next to the date in the table above. Solar eclipses are indicated as: T=Total, A=Annular, H=Hybrid and P=Partial.Lunar eclipses are indicated as: t=Total, p=Partial, and n=Penumbral. 
Phases of the Moon Photo Gallery is an image collection showing the Moon's phases over a complete synodic month.
2016Calendar of Astronomical Events
Atlantic Standard Time
The following table gives the date and time of the important astronomical events for the year. The times listed are for Atlantic Standard Time(Greenwich Mean Time - 4 hours).If Daylight Saving Time is in effect, add one hour to the times listed. A key to astronomical terms appears below the calendar.
   
      2016Calendar of Astronomical Events   
   Atlantic Standard Time  
 January - June   July - December 
Date     AST   Event        (h:m)Jan 02  01:30  LAST QUARTER MOON     02  07:53  Moon at Apogee: 404279 km    02  19     Earth at Perihelion: 0.98330 AU    02  23:35  Spica 4.7°S of Moon    03  14:45  Mars 1.5°S of Moon    04  04     Quadrantid Meteor Shower    06  19:57  Venus 3.1°S of Moon    07  00:57  Saturn 3.3°S of Moon    07  07:34  Venus 6.3°N of Antares    08  14     Mercury at Perihelion     09  04     Venus 0.1°N of Saturn    09  21:30  NEW MOON     14  10     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction     14  11:48  Moon at Descending Node     14  22:10  Moon at Perigee: 369619 km    16  19:26  FIRST QUARTER MOON     19  22:16  Aldebaran 0.5°S of Moon    23  21:46  FULL MOON     26  01:10  Regulus 2.5°N of Moon    27  19:58  Moon at Ascending Node     27  21:14  Jupiter 1.4°N of Moon    30  05:10  Moon at Apogee: 404553 km    30  07:35  Spica 5.0°S of Moon    31  23:28  LAST QUARTER MOON Feb 01  04:48  Mars 2.7°S of Moon    03  15:05  Saturn 3.5°S of Moon    06  03:32  Venus 4.3°S of Moon    06  12:47  Mercury 3.8°S of Moon    06  21     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 25.6°W    08  10:39  NEW MOON     10  16:46  Moon at Descending Node     10  22:42  Moon at Perigee: 364358 km    12  23     Mercury 4.0°N of Venus    15  03:46  FIRST QUARTER MOON     16  03:41  Aldebaran 0.3°S of Moon    21  13     Mercury at Aphelion     22  08:48  Regulus 2.5°N of Moon    22  14:20  FULL MOON     23  23:58  Jupiter 1.7°N of Moon    24  02:10  Moon at Ascending Node     26  15:05  Spica 5.1°S of Moon    26  23:28  Moon at Apogee: 405383 km    28  11     Neptune in Conjunction with Sun     29  14:16  Mars 3.6°S of MoonMar 01  19:11  LAST QUARTER MOON     02  02:53  Saturn 3.6°S of Moon    07  06:54  Venus 3.5°S of Moon    08  06     Jupiter at Opposition     08  21:54  NEW MOON     08  21:57  Total Solar Eclipse; mag=1.045    09  02:31  Moon at Descending Node     10  03:02  Moon at Perigee: 359509 km    14  09:44  Aldebaran 0.3°S of Moon    15  13:03  FIRST QUARTER MOON     20  00:31  Vernal Equinox     20  10     Venus at Aphelion     20  15:05  Regulus 2.5°N of Moon    21  23:57  Jupiter 2.1°N of Moon    22  08:59  Moon at Ascending Node     23  07:47  Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.775    23  08:01  FULL MOON     23  16     Mercury at Superior Conjunction     24  21:50  Spica 5.1°S of Moon    25  10:16  Moon at Apogee: 406125 km    28  14:45  Mars 4.2°S of Moon    29  10:58  Saturn 3.5°S of Moon    31  11:17  LAST QUARTER MOON Apr 05  13     Mercury at Perihelion     05  13:27  Moon at Descending Node     06  04:30  Venus 0.7°S of Moon: Occn.    07  07:24  NEW MOON     07  13:36  Moon at Perigee: 357164 km    08  06:35  Mercury 5.2°N of Moon    09  17     Uranus in Conjunction with Sun     10  18:05  Aldebaran 0.4°S of Moon    13  23:59  FIRST QUARTER MOON     16  20:46  Regulus 2.5°N of Moon    18  00:42  Jupiter 2.2°N of Moon    18  10     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 19.9°E    18  14:04  Moon at Ascending Node     21  03:59  Spica 5.1°S of Moon    21  12:05  Moon at Apogee: 406352 km    22  01:24  FULL MOON     22  01     Lyrid Meteor Shower    25  00:13  Mars 4.9°S of Moon    25  15:28  Saturn 3.3°S of Moon    27  09:51  Mars 4.8°N of Antares    28  04:14  Mercury 3.0°S of Pleiades    29  23:29  LAST QUARTER MOON May 02  21:27  Moon at Descending Node     04  15     Eta-Aquarid Meteor Shower    06  00:14  Moon at Perigee: 357828 km    06  15:30  NEW MOON     08  04:21  Aldebaran 0.5°S of Moon    09  11     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction     13  13:02  FIRST QUARTER MOON     14  03:06  Regulus 2.3°N of Moon    15  05:30  Jupiter 2.0°N of Moon    15  16:39  Moon at Ascending Node     18  10:07  Spica 5.1°S of Moon    18  18:06  Moon at Apogee: 405934 km    21  17:15  FULL MOON     22  07     Mars at Opposition     22  17:59  Saturn 3.2°S of Moon    29  08:12  LAST QUARTER MOON     30  00:45  Moon at Descending Node Jun 03  02     Saturn at Opposition     03  05:47  Mercury 0.7°N of Moon: Occn.    03  06:55  Moon at Perigee: 361142 km    04  23:00  NEW MOON     05  05     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 24.2°W    06  18     Venus at Superior Conjunction     10  10:47  Regulus 2.0°N of Moon    11  15:35  Jupiter 1.5°N of Moon    11  18:20  Moon at Ascending Node     12  04:10  FIRST QUARTER MOON     13  06:06  Mercury 6.4°S of Pleiades    14  16:47  Spica 5.3°S of Moon    15  08:00  Moon at Apogee: 405022 km    18  20:40  Saturn 3.3°S of Moon    18  23:39  Mercury 3.7°N of Aldebaran    20  07:02  FULL MOON     20  18:35  Summer Solstice     26  01:28  Moon at Descending Node     27  14:19  LAST QUARTER MOON 
Date     AST   Event        (h:m)Jul 01  02:45  Moon at Perigee: 365983 km    01  23:58  Aldebaran 0.4°S of Moon    02  12     Mercury at Perihelion     04  07:01  NEW MOON     04  12     Earth at Aphelion: 1.01675 AU    06  23     Mercury at Superior Conjunction     07  19:33  Regulus 1.8°N of Moon    08  21:41  Moon at Ascending Node     09  06:08  Jupiter 0.9°N of Moon: Occn.    10  19     Venus at Perihelion     11  20:52  FIRST QUARTER MOON     12  00:13  Spica 5.6°S of Moon    13  01:24  Moon at Apogee: 404272 km    16  01:11  Saturn 3.4°S of Moon    16  19     Mercury 0.5°N of Venus    19  18:57  FULL MOON     23  03:49  Moon at Descending Node     26  19:00  LAST QUARTER MOON     27  07:25  Moon at Perigee: 369659 km    27  17     Delta-Aquarid Meteor Shower    29  06:53  Aldebaran 0.3°S of Moon    30  11:55  Mercury 0.3°N of RegulusAug 02  16:45  NEW MOON     04  02:19  Venus 2.9°N of Moon    04  18:12  Mercury 0.6°N of Moon: Occn.    05  03:48  Moon at Ascending Node     05  07:57  Venus 1.0°N of Regulus    05  23:28  Jupiter 0.2°N of Moon: Occn.    08  08:08  Spica 5.8°S of Moon    09  20:05  Moon at Apogee: 404266 km    10  14:21  FIRST QUARTER MOON     12  08:10  Saturn 3.7°S of Moon    12  08     Perseid Meteor Shower    15  12     Mercury at Aphelion     16  17     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 27.4°E    18  05:27  FULL MOON     19  10:14  Moon at Descending Node     20  02     Mercury 3.8°S of Jupiter    21  21:20  Moon at Perigee: 367047 km    24  01:09  Mars 1.8°N of Antares    24  21     Mars 4.3°S of Saturn    24  23:41  LAST QUARTER MOON     25  12:21  Aldebaran 0.2°S of Moon    27  18     Venus 0.1°N of Jupiter    28  16     Mercury 5.0°S of VenusSep 01  05:03  NEW MOON     01  05:07  Annular Solar Eclipse; mag=0.974    01  11:27  Moon at Ascending Node     02  11     Neptune at Opposition     03  06:33  Venus 1.1°S of Moon: Occn.    04  15:56  Spica 5.8°S of Moon    04  16:05  Saturn 5.9°N of Antares    06  14:44  Moon at Apogee: 405059 km    08  17:23  Saturn 3.8°S of Moon    09  07:49  FIRST QUARTER MOON     12  20     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction     15  19:55  Moon at Descending Node     16  14:54  Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.908    16  15:05  FULL MOON     18  11:15  Venus 2.2°N of Spica    18  13:00  Moon at Perigee: 361894 km    21  18:13  Aldebaran 0.2°S of Moon    22  10:21  Autumnal Equinox     23  05:56  LAST QUARTER MOON     26  02     Jupiter in Conjunction with Sun     27  18:32  Regulus 1.7°N of Moon    28  11     Mercury at Perihelion     28  15     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 17.9°W    28  18:06  Moon at Ascending Node     29  06:42  Mercury 0.7°N of Moon: Occn.    30  20:12  NEW MOON Oct 03  13:30  Venus 5.0°S of Moon    04  07:02  Moon at Apogee: 406100 km    06  04:04  Saturn 3.8°S of Moon    09  00:33  FIRST QUARTER MOON     11  06     Mercury 0.8°N of Jupiter    13  05:43  Moon at Descending Node     15  06     Uranus at Opposition     16  00:23  FULL MOON     16  19:36  Moon at Perigee: 357860 km    19  02:18  Aldebaran 0.3°S of Moon    21  01     Orionid Meteor Shower    22  15:14  LAST QUARTER MOON     25  00:01  Regulus 1.6°N of Moon    25  21:44  Moon at Ascending Node     26  06:56  Venus 3.0°N of Antares    27  12     Mercury at Superior Conjunction     28  05:33  Jupiter 1.4°S of Moon    29  09     Mars at Perihelion:  1.38124 AU    29  22     Venus 3.0°S of Saturn    30  13:38  NEW MOON     31  15:29  Moon at Apogee: 406660 kmNov 02  15:38  Saturn 3.7°S of Moon    05  01     S Taurid Meteor Shower    06  08:07  Mars 5.3°S of Moon    07  15:51  FIRST QUARTER MOON     09  11:57  Moon at Descending Node     12  00     N Taurid Meteor Shower    14  07:23  Moon at Perigee: 356512 km    14  09:52  FULL MOON     15  12:50  Aldebaran 0.4°S of Moon    17  07     Leonid Meteor Shower    19  13:51  Beehive 4.3°N of Moon    21  04:33  LAST QUARTER MOON     21  06:08  Regulus 1.3°N of Moon    21  22:48  Moon at Ascending Node     23  15     Mercury 3.4°S of Saturn    24  21:47  Jupiter 1.9°S of Moon    27  16:08  Moon at Apogee: 406556 km    29  08:18  NEW MOON Dec 03  08:34  Venus 5.8°S of Moon    05  06:39  Mars 2.9°S of Moon    06  13:35  Moon at Descending Node     07  05:03  FIRST QUARTER MOON     10  07     Saturn in Conjunction with Sun     11  00     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 20.8°E    12  19:27  Moon at Perigee: 358463 km    13  00:14  Aldebaran 0.5°S of Moon    13  20     Geminid Meteor Shower    13  20:06  FULL MOON     16  23:17  Beehive 4.1°N of Moon    18  14:13  Regulus 1.0°N of Moon    19  00:46  Moon at Ascending Node     20  21:56  LAST QUARTER MOON     21  06:45  Winter Solstice     22  04     Ursid Meteor Shower    22  12:37  Jupiter 2.4°S of Moon    25  01:55  Moon at Apogee: 405870 km    25  11     Mercury at Perihelion     28  15     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction     29  02:53  NEW MOON     

 Terms Used in Astronomical Events Calendar 
  • Perihelion - instant when a planet is closest to the Sun
  • Aphelion - instant when a planet is furthest from the Sun
  • Perigee - instant when the Moon is closest to Earth
  • Apogee - instant when the Moon is furthest from Earth
  • Inferior Conjunction - instant when a planet (Mercury or Venus) passes between Earth and the Sun
  • Superior Conjunction - instant when a planet (Mercury or Venus) passes on the opposite side of the Sun from Earth 
  • Greatest Elongation - the maximum angular separation between the Sun and the planet (Mercury or Venus) as seen from Earth 
     - during eastern elongation (E), the planet appears as an evening star; 
     - during western elongation (W), the planet appears as a morning star
  • Opposition - instant when a planet appears opposite the Sun as seen from Earth
  • Conjunction - instant when a planet appears closest the Sun as seen from Earth
  • Occultation - the Moon occults or eclipses a star or planet
  • Ascending Node - point where the Moon crosses from the southern to northern portion of its orbit
  • Descending Node - point where the Moon crosses from the northern to the southern portion of its orbit

  • Aldebaran - bright star in the constellation Taurus
  • Pollux - bright star in the constellation Gemini
  • Regulus - bright star in the constellation Leo
  • Spica - bright star in the constellation Virgo
  • Antares - bright star in the constellation Scorpius
  • Pleiades - bright star cluster in the constellation Taurus
  • Beehive - bright star cluster in the constellation Cancer
Calendars of Astronomical Events: 2011 to 2020
The Americas
Below are links to calendars of astronomical events from 2011 to 2020 for seven time zones in the Americas. 
Choose a time zone and click on a year to get a calendar of astronomical events for that year.
   Calendars of Astronomical Events - The Americas
   AST    2011     2012     2013     2014     2015     2016     2017     2018     2019     2020 
   EST    2011     2012     2013     2014     2015     2016     2017     2018     2019     2020 
   CST    2011     2012     2013     2014     2015     2016     2017     2018     2019     2020 
   MST    2011     2012     2013     2014     2015     2016     2017     2018     2019     2020 
   PST    2011     2012     2013     2014     2015     2016     2017     2018     2019     2020 
   AKST    2011     2012     2013     2014     2015     2016     2017     2018     2019     2020 
   HST    2011     2012     2013     2014     2015     2016     2017     2018     2019     2020 
        Time Zones Abbreviations
        • AST = Atlantic Standard Time (= GMT - 4 hours)
        • EST = Eastern Standard Time (= GMT - 5 hours)
        • CST = Central Standard Time (= GMT - 6 hours)
        • MST = Mountain Standard Time (= GMT - 7 hours)
        • PST = Pacific Standard Time (= GMT - 8 hours)
        • AKST = Alaskan Standard Time (= GMT - 9 hours)
        • HST = Hawaiian Standard Time (= GMT - 10 hours)
           (where GMT = Greenwich Mean Time)
A time zone may have a different name in different countries. Note the difference in hours between a given time zone and Greenwich Mean Time to help in identification.
For other years and other time zones, visit: Calendars of Astronomical Events.
 
Accuracy of the Astronomical Events Calendars
The goal of the Astronomical Events Calendars is to present a wide range of solar system phenomena with reasonable accuracy. In general, events listed to the nearest hour are accurate to ± 30 minutes.Events listed with a precision in hours and minutes (i.e., hh:mm) are typically accurate to ± 5 minutes or less.  
The following table gives a more detailed breakdown of the accuracy of times for various astronomical events.
Accuracy of the Astronomical Events Calendars
 Solstice/Equinox (Earth)  ± 0.5 minute 
 Aphelion/Perihelion (Earth)  ± 30 minutes;  ± 0.00001 AU 
 Solar and Lunar Eclipses   ± 0.5 minute 
 Phases of the Moon  ± 0.5 minute 
 Moon at Nodes  ± 2 minutes 
 Apogee/Perigee of Moon  ± 5 minutes; ± 5 kilometers 
 Conjunctions of Moon with Star or Planet  ± 10 minutes 
 Conjunctions of Planet with Planet  ± 3 hours 
 Inferior/Superior Conjunctions (Mercury & Venus)  ± 30 minutes 
 Greatest Elongation (Mercury & Venus)  ± 30 minutes 
 Opposition/Conjunction (Outer Planets)  ± 3 hours 
 Aphelion/Perihelion of Planets  ± 30 minutes 

Acknowledgements
All calculations are by Fred Espenak and he assumes full responsibility for their accuracy. Algorithms used in predicting many of the astronomical events are based on Astronomical Algorithms by Jean Meeus (Willmann-Bell Inc. Richmond 1998). 
Permission is freely granted to reproduce this data when accompanied by the acknowledgment: 

Return to: Calendars of Astronomical Events
Return to: Planetary Ephemeris Data