2016Calendar of Astronomical Events

    
2016Phases of the Moon
Greenwich Mean Time
The following table gives the date and time of the Moon's phases for the year. The times listed are for Greenwich Mean Time.If Daylight Saving Time is in effect, add one hour to the times listed. 
   
      2016 Phases of the Moon   
      Greenwich Mean Time
 New Moon  First Quarter  Full Moon  Last Quarter 
--- Jan  2  05:30   
 Jan 10  01:30    Jan 16  23:26    Jan 24  01:46    Feb  1  03:28   
 Feb  8  14:39    Feb 15  07:46    Feb 22  18:20    Mar  1  23:11   
 Mar  9  01:54 T  Mar 15  17:03    Mar 23  12:01 n  Mar 31  15:17   
 Apr  7  11:24    Apr 14  03:59    Apr 22  05:24    Apr 30  03:29   
 May  6  19:30    May 13  17:02    May 21  21:15    May 29  12:12   
 Jun  5  03:00    Jun 12  08:10    Jun 20  11:02    Jun 27  18:19   
 Jul  4  11:01    Jul 12  00:52    Jul 19  22:57    Jul 26  23:00   
 Aug  2  20:45    Aug 10  18:21    Aug 18  09:27    Aug 25  03:41   
 Sep  1  09:03 A  Sep  9  11:49    Sep 16  19:05 n  Sep 23  09:56   
 Oct  1  00:12    Oct  9  04:33    Oct 16  04:23    Oct 22  19:14   
 Oct 30  17:38    Nov  7  19:51    Nov 14  13:52    Nov 21  08:33   
 Nov 29  12:18    Dec  7  09:03    Dec 14  00:06    Dec 21  01:56   
 Dec 29  06:53   ---
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
Greenwich Mean Time
The following table gives the date and time of the important astronomical events for the year. The times listed are for Greenwich Mean Time.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   
   Greenwich Mean Time  
 January - June   July - December 
Date     GMT   Event        (h:m)Jan 02  05:30  LAST QUARTER MOON     02  11:53  Moon at Apogee: 404279 km    02  23     Earth at Perihelion: 0.98330 AU    03  03:35  Spica 4.7°S of Moon    03  18:45  Mars 1.5°S of Moon    04  08     Quadrantid Meteor Shower    06  23:57  Venus 3.1°S of Moon    07  04:57  Saturn 3.3°S of Moon    07  11:34  Venus 6.3°N of Antares    08  18     Mercury at Perihelion     09  08     Venus 0.1°N of Saturn    10  01:30  NEW MOON     14  14     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction     14  15:48  Moon at Descending Node     15  02:10  Moon at Perigee: 369619 km    16  23:26  FIRST QUARTER MOON     20  02:16  Aldebaran 0.5°S of Moon    24  01:46  FULL MOON     26  05:10  Regulus 2.5°N of Moon    27  23:58  Moon at Ascending Node     28  01:14  Jupiter 1.4°N of Moon    30  09:10  Moon at Apogee: 404553 km    30  11:35  Spica 5.0°S of MoonFeb 01  03:28  LAST QUARTER MOON     01  08:48  Mars 2.7°S of Moon    03  19:05  Saturn 3.5°S of Moon    06  07:32  Venus 4.3°S of Moon    06  16:47  Mercury 3.8°S of Moon    07  01     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 25.6°W    08  14:39  NEW MOON     10  20:46  Moon at Descending Node     11  02:42  Moon at Perigee: 364358 km    13  03     Mercury 4.0°N of Venus    15  07:46  FIRST QUARTER MOON     16  07:41  Aldebaran 0.3°S of Moon    21  17     Mercury at Aphelion     22  12:48  Regulus 2.5°N of Moon    22  18:20  FULL MOON     24  03:58  Jupiter 1.7°N of Moon    24  06:10  Moon at Ascending Node     26  19:05  Spica 5.1°S of Moon    27  03:28  Moon at Apogee: 405383 km    28  15     Neptune in Conjunction with Sun     29  18:16  Mars 3.6°S of MoonMar 01  23:11  LAST QUARTER MOON     02  06:53  Saturn 3.6°S of Moon    07  10:54  Venus 3.5°S of Moon    08  10     Jupiter at Opposition     09  01:54  NEW MOON     09  01:57  Total Solar Eclipse; mag=1.045    09  06:31  Moon at Descending Node     10  07:02  Moon at Perigee: 359509 km    14  13:44  Aldebaran 0.3°S of Moon    15  17:03  FIRST QUARTER MOON     20  04:31  Vernal Equinox     20  14     Venus at Aphelion     20  19:05  Regulus 2.5°N of Moon    22  03:57  Jupiter 2.1°N of Moon    22  12:59  Moon at Ascending Node     23  11:47  Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.775    23  12:01  FULL MOON     23  20     Mercury at Superior Conjunction     25  01:50  Spica 5.1°S of Moon    25  14:16  Moon at Apogee: 406125 km    28  18:45  Mars 4.2°S of Moon    29  14:58  Saturn 3.5°S of Moon    31  15:17  LAST QUARTER MOON Apr 05  17     Mercury at Perihelion     05  17:27  Moon at Descending Node     06  08:30  Venus 0.7°S of Moon: Occn.    07  11:24  NEW MOON     07  17:36  Moon at Perigee: 357164 km    08  10:35  Mercury 5.2°N of Moon    09  21     Uranus in Conjunction with Sun     10  22:05  Aldebaran 0.4°S of Moon    14  03:59  FIRST QUARTER MOON     17  00:46  Regulus 2.5°N of Moon    18  04:42  Jupiter 2.2°N of Moon    18  14     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 19.9°E    18  18:04  Moon at Ascending Node     21  07:59  Spica 5.1°S of Moon    21  16:05  Moon at Apogee: 406352 km    22  05:24  FULL MOON     22  05     Lyrid Meteor Shower    25  04:13  Mars 4.9°S of Moon    25  19:28  Saturn 3.3°S of Moon    27  13:51  Mars 4.8°N of Antares    28  08:14  Mercury 3.0°S of Pleiades    30  03:29  LAST QUARTER MOON May 03  01:27  Moon at Descending Node     04  19     Eta-Aquarid Meteor Shower    06  04:14  Moon at Perigee: 357828 km    06  19:30  NEW MOON     08  08:21  Aldebaran 0.5°S of Moon    09  15     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction     13  17:02  FIRST QUARTER MOON     14  07:06  Regulus 2.3°N of Moon    15  09:30  Jupiter 2.0°N of Moon    15  20:39  Moon at Ascending Node     18  14:07  Spica 5.1°S of Moon    18  22:06  Moon at Apogee: 405934 km    21  21:15  FULL MOON     22  11     Mars at Opposition     22  21:59  Saturn 3.2°S of Moon    29  12:12  LAST QUARTER MOON     30  04:45  Moon at Descending Node Jun 03  06     Saturn at Opposition     03  09:47  Mercury 0.7°N of Moon: Occn.    03  10:55  Moon at Perigee: 361142 km    05  03:00  NEW MOON     05  09     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 24.2°W    06  22     Venus at Superior Conjunction     10  14:47  Regulus 2.0°N of Moon    11  19:35  Jupiter 1.5°N of Moon    11  22:20  Moon at Ascending Node     12  08:10  FIRST QUARTER MOON     13  10:06  Mercury 6.4°S of Pleiades    14  20:47  Spica 5.3°S of Moon    15  12:00  Moon at Apogee: 405022 km    19  00:40  Saturn 3.3°S of Moon    19  03:39  Mercury 3.7°N of Aldebaran    20  11:02  FULL MOON     20  22:35  Summer Solstice     26  05:28  Moon at Descending Node     27  18:19  LAST QUARTER MOON 
Date     GMT   Event        (h:m)Jul 01  06:45  Moon at Perigee: 365983 km    02  03:58  Aldebaran 0.4°S of Moon    02  16     Mercury at Perihelion     04  11:01  NEW MOON     04  16     Earth at Aphelion: 1.01675 AU    07  03     Mercury at Superior Conjunction     07  23:33  Regulus 1.8°N of Moon    09  01:41  Moon at Ascending Node     09  10:08  Jupiter 0.9°N of Moon: Occn.    10  23     Venus at Perihelion     12  00:52  FIRST QUARTER MOON     12  04:13  Spica 5.6°S of Moon    13  05:24  Moon at Apogee: 404272 km    16  05:11  Saturn 3.4°S of Moon    16  23     Mercury 0.5°N of Venus    19  22:57  FULL MOON     23  07:49  Moon at Descending Node     26  23:00  LAST QUARTER MOON     27  11:25  Moon at Perigee: 369659 km    27  21     Delta-Aquarid Meteor Shower    29  10:53  Aldebaran 0.3°S of Moon    30  15:55  Mercury 0.3°N of RegulusAug 02  20:45  NEW MOON     04  06:19  Venus 2.9°N of Moon    04  22:12  Mercury 0.6°N of Moon: Occn.    05  07:48  Moon at Ascending Node     05  11:57  Venus 1.0°N of Regulus    06  03:28  Jupiter 0.2°N of Moon: Occn.    08  12:08  Spica 5.8°S of Moon    10  00:05  Moon at Apogee: 404266 km    10  18:21  FIRST QUARTER MOON     12  12:10  Saturn 3.7°S of Moon    12  12     Perseid Meteor Shower    15  16     Mercury at Aphelion     16  21     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 27.4°E    18  09:27  FULL MOON     19  14:14  Moon at Descending Node     20  06     Mercury 3.8°S of Jupiter    22  01:20  Moon at Perigee: 367047 km    24  05:09  Mars 1.8°N of Antares    25  01     Mars 4.3°S of Saturn    25  03:41  LAST QUARTER MOON     25  16:21  Aldebaran 0.2°S of Moon    27  22     Venus 0.1°N of Jupiter    28  20     Mercury 5.0°S of VenusSep 01  09:03  NEW MOON     01  09:07  Annular Solar Eclipse; mag=0.974    01  15:27  Moon at Ascending Node     02  15     Neptune at Opposition     03  10:33  Venus 1.1°S of Moon: Occn.    04  19:56  Spica 5.8°S of Moon    04  20:05  Saturn 5.9°N of Antares    06  18:44  Moon at Apogee: 405059 km    08  21:23  Saturn 3.8°S of Moon    09  11:49  FIRST QUARTER MOON     13  00     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction     15  23:55  Moon at Descending Node     16  18:54  Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.908    16  19:05  FULL MOON     18  15:15  Venus 2.2°N of Spica    18  17:00  Moon at Perigee: 361894 km    21  22:13  Aldebaran 0.2°S of Moon    22  14:21  Autumnal Equinox     23  09:56  LAST QUARTER MOON     26  06     Jupiter in Conjunction with Sun     27  22:32  Regulus 1.7°N of Moon    28  15     Mercury at Perihelion     28  19     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 17.9°W    28  22:06  Moon at Ascending Node     29  10:42  Mercury 0.7°N of Moon: Occn.Oct 01  00:12  NEW MOON     03  17:30  Venus 5.0°S of Moon    04  11:02  Moon at Apogee: 406100 km    06  08:04  Saturn 3.8°S of Moon    09  04:33  FIRST QUARTER MOON     11  10     Mercury 0.8°N of Jupiter    13  09:43  Moon at Descending Node     15  10     Uranus at Opposition     16  04:23  FULL MOON     16  23:36  Moon at Perigee: 357860 km    19  06:18  Aldebaran 0.3°S of Moon    21  05     Orionid Meteor Shower    22  19:14  LAST QUARTER MOON     25  04:01  Regulus 1.6°N of Moon    26  01:44  Moon at Ascending Node     26  10:56  Venus 3.0°N of Antares    27  16     Mercury at Superior Conjunction     28  09:33  Jupiter 1.4°S of Moon    29  13     Mars at Perihelion:  1.38124 AU    30  02     Venus 3.0°S of Saturn    30  17:38  NEW MOON     31  19:29  Moon at Apogee: 406660 kmNov 02  19:38  Saturn 3.7°S of Moon    05  05     S Taurid Meteor Shower    06  12:07  Mars 5.3°S of Moon    07  19:51  FIRST QUARTER MOON     09  15:57  Moon at Descending Node     12  04     N Taurid Meteor Shower    14  11:23  Moon at Perigee: 356512 km    14  13:52  FULL MOON     15  16:50  Aldebaran 0.4°S of Moon    17  11     Leonid Meteor Shower    19  17:51  Beehive 4.3°N of Moon    21  08:33  LAST QUARTER MOON     21  10:08  Regulus 1.3°N of Moon    22  02:48  Moon at Ascending Node     23  19     Mercury 3.4°S of Saturn    25  01:47  Jupiter 1.9°S of Moon    27  20:08  Moon at Apogee: 406556 km    29  12:18  NEW MOON Dec 03  12:34  Venus 5.8°S of Moon    05  10:39  Mars 2.9°S of Moon    06  17:35  Moon at Descending Node     07  09:03  FIRST QUARTER MOON     10  11     Saturn in Conjunction with Sun     11  04     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 20.8°E    12  23:27  Moon at Perigee: 358463 km    13  04:14  Aldebaran 0.5°S of Moon    14  00     Geminid Meteor Shower    14  00:06  FULL MOON     17  03:17  Beehive 4.1°N of Moon    18  18:13  Regulus 1.0°N of Moon    19  04:46  Moon at Ascending Node     21  01:56  LAST QUARTER MOON     21  10:45  Winter Solstice     22  08     Ursid Meteor Shower    22  16:37  Jupiter 2.4°S of Moon    25  05:55  Moon at Apogee: 405870 km    25  15     Mercury at Perihelion     28  19     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction     29  06:53  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
Europe, Africa, and the Middle East
Below are links to calendars of astronomical events from 2011 to 2020 for five time zones 
in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. 
Choose a time zone and click on a year to get a calendar of astronomical events for that year.
   Calendar of Astronomical Events - Europe, Africa, & Middle East
   GMT    2011     2012     2013     2014     2015     2016     2017     2018     2019     2020 
   CET    2011     2012     2013     2014     2015     2016     2017     2018     2019     2020 
   EET    2011     2012     2013     2014     2015     2016     2017     2018     2019     2020 
   MSK    2011     2012     2013     2014     2015     2016     2017     2018     2019     2020 
   GST    2011     2012     2013     2014     2015     2016     2017     2018     2019     2020 
        Time Zones Abbreviations
        • GMT = Greenwich Mean Time 
        • CET = Central European Time (= GMT + 1 hour)
        • EET = Eastern European Time (= GMT + 2 hours)
        • MSK = Moscow Time (= GMT + 3 hours)
        • GST = Gulf Standard Time (= GMT + 4 hours)
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