2016Calendar of Astronomical Events

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