2016 Sky Event Almanac
Alaska Standard Time
The following table gives the date and time of the important astronomical events for the year. The times listed are for Alaska Standard Time (Coordinated Universal Time − 9 hours) . This time zone may have different names in different countries. If Daylight Saving Time is in effect, add one hour to the times listed. A key to astronomical terms appears below the almanac.
| 2016 Sky Event Almanac | ||||||||
| Alaska Standard Time | ||||||||
| January - June | July - December | |||||||
Date AKST Even
(h:m)
Jan 01 20:30 LAST QUARTER MOON
02 02:53 Moon at Apogee: 404279 km
02 14 Earth at Perihelion: 0.98330 AU
03 09:45 Mars 1.5°S of Moon
03 23 Quadrantid Meteor Shower
06 14:57 Venus 3.1°S of Moon
06 19:57 Saturn 3.3°S of Moon
08 09 Mercury at Perihelion
08 23 Venus 0.1°N of Saturn
09 16:30 NEW MOON
14 05 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
14 06:48 Moon at Descending Node
14 17:10 Moon at Perigee: 369619 km
16 14:26 FIRST QUARTER MOON
19 17:16 Aldebaran 0.5°S of Moon
23 16:46 FULL MOON
25 20:10 Regulus 2.5°N of Moon
27 14:58 Moon at Ascending Node
27 16:14 Jupiter 1.4°N of Moon
30 00:10 Moon at Apogee: 404553 km
31 18:28 LAST QUARTER MOON
31 23:48 Mars 2.7°S of Moon
Feb 03 10:05 Saturn 3.5°S of Moon
05 22:32 Venus 4.3°S of Moon
06 07:47 Mercury 3.8°S of Moon
06 16 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 25.6°W
08 05:39 NEW MOON
10 11:46 Moon at Descending Node
10 17:42 Moon at Perigee: 364358 km
12 18 Mercury 4.0°N of Venus
14 22:46 FIRST QUARTER MOON
15 22:41 Aldebaran 0.3°S of Moon
21 08 Mercury at Aphelion
22 03:48 Regulus 2.5°N of Moon
22 09:20 FULL MOON
23 18:58 Jupiter 1.7°N of Moon
23 21:10 Moon at Ascending Node
26 18:28 Moon at Apogee: 405383 km
28 06 Neptune in Conjunction with Sun
29 09:16 Mars 3.6°S of Moon
Mar 01 14:11 LAST QUARTER MOON
01 21:53 Saturn 3.6°S of Moon
07 01:54 Venus 3.5°S of Moon
08 01 Jupiter at Opposition
08 16:54 NEW MOON
08 16:57 Total Solar Eclipse; mag=1.045
08 21:31 Moon at Descending Node
09 22:02 Moon at Perigee: 359509 km
14 04:44 Aldebaran 0.3°S of Moon
15 08:03 FIRST QUARTER MOON
19 19:31 Vernal Equinox
20 05 Venus at Aphelion
20 10:05 Regulus 2.5°N of Moon
21 18:57 Jupiter 2.1°N of Moon
22 03:59 Moon at Ascending Node
23 02:47 Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.775
23 03:01 FULL MOON
23 11 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
25 05:16 Moon at Apogee: 406125 km
28 09:45 Mars 4.2°S of Moon
29 05:58 Saturn 3.5°S of Moon
31 06:17 LAST QUARTER MOON
Apr 05 08 Mercury at Perihelion
05 08:27 Moon at Descending Node
05 23:30 Venus 0.7°S of Moon: Occn.
07 02:24 NEW MOON
07 08:36 Moon at Perigee: 357164 km
09 12 Uranus in Conjunction with Sun
10 13:05 Aldebaran 0.4°S of Moon
13 18:59 FIRST QUARTER MOON
16 15:46 Regulus 2.5°N of Moon
17 19:42 Jupiter 2.2°N of Moon
18 05 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 19.9°E
18 09:04 Moon at Ascending Node
21 07:05 Moon at Apogee: 406352 km
21 20:24 FULL MOON
21 20 Lyrid Meteor Shower
25 10:28 Saturn 3.3°S of Moon
27 04:51 Mars 4.8°N of Antares
29 18:29 LAST QUARTER MOON
May 02 16:27 Moon at Descending Node
04 10 Eta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
05 19:14 Moon at Perigee: 357828 km
06 10:30 NEW MOON
07 23:21 Aldebaran 0.5°S of Moon
09 06 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
13 08:02 FIRST QUARTER MOON
13 22:06 Regulus 2.3°N of Moon
15 00:30 Jupiter 2.0°N of Moon
15 11:39 Moon at Ascending Node
18 13:06 Moon at Apogee: 405934 km
21 12:15 FULL MOON
22 02 Mars at Opposition
22 12:59 Saturn 3.2°S of Moon
29 03:12 LAST QUARTER MOON
29 19:45 Moon at Descending Node
Jun 02 21 Saturn at Opposition
03 00:47 Mercury 0.7°N of Moon: Occn.
03 01:55 Moon at Perigee: 361142 km
04 18:00 NEW MOON
05 00 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 24.2°W
06 13 Venus at Superior Conjunction
10 05:47 Regulus 2.0°N of Moon
11 10:35 Jupiter 1.5°N of Moon
11 13:20 Moon at Ascending Node
11 23:10 FIRST QUARTER MOON
15 03:00 Moon at Apogee: 405022 km
18 15:40 Saturn 3.3°S of Moon
18 18:39 Mercury 3.7°N of Aldebaran
20 02:02 FULL MOON
20 13:35 Summer Solstice
25 20:28 Moon at Descending Node
27 09:19 LAST QUARTER MOON
30 21:45 Moon at Perigee: 365983 km
|
Date AKST Even
(h:m)
Jul 01 18:58 Aldebaran 0.4°S of Moon
02 07 Mercury at Perihelion
04 02:01 NEW MOON
04 07 Earth at Aphelion: 1.01675 AU
06 18 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
07 14:33 Regulus 1.8°N of Moon
08 16:41 Moon at Ascending Node
09 01:08 Jupiter 0.9°N of Moon: Occn.
10 14 Venus at Perihelion
11 15:52 FIRST QUARTER MOON
12 20:24 Moon at Apogee: 404272 km
15 20:11 Saturn 3.4°S of Moon
19 13:57 FULL MOON
22 22:49 Moon at Descending Node
26 14:00 LAST QUARTER MOON
27 02:25 Moon at Perigee: 369659 km
27 12 Delta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
29 01:53 Aldebaran 0.3°S of Moon
30 06:55 Mercury 0.3°N of Regulus
Aug 02 11:45 NEW MOON
03 21:19 Venus 2.9°N of Moon
03 23:22 Regulus 1.7°N of Moon
04 13:12 Mercury 0.6°N of Moon: Occn.
04 22:48 Moon at Ascending Node
05 02:57 Venus 1.0°N of Regulus
05 18:28 Jupiter 0.2°N of Moon: Occn.
09 15:05 Moon at Apogee: 404266 km
10 09:21 FIRST QUARTER MOON
12 03:10 Saturn 3.7°S of Moon
12 03 Perseid Meteor Shower
15 07 Mercury at Aphelion
16 12 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 27.4°E
18 00:27 FULL MOON
19 05:14 Moon at Descending Node
19 21 Mercury 3.8°S of Jupiter
21 16:20 Moon at Perigee: 367047 km
23 20:09 Mars 1.8°N of Antares
24 16 Mars 4.3°S of Saturn
24 18:41 LAST QUARTER MOON
25 07:21 Aldebaran 0.2°S of Moon
27 13 Venus 0.1°N of Jupiter
Sep 01 00:03 NEW MOON
01 00:07 Annular Solar Eclipse; mag=0.974
01 06:27 Moon at Ascending Node
02 06 Neptune at Opposition
02 12:53 Jupiter 0.4°S of Moon: Occn.
03 01:33 Venus 1.1°S of Moon: Occn.
06 09:44 Moon at Apogee: 405059 km
08 12:23 Saturn 3.8°S of Moon
09 02:49 FIRST QUARTER MOON
12 15 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
15 14:55 Moon at Descending Node
16 09:54 Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.908
16 10:05 FULL MOON
18 06:15 Venus 2.2°N of Spica
18 08:00 Moon at Perigee: 361894 km
21 13:13 Aldebaran 0.2°S of Moon
22 05:21 Autumnal Equinox
23 00:56 LAST QUARTER MOON
25 21 Jupiter in Conjunction with Sun
27 13:32 Regulus 1.7°N of Moon
28 06 Mercury at Perihelion
28 10 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 17.9°W
28 13:06 Moon at Ascending Node
29 01:42 Mercury 0.7°N of Moon: Occn.
30 15:12 NEW MOON
Oct 04 02:02 Moon at Apogee: 406100 km
05 23:04 Saturn 3.8°S of Moon
08 19:33 FIRST QUARTER MOON
13 00:43 Moon at Descending Node
15 01 Uranus at Opposition
15 19:23 FULL MOON
16 14:36 Moon at Perigee: 357860 km
18 21:18 Aldebaran 0.3°S of Moon
20 20 Orionid Meteor Shower
22 10:14 LAST QUARTER MOON
24 19:01 Regulus 1.6°N of Moon
25 16:44 Moon at Ascending Node
26 01:56 Venus 3.0°N of Antares
27 07 Mercury at Superior Conjunction
28 00:33 Jupiter 1.4°S of Moon
29 04 Mars at Perihelion: 1.38124 AU
29 17 Venus 3.0°S of Saturn
30 08:38 NEW MOON
31 10:29 Moon at Apogee: 406660 km
Nov 02 10:38 Saturn 3.7°S of Moon
04 20 S Taurid Meteor Shower
07 10:51 FIRST QUARTER MOON
09 06:57 Moon at Descending Node
11 19 N Taurid Meteor Shower
14 02:23 Moon at Perigee: 356512 km
14 04:52 FULL MOON
15 07:50 Aldebaran 0.4°S of Moon
17 02 Leonid Meteor Shower
20 23:33 LAST QUARTER MOON
21 01:08 Regulus 1.3°N of Moon
21 17:48 Moon at Ascending Node
23 10 Mercury 3.4°S of Saturn
24 16:47 Jupiter 1.9°S of Moon
27 11:08 Moon at Apogee: 406556 km
29 03:18 NEW MOON
Dec 05 01:39 Mars 2.9°S of Moon
06 08:35 Moon at Descending Node
07 00:03 FIRST QUARTER MOON
10 02 Saturn in Conjunction with Sun
10 19 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 20.8°E
12 14:27 Moon at Perigee: 358463 km
12 19:14 Aldebaran 0.5°S of Moon
13 15 Geminid Meteor Shower
13 15:06 FULL MOON
18 09:13 Regulus 1.0°N of Moon
18 19:46 Moon at Ascending Node
20 16:56 LAST QUARTER MOON
21 01:45 Winter Solstice
21 23 Ursid Meteor Shower
22 07:37 Jupiter 2.4°S of Moon
24 20:55 Moon at Apogee: 405870 km
25 06 Mercury at Perihelion
27 12:00 Saturn 3.6°S of Moon
28 10 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
28 21:53 NEW MOON
|
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Terms Used in Sky Event Almanac
- 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
2016 Phases of the Moon
Alaska Standard Time
The following table gives the date and time of the Moon's phases for the year. The times listed are for Alaska Standard Time (Coordinated Universal Time − 9 hours) . This time zone may have different names in different countries. If Daylight Saving Time is in effect, add one hour to the times listed.
| 2016 Phases of the Moon | |||
| Alaska Standard Time | |||
| New Moon | First Quarter | Full Moon | Last Quarter |
| - | - | - | Jan 01 20:30 |
| Jan 09 16:30 | Jan 16 14:26 | Jan 23 16:46 | Jan 31 18:28 |
| Feb 08 05:39 | Feb 14 22:46 | Feb 22 09:20 | Mar 01 14:11 |
| Mar 08 16:54 T | Mar 15 08:03 | Mar 23 03:01 n | Mar 31 06:17 |
| Apr 07 02:24 | Apr 13 18:59 | Apr 21 20:24 | Apr 29 18:29 |
| May 06 10:30 | May 13 08:02 | May 21 12:15 | May 29 03:12 |
| Jun 04 18:00 | Jun 11 23:10 | Jun 20 02:02 | Jun 27 09:19 |
| Jul 04 02:01 | Jul 11 15:52 | Jul 19 13:57 | Jul 26 14:00 |
| Aug 02 11:45 | Aug 10 09:21 | Aug 18 00:27 | Aug 24 18:41 |
| Sep 01 00:03 A | Sep 09 02:49 | Sep 16 10:05 n | Sep 23 00:56 |
| Sep 30 15:12 | Oct 08 19:33 | Oct 15 19:23 | Oct 22 10:14 |
| Oct 30 08:38 | Nov 07 10:51 | Nov 14 04:52 | Nov 20 23:33 |
| Nov 29 03:18 | Dec 07 00:03 | Dec 13 15:06 | Dec 20 16:56 |
| Dec 28 21:53 | - | - | - |
For a collection of images showing the Moon's phases see: Phases of the Moon Photo Gallery.
The Phases of the Moon table also shows when an eclipse takes place. 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 Phases of the Moon table. 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.
Solar Eclipses
The following table contains links to a series of web pages covering the 21st Century. Each one summarizes ten years of solar eclipses. Every eclipse has links to a global visibility map, an interactive Google map, tables, and additional information.
| Decade Pages of Solar Eclipses | |||||
| Decades | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-2010 | 2011-2020 | 2021-2030 | 2031-2040 | 2041-2050 | |
| 2051-2060 | 2061-2070 | 2071-2080 | 2081-2090 | 2091-2100 | |
Lunar Eclipses
The following table contains links to a series of web pages covering the 21st Century. Each one summarizes ten years of lunar eclipses. Every eclipse has links to an eclipse diagram, a global visibility map, tables, and additional information.
| Decade Pages of Lunar Eclipses | |||||
| Decades | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-2010 | 2011-2020 | 2021-2030 | 2031-2040 | 2041-2050 | |
| 2051-2060 | 2061-2070 | 2071-2080 | 2081-2090 | 2091-2100 | |
Sky Event Almanacs: 2011 to 2020
The Americas
Below are links to sky event almanacs from 2011 to 2020 for eight time zones in the Americas.
Choose a time zone and click on a year to get a sky event almanac for that year.
| Sky Event Almanacs - The Americas | |||||||||||||||
| ART | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |||||
| 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 | |||||
- ART = Argentina Time (= UTC - 3 hours)
- AST = Atlantic Standard Time (= UTC - 4 hours)
- EST = Eastern Standard Time (= UTC - 5 hours)
- CST = Central Standard Time (= UTC - 6 hours)
- MST = Mountain Standard Time (= UTC - 7 hours)
- PST = Pacific Standard Time (= UTC - 8 hours)
- AKST = Alaskan Standard Time (= UTC - 9 hours)
- HST = Hawaiian Standard Time (= UTC - 10 hours)
(where UTC = Coordinated Universal Time)
- Time Zones Abbreviations
A time zone may have a different name in different countries. Note the difference in hours between a given time zone and Coordinated Universal Time to help in identification.
For other years and other time zones, visit: Sky Event Almanacs.
Accuracy of the Sky Event Almanacs
The goal of the Sky Event Almanacs 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 Sky Event Almanacs | |
| 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 |
Fifty Year Almanac of Astronomical Events - 2021 to 2070
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:
- "Sky Event Almanacs Courtesy of Fred Espenak, www.AstroPixels.com".
Return to: Sky Event Almanacs
Return to: Planetary Ephemeris Data
Useful External Links
Interactive Sky Chart (Sky and Telescope)
Sky Maps (sky-map.org)
Astronomical Almanac (Sky and Telescope)
Weather Forecast for Astronomy (Clear Outside)
GOES-East Images (NOAA-GOES)
Astronomy Tools (Astronomy Tools)