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