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