2016 Sky Event Almanac

Pacific Standard Time

The following table gives the date and time of the important astronomical events for the year. The times listed are for Pacific Standard Time (Coordinated Universal Time − 8 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
Pacific Standard Time
January - June July - December
Date     PST   Event
        (h:m)

Jan 01  21:30  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    02  03:53  Moon at Apogee: 404279 km
    02  15     Earth at Perihelion: 0.98330 AU
    03  10:45  Mars 1.5°S of Moon
    04  00     Quadrantid Meteor Shower
    06  15:57  Venus 3.1°S of Moon
    06  20:57  Saturn 3.3°S of Moon
    08  10     Mercury at Perihelion 
    09  00     Venus 0.1°N of Saturn
    09  17:30  NEW MOON 
    14  06     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction 
    14  07:48  Moon at Descending Node 
    14  18:10  Moon at Perigee: 369619 km
    16  15:26  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    19  18:16  Aldebaran 0.5°S of Moon
    23  17:46  FULL MOON 
    25  21:10  Regulus 2.5°N of Moon
    27  15:58  Moon at Ascending Node 
    27  17:14  Jupiter 1.4°N of Moon
    30  01:10  Moon at Apogee: 404553 km
    31  19:28  LAST QUARTER MOON 

Feb 01  00:48  Mars 2.7°S of Moon
    03  11:05  Saturn 3.5°S of Moon
    05  23:32  Venus 4.3°S of Moon
    06  08:47  Mercury 3.8°S of Moon
    06  17     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 25.6°W
    08  06:39  NEW MOON 
    10  12:46  Moon at Descending Node 
    10  18:42  Moon at Perigee: 364358 km
    12  19     Mercury 4.0°N of Venus
    14  23:46  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    15  23:41  Aldebaran 0.3°S of Moon
    21  09     Mercury at Aphelion 
    22  04:48  Regulus 2.5°N of Moon
    22  10:20  FULL MOON 
    23  19:58  Jupiter 1.7°N of Moon
    23  22:10  Moon at Ascending Node 
    26  19:28  Moon at Apogee: 405383 km
    28  07     Neptune in Conjunction with Sun 
    29  10:16  Mars 3.6°S of Moon

Mar 01  15:11  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    01  22:53  Saturn 3.6°S of Moon
    07  02:54  Venus 3.5°S of Moon
    08  02     Jupiter at Opposition 
    08  17:54  NEW MOON 
    08  17:57  Total Solar Eclipse; mag=1.045
    08  22:31  Moon at Descending Node 
    09  23:02  Moon at Perigee: 359509 km
    14  05:44  Aldebaran 0.3°S of Moon
    15  09:03  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    19  20:31  Vernal Equinox 
    20  06     Venus at Aphelion 
    20  11:05  Regulus 2.5°N of Moon
    21  19:57  Jupiter 2.1°N of Moon
    22  04:59  Moon at Ascending Node 
    23  03:47  Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.775
    23  04:01  FULL MOON 
    23  12     Mercury at Superior Conjunction 
    25  06:16  Moon at Apogee: 406125 km
    28  10:45  Mars 4.2°S of Moon
    29  06:58  Saturn 3.5°S of Moon
    31  07:17  LAST QUARTER MOON 

Apr 05  09     Mercury at Perihelion 
    05  09:27  Moon at Descending Node 
    06  00:30  Venus 0.7°S of Moon: Occn.
    07  03:24  NEW MOON 
    07  09:36  Moon at Perigee: 357164 km
    09  13     Uranus in Conjunction with Sun 
    10  14:05  Aldebaran 0.4°S of Moon
    13  19:59  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    16  16:46  Regulus 2.5°N of Moon
    17  20:42  Jupiter 2.2°N of Moon
    18  06     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 19.9°E
    18  10:04  Moon at Ascending Node 
    21  08:05  Moon at Apogee: 406352 km
    21  21:24  FULL MOON 
    21  21     Lyrid Meteor Shower
    25  11:28  Saturn 3.3°S of Moon
    27  05:51  Mars 4.8°N of Antares
    29  19:29  LAST QUARTER MOON 

May 02  17:27  Moon at Descending Node 
    04  11     Eta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
    05  20:14  Moon at Perigee: 357828 km
    06  11:30  NEW MOON 
    08  00:21  Aldebaran 0.5°S of Moon
    09  07     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction 
    13  09:02  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    13  23:06  Regulus 2.3°N of Moon
    15  01:30  Jupiter 2.0°N of Moon
    15  12:39  Moon at Ascending Node 
    18  14:06  Moon at Apogee: 405934 km
    21  13:15  FULL MOON 
    22  03     Mars at Opposition 
    22  13:59  Saturn 3.2°S of Moon
    29  04:12  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    29  20:45  Moon at Descending Node 

Jun 02  22     Saturn at Opposition 
    03  01:47  Mercury 0.7°N of Moon: Occn.
    03  02:55  Moon at Perigee: 361142 km
    04  19:00  NEW MOON 
    05  01     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 24.2°W
    06  14     Venus at Superior Conjunction 
    10  06:47  Regulus 2.0°N of Moon
    11  11:35  Jupiter 1.5°N of Moon
    11  14:20  Moon at Ascending Node 
    12  00:10  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    15  04:00  Moon at Apogee: 405022 km
    18  16:40  Saturn 3.3°S of Moon
    18  19:39  Mercury 3.7°N of Aldebaran
    20  03:02  FULL MOON 
    20  14:35  Summer Solstice 
    25  21:28  Moon at Descending Node 
    27  10:19  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    30  22:45  Moon at Perigee: 365983 km

Date     PST   Event
        (h:m)

Jul 01  19:58  Aldebaran 0.4°S of Moon
    02  08     Mercury at Perihelion 
    04  03:01  NEW MOON 
    04  08     Earth at Aphelion: 1.01675 AU
    06  19     Mercury at Superior Conjunction 
    07  15:33  Regulus 1.8°N of Moon
    08  17:41  Moon at Ascending Node 
    09  02:08  Jupiter 0.9°N of Moon: Occn.
    10  15     Venus at Perihelion 
    11  16:52  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    12  21:24  Moon at Apogee: 404272 km
    15  21:11  Saturn 3.4°S of Moon
    19  14:57  FULL MOON 
    22  23:49  Moon at Descending Node 
    26  15:00  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    27  03:25  Moon at Perigee: 369659 km
    27  13     Delta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
    29  02:53  Aldebaran 0.3°S of Moon
    30  07:55  Mercury 0.3°N of Regulus

Aug 02  12:45  NEW MOON 
    03  22:19  Venus 2.9°N of Moon
    04  00:22  Regulus 1.7°N of Moon
    04  14:12  Mercury 0.6°N of Moon: Occn.
    04  23:48  Moon at Ascending Node 
    05  03:57  Venus 1.0°N of Regulus
    05  19:28  Jupiter 0.2°N of Moon: Occn.
    09  16:05  Moon at Apogee: 404266 km
    10  10:21  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    12  04:10  Saturn 3.7°S of Moon
    12  04     Perseid Meteor Shower
    15  08     Mercury at Aphelion 
    16  13     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 27.4°E
    18  01:27  FULL MOON 
    19  06:14  Moon at Descending Node 
    19  22     Mercury 3.8°S of Jupiter
    21  17:20  Moon at Perigee: 367047 km
    23  21:09  Mars 1.8°N of Antares
    24  17     Mars 4.3°S of Saturn
    24  19:41  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    25  08:21  Aldebaran 0.2°S of Moon
    27  14     Venus 0.1°N of Jupiter

Sep 01  01:03  NEW MOON 
    01  01:07  Annular Solar Eclipse; mag=0.974
    01  07:27  Moon at Ascending Node 
    02  07     Neptune at Opposition 
    02  13:53  Jupiter 0.4°S of Moon: Occn.
    03  02:33  Venus 1.1°S of Moon: Occn.
    06  10:44  Moon at Apogee: 405059 km
    08  13:23  Saturn 3.8°S of Moon
    09  03:49  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    12  16     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction 
    15  15:55  Moon at Descending Node 
    16  10:54  Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.908
    16  11:05  FULL MOON 
    18  07:15  Venus 2.2°N of Spica
    18  09:00  Moon at Perigee: 361894 km
    21  14:13  Aldebaran 0.2°S of Moon
    22  06:21  Autumnal Equinox 
    23  01:56  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    25  22     Jupiter in Conjunction with Sun 
    27  14:32  Regulus 1.7°N of Moon
    28  07     Mercury at Perihelion 
    28  11     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 17.9°W
    28  14:06  Moon at Ascending Node 
    29  02:42  Mercury 0.7°N of Moon: Occn.
    30  16:12  NEW MOON 

Oct 04  03:02  Moon at Apogee: 406100 km
    06  00:04  Saturn 3.8°S of Moon
    08  20:33  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    13  01:43  Moon at Descending Node 
    15  02     Uranus at Opposition 
    15  20:23  FULL MOON 
    16  15:36  Moon at Perigee: 357860 km
    18  22:18  Aldebaran 0.3°S of Moon
    20  21     Orionid Meteor Shower
    22  11:14  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    24  20:01  Regulus 1.6°N of Moon
    25  17:44  Moon at Ascending Node 
    26  02:56  Venus 3.0°N of Antares
    27  08     Mercury at Superior Conjunction 
    28  01:33  Jupiter 1.4°S of Moon
    29  05     Mars at Perihelion:  1.38124 AU
    29  18     Venus 3.0°S of Saturn
    30  09:38  NEW MOON 
    31  11:29  Moon at Apogee: 406660 km

Nov 02  11:38  Saturn 3.7°S of Moon
    04  21     S Taurid Meteor Shower
    07  11:51  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    09  07:57  Moon at Descending Node 
    11  20     N Taurid Meteor Shower
    14  03:23  Moon at Perigee: 356512 km
    14  05:52  FULL MOON 
    15  08:50  Aldebaran 0.4°S of Moon
    17  03     Leonid Meteor Shower
    21  00:33  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    21  02:08  Regulus 1.3°N of Moon
    21  18:48  Moon at Ascending Node 
    23  11     Mercury 3.4°S of Saturn
    24  17:47  Jupiter 1.9°S of Moon
    27  12:08  Moon at Apogee: 406556 km
    29  04:18  NEW MOON 

Dec 05  02:39  Mars 2.9°S of Moon
    06  09:35  Moon at Descending Node 
    07  01:03  FIRST QUARTER MOON 
    10  03     Saturn in Conjunction with Sun 
    10  20     Mercury at Greatest Elong: 20.8°E
    12  15:27  Moon at Perigee: 358463 km
    12  20:14  Aldebaran 0.5°S of Moon
    13  16     Geminid Meteor Shower
    13  16:06  FULL MOON 
    18  10:13  Regulus 1.0°N of Moon
    18  20:46  Moon at Ascending Node 
    20  17:56  LAST QUARTER MOON 
    21  02:45  Winter Solstice 
    22  00     Ursid Meteor Shower
    22  08:37  Jupiter 2.4°S of Moon
    24  21:55  Moon at Apogee: 405870 km
    25  07     Mercury at Perihelion 
    27  13:00  Saturn 3.6°S of Moon
    28  11     Mercury at Inferior Conjunction 
    28  22:53  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

Pacific Standard Time

The following table gives the date and time of the Moon's phases for the year. The times listed are for Pacific Standard Time (Coordinated Universal Time − 8 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
Pacific Standard Time
New Moon First Quarter Full Moon Last Quarter
--- Jan 01 21:30
Jan 09 17:30 Jan 16 15:26 Jan 23 17:46 Jan 31 19:28
Feb 08 06:39 Feb 14 23:46 Feb 22 10:20 Mar 01 15:11
Mar 08 17:54 T Mar 15 09:03 Mar 23 04:01 n Mar 31 07:17
Apr 07 03:24 Apr 13 19:59 Apr 21 21:24 Apr 29 19:29
May 06 11:30 May 13 09:02 May 21 13:15 May 29 04:12
Jun 04 19:00 Jun 12 00:10 Jun 20 03:02 Jun 27 10:19
Jul 04 03:01 Jul 11 16:52 Jul 19 14:57 Jul 26 15:00
Aug 02 12:45 Aug 10 10:21 Aug 18 01:27 Aug 24 19:41
Sep 01 01:03 A Sep 09 03:49 Sep 16 11:05 n Sep 23 01:56
Sep 30 16:12 Oct 08 20:33 Oct 15 20:23 Oct 22 11:14
Oct 30 09:38 Nov 07 11:51 Nov 14 05:52 Nov 21 00:33
Nov 29 04:18 Dec 07 01:03 Dec 13 16:06 Dec 20 17:56
Dec 28 22:53 ---

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

        Time Zones Abbreviations
        • 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)

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

book

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)
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Astronomy Tools (Astronomy Tools)