Categories: AstronomyObservingSkywatching

The Top 101 Astronomical Events for 2016

Camping out under dark skies. Image credit and copyright: Michelle Nixon/MNixon Photography

Here it is… our year end look at upcoming events in a sky near you. We’ve been doing this “blog post that takes four months to write” now on one platform or another every year since 2009, and every year, it gets bigger and more diverse, thanks to reader input. This is not a top 10 listicle, and not a full-fledged almanac, but hopefully, something special and unique in between. And as always, some of the events listed will be seen by a large swath of humanity, while others grace the hinterlands and may well go unrecorded by human eyes. We’ll explain our reasoning for drilling down each category, and give a handy list of resources at the end.

Click on any of the graphics included for the top events for each month to enlarge.

Here’s our quick picks for the very best astronomical events for 2016:

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– Comet C/2013 US10 Catalina continues to perform as a binocular comet through January.

– Mars reaches opposition on May 22^nd.

-Mercury transits the Sun on May 9th, the first time it has done so since 2006.

-A close grouping of Venus and Jupiter on August 27^th.

-A total solar eclipse of the Sun crossing southeast Asia on March 9^th.

-A fine series of occultations of the bright star Aldebaran by the Moon continues, including a fine nighttime event on January 20^th for North America.

-An annular solar eclipse across central Africa on September 1^st.

And check out this nifty simulation of lunar phases for 2016 courtesy of the NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter:

No dawn or dusk elongations of the planet Venus occur in 2016. The last time Venus experienced an ‘elongationless year’ was 2008, and the next is 2024, right in step with the 8-year cycle of Venus. 2016 also sees the Sun coming off of the maximum for solar cycle #24, and its anyone’s guess as to whether we’ll slide into another profound minimum, or if cycle #25 will occur at all. This will also impact the appearance of sunspots and aurorae for the year to come.

And speaking of the Sun, here’s what the joint NASA/ESA Solar Heliospheric Observatory will see crossing its 15 degree-wide LASCO C3 camera in 2016:

Solar system objects transiting the field of view of SOHO’s LASCO C2 and C3 cameras. Note that you can not only see the 2016 transit of Mercury, but the Sun will also occult Venus. Image credit: Worachate Boonplod

Update: Christopher Becke (@BeckePhysics) was kind enough to compile the events in a handy iCal download and Html link format… thanks!

The Rules

Here’s what we looked for this year in each category to ‘make the cut:’

-Asteroid occultations: events with a 99% probability of occulting of stars brighter than +8^th magnitude.

-Double shadow transits: events involving the Jovian moons farther than 10 degrees from the Sun.

-Known comets expected to break +10 magnitude brightness and visible in binoculars. Remember though, the next ‘great comet’ could still show up at any time!

-Conjunctions of naked eye planets passing closer than one degree apart.

-Occultations involving the Moon and naked eye planets, or the ‘bright four’ stars along the Moon’s path (Aldebaran, Spica, Regulus or Antares).

-There are 4 eclipses in 2016 – two lunar and two solar — the minimum that can occur in a calendar year. There are no total lunar eclipses in 2016, just two faint penumbrals.

-Weirdness: Yes, Moons super, mini, black & blue are more are included. These are more of a modern cultural phenomenon than a true astronomical event, sure, but the public loves ’em, and we continue to include ’em.

-Meteor showers: annual showers with an expected zenithal hourly rate of 10 or higher.

-Times are quoted in Universal Time (UT being approximately equal to UTC/Zulu and GMT) with a 24 hour clock, and we’ve occasionally quoted EST-centric Eastern Standard/Daylight Time as needed.

Ready? Here we go…

Venus and Saturn paired together on January 9th. Image credit: Stellarium

January

1- Comet C/2013 X1 PanSTARRS may break binocular brightness at +10^th magnitude.

4- The Quadrantid meteors peak at ~8:00UT/3:00 AM EST, with an estimated ZHR of 120 favoring North America.

9- Venus passes 5’ from Saturn at 4:00 UT/11:00 PM EST (on the 8^th).

20- The 81% illuminated Moon occults Aldebaran at ~2:40UT/9:40 PM EST (on the 19^th) for North America.

A triple play: Mercury, Venus and the waning crescent Moon on the morning of February 6th. Image credit: Stellarium

February

7- Mercury reaches 25.6 degrees western elongation at 5:00 UT/0:00 AM EST.

16- The 59% illuminated Moon occults Aldebaran at 8:05 UT/3:05 AM EST for the northern Pacific.

22- Double shadow transit (Io-Europa) occurs from 20:43-20:46 UT.

26- Double shadow transit (Io-Europa) occurs from 9:39-10:01 UT.

29- Double shadow transit (Io-Europa) occurs from 22:34-23:20 UT.

The total solar eclipse of March 9th. Image credit: NASA/Fred Espenak/GSFC

March

04- Double shadow transit (Io-Europa) occurs from 11:32-12:38 UT.

08- Double shadow transit (Io-Europa) occurs from 00:28-01:56 UT.

08- Jupiter reaches opposition at 10:00 UT/5:00 AM EST.

09- A total solar eclipse spans the Pacific and SE Asia centered on 1:58 UT. The only total solar eclipse of 2016, and the final one until the 2017 total solar eclipse spanning the United States.

09- Double shadow transit (Io-Ganymede) occurs from 18:56-19:11 UT.

11- Double shadow transit (Io-Europa) occurs from 13:24-15:15 UT.

14- The 37% illuminated Moon occults Aldebaran at 14:07 UT/10:07 AM EDT for Central Asia.

15- Double shadow transit (Io-Europa) occurs from 2:21-4:34 UT.

16- Double shadow transit (Io-Ganymede) occurs from 20:51-23:05 UT.

18- Double shadow transit (Io-Europa) occurs from 15:19-17:50 UT.

20- The March northward equinox occurs at 4:30 UT, marking GEO satellite flare and eclipse season.

22- Double shadow transit (Io-Europa) occurs from 4:23-7:10 UT.

23- Double shadow transit (Io-Ganymede) occurs from 23:47-0:58 UT (on the 24^th).

23- A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs, centered on the central Pacific around 11:48 UT.

25- Double shadow transit (Io-Europa) occurs from 17:41-19:26 UT.

29- Double shadow transit (Io-Europa) occurs from 7:00-8:24 UT.

The double shadow transit of April 3rd. Image credit: Stellarium

April

01- Double shadow transit (Io-Europa) occurs from 20:16-21:19 UT.

03- Double shadow transit (Io-Callisto) occurs from 15:09-15:49 UT.

05- Double shadow transit (Io-Europa) occurs from 9:36-10:17 UT.

06- The 1% illuminated Moon occults Venus for Europe in the daytime at ~8:31 UT.

08- Double shadow transit (Io-Europa) occurs from 22:54-23:14 UT.

10- The 17% illuminated Moon occults Aldebaran at 22:27 UT/6:27 PM EDT for eastern North America.

12- Double shadow transit (Io-Europa) occurs from 12:11-12:14 UT.

18- Mercury reaches 19.9 degrees eastern elongation at 12:00 UT/8:00 AM EDT.

21- Minimoon: the most distant Full Moon of the year occurs, reaching apogee 406,350 kilometers from Earth 13 hours after Full.

Mercury transits the Sun: visibility prospects worldwide. Image credit: Xavier Jubier

May

05- The Eta Aquariid meteors peak at ~20:00 UT/4:00 PM EDT with an estimated ZHR of 40 favoring SE Asia.

07- Double shadow transit (Io-Callisto) occurs from 4:38-5:44 UT.

08- The 6% illuminated Moon occults Aldebaran at 8:43 UT/4:43 AM EDT for NE Asia.

09- A transit of Mercury across the face of the Sun occurs, 7 hours and 23 minutes in central duration centered on ~14:57 UT for viewers around the Atlantic Ocean region. The only transit of the planet Mercury since 2006 and until 2019.

21- A Blue Moon occurs, in the sense of the 3^rd in an astronomical season with four Full Moons.

22- Mars reaches opposition at 11:00 UT/7:00 AM EDT.

The historic 2003 opposition of Mars. Image credit: Dave Dickinson

June

03- The 4% illuminated Moon occults Mercury ~9:47 UT for the Falkland Islands.

03- Saturn reaches opposition at 6:00 UT/2:00 AM EDT.

05- Mercury reaches 24.2 degrees western elongation at 10:00 UT/5:00 AM EDT.

20- The June northward solstice occurs at 22:34 UT. The International Space Station generally reaches a period of full illumination favoring the northern hemisphere around this time.

The light curve of comet X1 PanSTARRS. Image credit: Seichii Yoshida.

July

01- Comet C/2013 X1 PanSTARRS may reach a maximum brightness of +6^th magnitude.

02- The 5% illuminated Moon occults Aldebaran for north Africa at 4:20 UT.

09- The 27% illuminated Moon occults the planet Jupiter for the southern Indian Ocean at ~10:11 UT.

16- Mercury passes 30’ from Venus at 23:00 UT/7:00 PM EDT.

27- The farthest lunar perigee of 2016 occurs 11:26 UT/7:26 AM EDT, at 369,658 km distant.

29- The 22% illuminated Moon occults Aldebaran for Central America at ~11:16 UT.

30- Mercury passes 17’ from Regulus at 19:00 UT/3:00 PM EDT.

Venus in a close pairing with Jupiter on August 27th. Image credit: Stellarium

August

04- The 3% illuminated Moon occults Mercury for South America at ~22:11 UT.

06- The 14% illuminated Moon occults the planet Jupiter for the southern Pacific at ~3:30 UT.

06- Asteroid 120 Lachesis occults a +7.1 magnitude star for New Guiana and Eastern Australia at ~14:23 UT.

07- Double shadow transit (Io-Ganymede) occurs from 5:31-6:31 UT.

10- Closest lunar apogee of 2016 occurs at 00:06 UT, at 404,265 km distant.

12- The Perseid meteors peak at 15:30 UT/11:30 AM EST, with an estimated ZHR of 150, favoring the central Pacific.

14- Double shadow transit (Io-Ganymede) occurs from 7:30-9:38 UT.

16- Mercury reaches 27.4 degrees eastern elongation at 18:00 UT/2:00 PM EDT.

20- Asteroid 164 Eva occults a +5.3 magnitude star for northeastern Brazil at 22:41 UT.

21- Double shadow transit (Io-Ganymede) occurs from 11:29-11:34 UT.

25- The 45% illuminated Moon occults Aldebaran for the western Pacific at ~16:44 UT.

27- Asteroid 85 Io occults a +7.5 magnitude star for North America at 4:38 UT.

27- Venus passes 4’ from Jupiter at 22:00 UT/6:00 PM EDT. The closest conjunction of two naked eye planets for 2016.

The annular eclipse of September 1st. Image credit: NASA/Fred Espenak/GSFC

September

01- An annular solar eclipse spans southern Africa and the Indian Ocean, centered on ~9:08 UT.

01- The final Callisto shadow transit of the current cycle occurs at ~10:30 UT.

02- The 1% illuminated Moon occults Jupiter for Central America at ~21:55 UT.

02- Neptune reaches opposition at 16:00 UT/2:00 PM EDT.

03- Asteroid 51 Nemausa occults a +7.6 magnitude star for western United States at ~10:02 UT.

03- The 5% illuminated Moon occults the planet Venus for the Arctic at ~10:31 UT.

16- A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs, centered on the Indian Ocean around ~18:55 UT.

21- The 70% illuminated Moon occults the star Aldebaran for southwestern Asia at ~22:37 UT.

22- The September equinox occurs at 14:21 UT, also marking GEO satellite flare and eclipse season.

29- Mercury reaches 17.9 degrees western elongation at ~1:00 UT/9:00 PM EDT (on the 28^th).

29- The 2% illuminated Moon occults the planet Mercury at ~10:41 UT for South America.

30- The 1% illuminated Moon occults the planet Jupiter for Canada at 16:11 UT.

The October 13th occultation path of Regulus. Image credit: Steve Preston’s best asteroid occultations for 2016

October

11- Mercury passes 51’ from Jupiter at ~9:00 UT/5:00 AM EDT.

12- Asteroid 9 Metis occults a +7.4 magnitude star for Europe at ~1:37 UT.

13- Asteroid 268 Adorea occults the bright +1.4 magnitude naked eye star Regulus for New Guiana at ~18:04 UT. The brightest star occulted by an asteroid in 2016.

15- Uranus reaches opposition at 10:00 UT/5:00 AM EDT.

16- Asteroid 7 Iris occults a +6.3 magnitude star for southern South America at 00:24 UT.

16- Supermoon 1 of 3 occurs at 23:37 UT, reaching perigee 19 hours after Full.

17- Double shadow transit (Ganymede-Europa) occurs at 20:59-22:11 UT.

19- The 83% illuminated Moon occults the star Aldebaran for North America at ~6:40 UT.

22- The Orionid meteors peak at 2:00 UT (10:00 PM EDT on the night of the 21^st) with an estimated ZHR = 25 favoring Europe and Africa.

24- Double shadow transit (Ganymede-Europa) occurs at 23:34-2:06 UT (on the 25^th).

30- A ‘Black Moon‘ occurs, in sense of the second New Moon in a calendar month.

31- The most distant lunar apogee of the year, at 19:30 UT and 406,659 km distant.

A 2014 ‘Supermoon’. Image credit: Andrew Symes/ @failedprotostar

November

01- Double shadow transit (Ganymede-Europa) occurs at 3:20-4:39 UT.

08- Double shadow transit (Ganymede-Europa) occurs at 7:11-7:19 UT.

14- Supermoon 2 of 3 (Closest Full Moon of the Year) occurs, also the closest lunar perigee of 2016 at 356,511 km distant at 11:24 UT, occurring 2 hours before Full. The closest lunar perigee spanning a period from 1990-2020.

15- The 98% illuminated Moon occults the star Aldebaran for central Asia at ~17:12 UT.

The December 13th occultation of Aldebaran by the Moon. Image credit: IOTA/Occult 4.2

December

11- Mercury reaches 20.8 degrees eastern elongation at 4:00 UT (11:00 PM EST on the 10th).

12- Supermoon 3 of 3 occurs at 23:28 UT, with perigee occurring 24 hours prior to Full phase.

13- The 99% illuminated Moon occults Aldebaran for North America at ~4:37 UT.

13-The Geminid meteors peak at 24:00 UT/7:00 PM EDT with an estimated ZHR of 120 favoring central Asia.

14- Asteroid 11 Parthenope occults a +7.4 magnitude star for South America at ~1:05 UT.

14- The Moon reaches its farthest northern declination for 2016 at 18.9 degrees around 21:00 UT.

18- The Moon occults the bright star Regulus ~18:38 UT for southern Australia, marking the first occultation of Regulus in a new cycle running through early 2018.

21- The December southward Solstice occurs at 10:44 UT. The International Space Station reaches a span of full illumination favoring the southern hemisphere around this time.

29- The Moon reaches its farthest southern declination for 2016, at -19.0 degrees around 02:00 UT.

Here’s some of the references we used researching this compendium:

The International Meteor Organization’s annual calendar
The United States Naval Observatory
Steve Preston’s best picks for asteroid occultation events
Fourmilab’s calculations for the Moon, Mercury and Venus
Fred Espenak’s NASA eclipse page
Programs, such as Starry Night Pro 7, Stellarium and Occult 4.2
Guy Ottewell’s 2016 Astronomical Calendar
Introductory image courtesy and copyright of Michelle Nixon Photography (MNixonPhoto), used with permission.

Missing your favorite? See an error? Let us know! And as this gets bigger every year, we’re seriously thinking of making this a 101 page e-book in 2017… any takers?

We’ll be expounding on each of these events and more on the pages of Universe Today in the year to come… don’t miss the astronomical action in 2016!

David Dickinson

David Dickinson is an Earth science teacher, freelance science writer, retired USAF veteran & backyard astronomer. He currently writes and ponders the universe as he travels the world with his wife.