Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events _____________________________________________
this time of the year. Since hunting is difficult,
This astronomy calendar
of celestial events contains dates
for notable celestial events
including moon phases, meteor
showers, eclipses, oppositions,
conjunctions, and other
interesting events. Most of the
astronomical events on this
calendar can be seen with unaided
eye, although some may require a
good pair of binoculars for best
viewing. Many of these events and
dates used here were obtained
from the U.S. Naval Observatory,
The Old Farmer's Almanac., and
the American Meteor Society. All
dates and times are given in
Coordinated Universal Time
(UTC) must be converted to your
local time.
For 2015
January 3, 4 - Quadrantids Meteor
Shower. The Quadrantids is an above average
shower, with up to 40 meteors per hour at its
peak. It is thought to be produced by dust
grains left behind by an extinct comet known
as 2003 EH1, which was discovered in 2003.
The shower runs annually from January 1-5. It
peaks this year on the night of the 3rd and
morning of the 4th. Unfortunately the nearly
full moon will block out all but the brightest
meteors this year. Best viewing will be from a
dark location after midnight. Meteors will
radiate from the constellation Bootes, but can
appear anywhere in the sky.
January 5 - Full Moon. The Moon will be
located on the opposite side of the Earth as the
Sun and its face will be will be fully
illuminated. This phase occurs at 04:54 UTC.
This full moon was known by early Native
American tribes as the Full Wolf Moon
because this was the time of year when hungry
wolf packs howled outside their camps. This
moon has also been know as the Old Moon and
the Moon After Yule.
January 20 - New Moon. The Moon will
located on the same side of the Earth as the
Sun and will not be visible in the night sky.
This phase occurs at 13:14 UTC. This is the
best time of the month to observe faint objects
such as galaxies and star clusters because there
is no moonlight to interfere.
February 3 - Full Moon. The Moon will be
located on the opposite side of the Earth as the
Sun and its face will be will be fully
illuminated. This phase occurs at 23:09 UTC.
This full moon was known by early Native
American tribes as the Full Snow Moon
because the heaviest snows usually fell during
March 20 - New Moon. The Moon will
this moon has also been known by some tribes
as the Full Hunger Moon, since the harsh
weather made hunting difficult.
February 6 - Jupiter at Opposition. The
giant planet will be at its closest approach to
Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by
the Sun. It will be brighter than any other time
of the year and will be visible all night long.
This is the best time to view and photograph
Jupiter and its moons. A medium-sized
telescope should be able to show you some of
the details in Jupiter's cloud bands. A good
pair of binoculars should allow you to see
Jupiter's four largest moons, appearing as
bright dots on either side of the planet.
February 18 - New Moon. The Moon will
located on the same side of the Earth as the
Sun and will not be visible in the night sky.
This phase occurs at 23:47 UTC. This is the
best time of the month to observe faint objects
such as galaxies and star clusters because there
is no moonlight to interfere.
February 22 - Conjunction of Venus and
Mars. A conjunction of Venus and Mars will
be visible on February 22. The two bright
planets will be visible within only half a
degree of each other in the evening sky. Look
for this impressive sight in the west just after
sunset.
February 24 - Mercury at Greatest
Western Elongation. The planet Mercury
reaches greatest western elongation of 26.7
degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to
view Mercury since it will be at its highest
point above the horizon in the morning sky.
Look for the planet low in the eastern sky just
before sunrise.
March 5 - Full Moon. The Moon will be
located on the opposite side of the Earth as the
Sun and its face will be will be fully
illuminated. This phase occurs at 18:06 UTC.
This full moon was known by early Native
American tribes as the Full Worm Moon
because this was the time of year when the
ground would begin to soften and the
earthworms would reappear. This moon has
also been known as the Full Crow Moon, the
Full Crust Moon, the Full Sap Moon, and the
Lenten Moon.
March 6 - Dawn at Ceres. NASAs Dawn
spacecraft will encounter the dwarf planet
known as Ceres on March 6. Ceres is the
largest object in the asteroid belt between
Mars and Jupiter. Because of its size and
shape, it has officially been classified as a
dwarf planet, which puts it in the same
category as Pluto. Ceres is 590 miles (950
kilometers) in diameter and is large enough to
have a round shape. Dawn will spend several
months studying Ceres and will send back the
first close-up images of a dwarf planet in our
Solar System.
located on the same side of the Earth as the
Sun and will not be visible in the night sky.
This phase occurs at 09:36 UTC. This is the
best time of the month to observe faint objects
such as galaxies and star clusters because there
is no moonlight to interfere.
March 20 - Total Solar Eclipse. A total solar
eclipse occurs when the moon completely
blocks the Sun, revealing the Sun's beautiful
outer atmosphere known as the corona. The
path of totality for this eclipse will be limited
to the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans
between Greenland and northern Russia.
(NASA Map and Eclipse Information)
(NASA Interactive Google Map)
March 20 - March Equinox. The March
equinox occurs at 22:45 UTC. The Sun will
shine directly on the equator and there will be
nearly equal amounts of day and night
throughout the world. This is also the first day
of spring (vernal equinox) in the Northern
Hemisphere and the first day of fall (autumnal
equinox) in the Southern Hemisphere.
April 4 - Full Moon. The Moon will be
located on the opposite side of the Earth as the
Sun and its face will be will be fully
illuminated. This phase occurs at 12:05 UTC.
This full moon was known by early Native
American tribes as the Full Pink Moon
because it marked the appearance of the moss
pink, or wild ground phlox, which is one of the
first spring flowers. This moon has also been
known as the Sprouting Grass Moon, the
Growing Moon, and the Egg Moon. Many
coastal tribes called it the Full Fish Moon
because this was the time that the shad swam
upstream to spawn.
April 4 - Total Lunar Eclipse. A total lunar
eclipse occurs when the Moon passes
completely through the Earth's dark shadow,
or umbra. During this type of eclipse, the
Moon will gradually get darker and then take
on a rusty or blood red color. The eclipse will
be visible throughout most of North America,
South America, eastern Asia, and Australia.
(NASA Map and Eclipse Information)
April 13 - 18 - International Dark Sky
Week. International Dark Sky Week is held
during the week of the new moon in April. It
is a week during which people worldwide turn
out their outdoor lights in order to observe the
wonders of the night sky without light
pollution. It has been endorsed by
the International Dark-Sky Association,
the American Astronomical Society,
the Astronomical League. So go ahead and
turn out your outdoor lights this week to
appreciate the beauty of the night sky!
April 18 - New Moon. The Moon will located
on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and
will not be visible in the night sky. This phase
occurs at 18:56 UTC. This is the best time of
Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events _____________________________________________
the month to observe faint objects such as
galaxies and star clusters because there is no
moonlight to interfere.
April 22, 23 - Lyrids Meteor Shower. The
Lyrids is an average shower, usually
producing about 20 meteors per hour at its
peak. It is produced by dust particles left
behind by comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, which
was discovered in 1861. The shower runs
annually from April 16-25. It peaks this year
on the night of the night of the 22nd and
morning of the 23rd. These meteors can
sometimes produce bright dust trails that last
for several seconds. The first quarter moon
will set shortly after midnight, leaving fairly
dark skies for the what could be a good show.
Best viewing will be from a dark location after
midnight. Meteors will radiate from the
constellation Lyra, but can appear anywhere in
the sky.
April 25 - International Astronomy
Day. Astronomy Day is an annual event
intended to provide a means of interaction
between the general public and various
astronomy enthusiasts, groups and
professionals. The theme of Astronomy Day is
"Bringing Astronomy to the People," and on
this day astronomy and stargazing clubs and
other organizations around the world will plan
special events. You can find out about special
local events by contacting your local
astronomy club or planetarium. You can also
find more about Astronomy Day by checking
the Web site for the Astronomical League.
May 4 - Full Moon. The Moon will be located
on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and
its face will be will be fully illuminated. This
phase occurs at 03:42 UTC. This full moon
was known by early Native American tribes as
the Full Flower Moon because this was the
time of year when spring flowers appeared in
abundance. This moon has also been known as
the Full Corn Planting Moon and the Milk
Moon.
May 5, 6 - Eta Aquarids Meteor
Shower. The Eta Aquarids is an above
average shower, capable of producing up to 60
meteors per hour at its peak. Most of the
activity is seen in the Southern Hemisphere. In
the Northern Hemisphere, the rate can reach
about 30 meteors per hour. It is produced by
dust particles left behind by comet Halley,
which has known and observed since ancient
times. The shower runs annually from April 19
to May 28. It peaks this year on the night of
May 5 and the morning of the May 6. The
nearly full moon will be a big problem this
year blocking out all but the brightest meteors.
If you are patient, you should still be able to
catch a few good ones. Best viewing will be
from a dark location after midnight. Meteors
will radiate from the constellation Aquarius,
but can appear anywhere in the sky.
May 7 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern
Elongation. The planet Mercury reaches
greatest eastern elongation of 21.2 degrees
from the Sun. This is the best time to view
Mercury since it will be at its highest point
above the horizon in the evening sky. Look for
the planet low in the western sky just after
sunset.
May 18 - New Moon. The Moon will located
on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and
will not be visible in the night sky. This phase
occurs at 04:13 UTC. This is the best time of
the month to observe faint objects such as
galaxies and star clusters because there is no
moonlight to interfere.
May 23 - Saturn at Opposition. The ringed
planet will be at its closest approach to Earth
and its face will be fully illuminated by the
Sun. It will be brighter than any other time of
the year and will be visible all night long. This
is the best time to view and photograph Saturn
and its moons. A medium-sized or larger
telescope will allow you to see Saturn's rings
and a few of its brightest moons.
June 2 - Full Moon. The Moon will be
located on the opposite side of the Earth as the
Sun and its face will be will be fully
illuminated. This phase occurs at 16:19 UTC.
This full moon was known by early Native
American tribes as the Full Strawberry Moon
because it signaled the time of year to gather
ripening fruit. It also coincides with the peak
of the strawberry harvesting season. This
moon has also been known as the Full Rose
Moon and the Full Honey Moon.
June 6 - Venus at Greatest Eastern
Elongation. The planet Venus reaches
greatest eastern elongation of 45.4 degrees
from the Sun. This is the best time to view
Venus since it will be at its highest point above
the horizon in the evening sky. Look for the
bright planet in the western sky after sunset.
June 16 - New Moon. The Moon will located
on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and
will not be visible in the night sky. This phase
occurs at 14:05 UTC. This is the best time of
the month to observe faint objects such as
galaxies and star clusters because there is no
moonlight to interfere.
June 21 - June Solstice. The June solstice
occurs at 16:38 UTC. The North Pole of the
earth will be tilted toward the Sun, which will
have reached its northernmost position in the
sky and will be directly over the Tropic of
Cancer at 23.44 degrees north latitude. This is
the first day of summer (summer solstice) in
the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of
winter (winter solstice) in the Southern
Hemisphere.
June 24 - Mercury at Greatest Western
Elongation. The planet Mercury reaches
greatest western elongation of 22.5 degrees
from the Sun. This is the best time to view
Mercury since it will be at its highest point
above the horizon in the morning sky. Look for
the planet low in the eastern sky just before
sunrise.
July 1 - Conjunction of Venus and
Jupiter. A spectacular conjunction of Venus
and Jupiter will be visible in the evening sky.
The two bright planets will be extremely close,
appearing only 0.3 degrees apart. Look for this
impressive pairing in the western sky just after
sunset.
July 2 - Full Moon. The Moon will be located
on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and
its face will be will be fully illuminated. This
phase occurs at 02:19 UTC. This full moon
was known by early Native American tribes as
the Full Buck Moon because the male buck
deer would begin to grow their new antlers at
this time of year. This moon has also been
known as the Full Thunder Moon and the Full
Hay Moon.
July 14 - New Horizons at Pluto. NASAs
New Horizons spacecraft is scheduled to
arrive at Pluto after a nine and a half year
journey. Launched on January 19, 2006, this
will be the first spacecraft to visit Pluto. New
Horizons will give us our first close-up views
of the dwarf planet and its moons. After
passing Pluto, the spacecraft will continue on
to the Kuiper belt to examine some of the other
icy bodies at the edge of the Solar System.
July 16 - New Moon. The Moon will located
on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and
will not be visible in the night sky. This phase
occurs at 01:24 UTC. This is the best time of
the month to observe faint objects such as
galaxies and star clusters because there is no
moonlight to interfere.
July 28, 29 - Delta Aquarids Meteor
Shower. The Delta Aquarids is an average
shower that can produce up to 20 meteors per
hour at its peak. It is produced by debris left
behind by comets Marsden and Kracht. The
shower runs annually from July 12 to August
23. It peaks this year on the night of July 28
and morning of July 29. The nearly full moon
will block out all but the brightest meteors this
year. But if you are patient, you should still be
able to catch a quite few good ones. Best
viewing will be from a dark location after
midnight. Meteors will radiate from the
constellation Aquarius, but can appear
anywhere in the sky.
July 31 - Full Moon. The Moon will be
located on the opposite side of the Earth as the
Sun and its face will be will be fully
illuminated. This phase occurs at 10:43 UTC.
August 12, 13 - Perseids Meteor
Shower. The Perseids is one of the best
meteor showers to observe, producing up to 60
meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by
Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events _____________________________________________
comet Swift-Tuttle, which was discovered in
1862. The Perseids are famous for producing a
large number of bright meteors. The shower
runs annually from July 17 to August 24. It
peaks this year on the night of August 12 and
the morning of August 13. The thin crescent
moon will be no match for the bright Perseids
this year so be prepared for a great show. Best
viewing will be from a dark location after
midnight. Meteors will radiate from the
constellation Perseus, but can appear
anywhere in the sky.
August 14 - New Moon. The Moon will
located on the same side of the Earth as the
Sun and will not be visible in the night sky.
This phase occurs at 14:53 UTC. This is the
best time of the month to observe faint objects
such as galaxies and star clusters because there
is no moonlight to interfere.
August 29 - Full Moon, Supermoon. The
Moon will be located on the opposite side of
the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be
fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 18:35
UTC. This full moon was known by early
Native American tribes as the Full Sturgeon
Moon because the large sturgeon fish of the
Great Lakes and other major lakes were more
easily caught at this time of year. This moon
has also been known as the Green Corn Moon
and the Grain Moon. This is also the first of
three supermoons for 2015. The Moon will be
at its closest approach to the Earth and may
look slightly larger and brighter than usual.
September 1 - Neptune at Opposition. The
blue giant planet will be at its closest approach
to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated
by the Sun. It will be brighter than any other
time of the year and will be visible all night
long. This is the best time to view and
photograph Neptune. Due to its extreme
distance from Earth, it will only appear as a
tiny blue dot in all but the most powerful
telescopes.
September 4 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern
Elongation. The planet Mercury reaches
greatest eastern elongation of 27 degrees from
the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury
since it will be at its highest point above the
horizon in the evening sky. Look for the planet
low in the western sky just after sunset.
September 13 - New Moon. The Moon will
located on the same side of the Earth as the
Sun and will not be visible in the night sky.
This phase occurs at 06:41 UTC. This is the
best time of the month to observe faint objects
such as galaxies and star clusters because there
is no moonlight to interfere.
September 13 - Partial Solar Eclipse. A
partial solar eclipse occurs when the Moon
covers only a part of the Sun, sometimes
resembling a bite taken out of a cookie. A
partial solar eclipse can only be safely
observed with a special solar filter or by
looking at the Sun's reflection. The partial
eclipse will only be visible in southern Africa,
Madagascar, and Antarctica. (NASA Map
and Eclipse Information)
September 23 - September Equinox. The
September equinox occurs at 08:21 UTC. The
Sun will shine directly on the equator and there
will be nearly equal amounts of day and night
throughout the world. This is also the first day
of fall (autumnal equinox) in the Northern
Hemisphere and the first day of spring (vernal
equinox) in the Southern Hemisphere.
September 28 - Full Moon,
Supermoon. The Moon will be located on the
opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its
face will be will be fully illuminated. This
phase occurs at 02:50 UTC. This full moon
was known by early Native American tribes as
the Full Corn Moon because the corn is
harvested around this time of year. This moon
is also known as the Harvest Moon. The
Harvest Moon is the full moon that occurs
closest to the September equinox each year.
This is also the second of three supermoons for
2015. The Moon will be at its closest approach
to the Earth and may look slightly larger and
brighter than usual. This will be the closest full
moon of the year.
September 28 - Total Lunar Eclipse. A total
lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes
completely through the Earth's dark shadow,
or umbra. During this type of eclipse, the
Moon will gradually get darker and then take
on a rusty or blood red color. The eclipse will
be visible throughout most of North and South
America, Europe, Africa, and western Asia.
(NASA Map and Eclipse Information)
October 1 - Comet C/2013 US10
Catalina. Newly discovered comet C/2013
US10 Catalina may reach naked eye visibility
on October 1. The comet will continue to
brighten and could reach magnitude 5 by
November 6.
October 8 - Draconids Meteor Shower. The
Draconids is a minor meteor shower producing
only about 10 meteors per hour. It is produced
by dust grains left behind by comet 21P
Giacobini-Zinner, which was first discovered
in 1900. The Draconids is an unusual shower
in that the best viewing is in the early evening
instead of early morning like most other
showers. The shower runs annually from
October 6-10 and peaks this year on the the
night of the 8th. The second quarter moon will
block out all but the brightest meteors this
year. If you are patient, you may be able to
spot a few good ones. Best viewing will be in
the early evening from a dark location far
away from city lights. Meteors will radiate
from the constellation Draco, but can appear
anywhere in the sky.
October 11 - Uranus at Opposition. The
blue-green planet will be at its closest
approach to Earth and its face will be fully
illuminated by the Sun. It will be brighter than
any other time of the year and will be visible
all night long. This is the best time to view
Uranus. Due to its distance, it will only appear
as a tiny blue-green dot in all but the most
powerful telescopes.
October 16 - Mercury at Greatest Western
Elongation. The planet Mercury reaches
greatest western elongation of 18.1 degrees
from the Sun. This is the best time to view
Mercury since it will be at its highest point
above the horizon in the morning sky. Look for
the planet low in the eastern sky just before
sunrise.
October 13 - New Moon. The Moon will
located on the same side of the Earth as the
Sun and will not be visible in the night sky.
This phase occurs at 00:06 UTC. This is the
best time of the month to observe faint objects
such as galaxies and star clusters because there
is no moonlight to interfere.
October 21, 22 - Orionids Meteor
Shower. The Orionids is an average shower
producing up to 20 meteors per hour at its
peak. It is produced by dust grains left behind
by comet Halley, which has been known and
observed since ancient times. The shower runs
annually from October 2 to November 7. It
peaks this year on the night of October 21 and
the morning of October 22. The first quarter
moon will set shortly after midnight leaving
fairly dark skies for what should be a good
show. Best viewing will be from a dark
location after midnight. Meteors will radiate
from the constellation Orion, but can appear
anywhere in the sky.
October 26 - Venus at Greatest Western
Elongation. The planet Venus reaches
greatest eastern elongation of 46.4 degrees
from the Sun. This is the best time to view
Venus since it will be at its highest point above
the horizon in the morning sky. Look for the
bright planet in the eastern sky before sunrise.
October 26 - Conjunction of Venus and
Jupiter. A conjunction of Venus and Jupiter
will take place on October 26. The two bright
planets will be visible within 1 degree of each
other in the early morning sky. Look to the east
just before sunrise for this impressive
planetary pair.
October 27 - Full Moon, Supermoon. The
Moon will be located on the opposite side of
the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be
fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 12:05
UTC. This full moon was known by early
Native American tribes as the Full Hunters
Moon because at this time of year the leaves
are falling and the game is fat and ready to
hunt. This moon has also been known as the
Travel Moon and the Blood Moon. This is also
the last of three supermoons for 2015. The
Moon will be at its closest approach to the
Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events _____________________________________________
Earth and may look slightly larger and brighter
than usual.
October 28 - Conjunction of Venus, Mars,
and Jupiter. A rare, 3-planet conjunction will
be visible on the morning of October 28. The
planets Venus, Mars, and Jupiter will all form
a tight 1-degree triangle in the early morning
sky. Look to the east just before sunrise for this
spectacular event.
November 5, 6 - Taurids Meteor
Shower. The Taurids is a long-running minor
meteor shower producing only about 5-10
meteors per hour. It is unusual in that it
consists of two separate streams. The first is
produced by dust grains left behind by
Asteroid 2004 TG10. The second stream is
produced by debris left behind by Comet 2P
Encke. The shower runs annually from
September 7 to December 10. It peaks this year
on the the night of November 5. The second
quarter moon will block out all but the
brightest meteors this year. If you are patient,
you may still be able to catch a few good ones.
Best viewing will be just after midnight from
a dark location far away from city lights.
Meteors will radiate from the constellation
Taurus, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
November 11 - New Moon. The Moon will
located on the same side of the Earth as the
Sun and will not be visible in the night sky.
This phase occurs at 17:47 UTC. This is the
best time of the month to observe faint objects
such as galaxies and star clusters because there
is no moonlight to interfere.
November 17, 18 - Leonids Meteor
Shower. The Leonids is an average shower,
producing an up to 15 meteors per hour at its
peak. This shower is unique in that it has a
cyclonic peak about every 33 years where
hundreds of meteors per hour can be seen. That
last of these occurred in 2001. The Leonids is
produced by dust grains left behind by comet
Tempel-Tuttle, which was discovered in 1865.
The shower runs annually from November 6-
30. It peaks this year on the night of the 17th
and morning of the 18th. The first quarter
moon will set shortly after midnight leaving
fairly dark skies for what could be a good
show. Best viewing will be from a dark
location after midnight. Meteors will radiate
from the constellation Leo, but can appear
anywhere in the sky.
November 25 - Full Moon. The Moon will be
located on the opposite side of the Earth as the
Sun and its face will be will be fully
illuminated. This phase occurs at 22:44 UTC.
This full moon was known by early Native
American tribes as the Full Beaver Moon
because this was the time of year to set the
beaver traps before the swamps and rivers
froze. It has also been known as the Frosty
Moon and the Hunter's Moon.
December 7 - Conjunction of the Moon and
Venus. A conjunction of the Moon and Venus
will take place on the morning of December 7.
The crescent moon will come with 2 degrees
of bright planet Venus in the early morning
sky. Look to the east just before sunrise.
December 11 - New Moon. The Moon will
located on the same side of the Earth as the
Sun and will not be visible in the night sky.
This phase occurs at 10:29 UTC. This is the
best time of the month to observe faint objects
such as galaxies and star clusters because there
is no moonlight to interfere.
December 13, 14 - Geminids Meteor
Shower. The Geminids is the king of the
meteor showers. It is considered by many to be
the best shower in the heavens, producing up
to 120 multicolored meteors per hour at its
peak. It is produced by debris left behind by an
asteroid known as 3200 Phaethon, which was
discovered in 1982. The shower runs annually
from December 7-17. It peaks this year on the
night of the 13th and morning of the 14th. The
crescent moon will set early in the evening
leaving dark skies for what should be an
excellent show. Best viewing will be from a
dark location after midnight. Meteors will
radiate from the constellation Gemini, but can
appear anywhere in the sky.
December 22 - December Solstice. The
December solstice occurs at 04:48 UTC. The
South Pole of the earth will be tilted toward the
Sun, which will have reached its southernmost
position in the sky and will be directly over the
Tropic of Capricorn at 23.44 degrees south
latitude. This is the first day of winter (winter
solstice) in the Northern Hemisphere and the
first day of summer (summer solstice) in the
Southern Hemisphere.
December 21, 22 - Ursids Meteor
Shower. The Ursids is a minor meteor shower
producing about 5-10 meteors per hour. It is
produced by dust grains left behind by comet
Tuttle, which was first discovered in 1790.
The shower runs annually from December 17-
25. It peaks this year on the the night of the
21st and morning of the 22nd. This year the
waxing gibbous moon will be bright enough to
hide most of the fainter meteors. If you are
patient, you might still be able to catch some
of the brighter ones. Best viewing will be just
after midnight from a dark location far away
from city lights. Meteors will radiate from the
constellation Ursa Minor, but can appear
anywhere in the sky.
December 25 - Full Moon. The Moon will be
located on the opposite side of the Earth as the
Sun and its face will be will be fully
illuminated. This phase occurs at 11:11 UTC.
This full moon was known by early Native
American tribes as the Full Cold Moon
because this is the time of year when the cold
winter air settles in and the nights become long
and dark. This moon has also been known as
the Moon Before Yule and the Full Long
Nights Moon.
December 29 - Mercury at Greatest
Eastern Elongation. The planet Mercury
reaches greatest eastern elongation of 19.7
degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to
view Mercury since it will be at its highest
point above the horizon in the evening sky.
Look for the planet low in the western sky just
after sunset.
For 2016
January 3, 4 - Quadrantids Meteor
Shower. The Quadrantids is an above average
shower, with up to 40 meteors per hour at its
peak. It is thought to be produced by dust
grains left behind by an extinct comet known
as 2003 EH1, which was discovered in 2003.
The shower runs annually from January 1-5. It
peaks this year on the night of the 3rd and
morning of the 4th. The second quarter moon
will block out all but the brightest meteors this
year, but it could still be a good show if you
are patient. Best viewing will be from a dark
location after midnight. Meteors will radiate
from the constellation Bootes, but can appear
anywhere in the sky.
January 10 - New Moon. The Moon will
located on the same side of the Earth as the
Sun and will not be visible in the night sky.
This phase occurs at 01:30 UTC. This is the
best time of the month to observe faint objects
such as galaxies and star clusters because there
is no moonlight to interfere.
January 24 - Full Moon. The Moon will be
located on the opposite side of the Earth as the
Sun and its face will be will be fully
illuminated. This phase occurs at 01:46 UTC.
This full moon was known by early Native
American tribes as the Full Wolf Moon
because this was the time of year when hungry
wolf packs howled outside their camps. This
moon has also been know as the Old Moon and
the Moon After Yule.
February 7 - Mercury at Greatest Western
Elongation. The planet Mercury reaches
greatest western elongation of 25.6 degrees
from the Sun. This is the best time to view
Mercury since it will be at its highest point
above the horizon in the morning sky. Look for
the planet low in the eastern sky just before
sunrise.
February 8 - New Moon. The Moon will
located on the same side of the Earth as the
Sun and will not be visible in the night sky.
This phase occurs at 14:39 UTC. This is the
best time of the month to observe faint objects
such as galaxies and star clusters because there
is no moonlight to interfere.
February 22 - Full Moon. The Moon will be
located on the opposite side of the Earth as the
Sun and its face will be will be fully
illuminated. This phase occurs at 18:20 UTC.
Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events _____________________________________________
This full moon was known by early Native
American tribes as the Full Snow Moon
because the heaviest snows usually fell during
this time of the year. Since hunting is difficult,
this moon has also been known by some tribes
as the Full Hunger Moon, since the harsh
weather made hunting difficult.
March 8 - Jupiter at Opposition. The giant
planet will be at its closest approach to Earth
and its face will be fully illuminated by the
Sun. It will be brighter than any other time of
the year and will be visible all night long. This
is the best time to view and photograph Jupiter
and its moons. A medium-sized telescope
should be able to show you some of the details
in Jupiter's cloud bands. A good pair of
binoculars should allow you to see Jupiter's
four largest moons, appearing as bright dots on
either side of the planet.
March 9 - New Moon. The Moon will located
on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and
will not be visible in the night sky. This phase
occurs at 01:54 UTC. This is the best time of
the month to observe faint objects such as
galaxies and star clusters because there is no
moonlight to interfere.
March 9 - Total Solar Eclipse. A total solar
eclipse occurs when the moon completely
blocks the Sun, revealing the Sun's beautiful
outer atmosphere known as the corona. The
path of totality will only be visible in parts of
central Indonesia and the Pacific Ocean. A
partial eclipse will be visible in most parts of
northern Australia and southeast Asia. (NASA
Map and Eclipse Information) (NASA
Interactive Google Map)
March 20 - March Equinox. The March
equinox occurs at 04:30 UTC. The Sun will
shine directly on the equator and there will be
nearly equal amounts of day and night
throughout the world. This is also the first day
of spring (vernal equinox) in the Northern
Hemisphere and the first day of fall (autumnal
equinox) in the Southern Hemisphere.
March 23 - Full Moon. The Moon will be
located on the opposite side of the Earth as the
Sun and its face will be will be fully
illuminated. This phase occurs at 12:02 UTC.
This full moon was known by early Native
American tribes as the Full Worm Moon
because this was the time of year when the
ground would begin to soften and the
earthworms would reappear. This moon has
also been known as the Full Crow Moon, the
Full Crust Moon, the Full Sap Moon, and the
Lenten Moon.
March 23 - Penumbral Lunar Eclipse. A
penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the
Moon passes through the Earth's partial
shadow, or penumbra. During this type of
eclipse the Moon will darken slightly but not
completely. The eclipse will be visible
throughout most of extreme eastern Asia,
eastern Australia, the Pacific Ocean, and the
west coast of North America including Alaska.
(NASA Map and Eclipse Information)
April 7 - New Moon. The Moon will located
on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and
will not be visible in the night sky. This phase
occurs at 11:24 UTC. This is the best time of
the month to observe faint objects such as
galaxies and star clusters because there is no
moonlight to interfere.
April 18 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern
Elongation. The planet Mercury reaches
greatest eastern elongation of 19.9 degrees
from the Sun. This is the best time to view
Mercury since it will be at its highest point
above the horizon in the evening sky. Look for
the planet low in the western sky just after
sunset.
April 22 - Full Moon. The Moon will be
located on the opposite side of the Earth as the
Sun and its face will be will be fully
illuminated. This phase occurs at 05:24 UTC.
This full moon was known by early Native
American tribes as the Full Pink Moon
because it marked the appearance of the moss
pink, or wild ground phlox, which is one of the
first spring flowers. This moon has also been
known as the Sprouting Grass Moon, the
Growing Moon, and the Egg Moon. Many
coastal tribes called it the Full Fish Moon
because this was the time that the shad swam
upstream to spawn.
April 22, 23 - Lyrids Meteor Shower. The
Lyrids is an average shower, usually
producing about 20 meteors per hour at its
peak. It is produced by dust particles left
behind by comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, which
was discovered in 1861. The shower runs
annually from April 16-25. It peaks this year
on the night of the night of the 22nd and
morning of the 23rd. These meteors can
sometimes produce bright dust trails that last
for several seconds. Unfortunately this year
the glare from the full moon will block out all
but the brightest meteors. If you are patient,
you should still be able to catch a few good
ones. Best viewing will be from a dark location
after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the
constellation Lyra, but can appear anywhere in
the sky.
May 6 - New Moon. The Moon will located
on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and
will not be visible in the night sky. This phase
occurs at 19:29 UTC. This is the best time of
the month to observe faint objects such as
galaxies and star clusters because there is no
moonlight to interfere.
May 6, 7 - Eta Aquarids Meteor
Shower. The Eta Aquarids is an above
average shower, capable of producing up to 60
meteors per hour at its peak. Most of the
activity is seen in the Southern Hemisphere. In
the Northern Hemisphere, the rate can reach
about 30 meteors per hour. It is produced by
dust particles left behind by comet Halley,
which has known and observed since ancient
times. The shower runs annually from April 19
to May 28. It peaks this year on the night of
May 6 and the morning of the May 7. The new
moon will ensure dark skies this year for what
could be an excellent show. Best viewing will
be from a dark location after midnight.
Meteors will radiate from the constellation
Aquarius, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
May 9 - Rare Transit of Mercury Across
the Sun. The planet Mercury will move
directly between the Earth and the Sun.
Viewers with telescopes and approved solar
filters will be able to observe the dark disk of
the planet Mercury moving across the face of
the Sun. This is an extremely rare event that
occurs only once every few years. There will
be one other transit of Mercury in 2019 and
then the next one will not take place until
2039. This transit will be visible throughout
North America, Mexico, Central America,
South America, and parts of Europe, Asia, and
Africa. The best place to view this event in its
entirety will be the eastern United States and
eastern South America. (Transit Visibility
Map and Information)
May 21 - Full Moon, Blue Moon. The Moon
will be located on the opposite side of the
Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be
fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 21:15
UTC. This full moon was known by early
Native American tribes as the Full Flower
Moon because this was the time of year when
spring flowers appeared in abundance. This
moon has also been known as the Full Corn
Planting Moon and the Milk Moon. Since this
is the third of four full moons in this season, it
is known as a blue moon. This rare calendar
event only happens once every few years,
giving rise to the term, once in a blue moon.
There are normally only three full moons in
each season of the year. But since full moons
occur every 29.53 days, occasionally a season
will contain 4 full moons. The extra full moon
of the season is known as a blue moon. Blue
moons occur on average once every 2.7 years.
May 22 - Mars at Opposition. The red planet
will be at its closest approach to Earth and its
face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. It
will be brighter than any other time of the year
and will be visible all night long. This is the
best time to view and photograph Mars. A
medium-sized telescope will allow you to see
some of the dark details on the planet's orange
surface.
June 3 - Saturn at Opposition. The ringed
planet will be at its closest approach to Earth
and its face will be fully illuminated by the
Sun. It will be brighter than any other time of
the year and will be visible all night long. This
is the best time to view and photograph Saturn
and its moons. A medium-sized or larger
Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events _____________________________________________
telescope will allow you to see Saturn's rings
and a few of its brightest moons.
June 5 - New Moon. The Moon will located
on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and
will not be visible in the night sky. This phase
occurs at 02:59 UTC. This is the best time of
the month to observe faint objects such as
galaxies and star clusters because there is no
moonlight to interfere.
June 5 - Mercury at Greatest Western
Elongation. The planet Mercury reaches
greatest western elongation of 24.2 degrees
from the Sun. This is the best time to view
Mercury since it will be at its highest point
above the horizon in the morning sky. Look for
the planet low in the eastern sky just before
sunrise.
June 20 - Full Moon. The Moon will be
located on the opposite side of the Earth as the
Sun and its face will be will be fully
illuminated. This phase occurs at 11:02 UTC.
This full moon was known by early Native
American tribes as the Full Strawberry Moon
because it signaled the time of year to gather
ripening fruit. It also coincides with the peak
of the strawberry harvesting season. This
moon has also been known as the Full Rose
Moon and the Full Honey Moon.
June 20 - June Solstice. The June solstice
occurs at 22:34 UTC. The North Pole of the
earth will be tilted toward the Sun, which will
have reached its northernmost position in the
sky and will be directly over the Tropic of
Cancer at 23.44 degrees north latitude. This is
the first day of summer (summer solstice) in
the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of
winter (winter solstice) in the Southern
Hemisphere.
July 4 - New Moon. The Moon will located
on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and
will not be visible in the night sky. This phase
occurs at 11:01 UTC. This is the best time of
the month to observe faint objects such as
galaxies and star clusters because there is no
moonlight to interfere.
July 4 - Juno at Jupiter. NASAs Juno
spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at Jupiter after
a five year journey. Launched on August 5,
2011, Juno will be inserted into a polar orbit
around the giant planet on or around July 4,
2016. From this orbit the spacecraft will study
Jupiters atmosphere and magnetic field. Juno
will remain in orbit until October 2017, when
the spacecraft will be de-orbited to crash into
Jupiter.
July 19 - Full Moon. The Moon will be
located on the opposite side of the Earth as the
Sun and its face will be will be fully
illuminated. This phase occurs at 22:57 UTC.
This full moon was known by early Native
American tribes as the Full Buck Moon
because the male buck deer would begin to
grow their new antlers at this time of year. This
moon has also been known as the Full Thunder
Moon and the Full Hay Moon.
July 28, 29 - Delta Aquarids Meteor
Shower. The Delta Aquarids is an average
shower that can produce up to 20 meteors per
hour at its peak. It is produced by debris left
behind by comets Marsden and Kracht. The
shower runs annually from July 12 to August
23. It peaks this year on the night of July 28
and morning of July 29. The second quarter
moon will block most of the fainter meteors
this year but if you are patient you should still
be able to catch quite a few good ones. Best
viewing will be from a dark location after
midnight. Meteors will radiate from the
constellation Aquarius, but can appear
anywhere in the sky.
August 2 - New Moon. The Moon will
located on the same side of the Earth as the
Sun and will not be visible in the night sky.
This phase occurs at 20:44 UTC. This is the
best time of the month to observe faint objects
such as galaxies and star clusters because there
is no moonlight to interfere.
August 12, 13 - Perseids Meteor
Shower. The Perseids is one of the best
meteor showers to observe, producing up to 60
meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by
comet Swift-Tuttle, which was discovered in
1862. The Perseids are famous for producing a
large number of bright meteors. The shower
runs annually from July 17 to August 24. It
peaks this year on the night of August 12 and
the morning of August 13. The waxing
gibbous moon will set shortly after midnight,
leaving fairly dark skies for should be an
excellent early morning show. Best viewing
will be from a dark location after midnight.
Meteors will radiate from the constellation
Perseus, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
August 16 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern
Elongation. The planet Mercury reaches
greatest eastern elongation of 27.4 degrees
from the Sun. This is the best time to view
Mercury since it will be at its highest point
above the horizon in the evening sky. Look for
the planet low in the western sky just after
sunset.
August 18 - Full Moon. The Moon will be
located on the opposite side of the Earth as the
Sun and its face will be will be fully
illuminated. This phase occurs at 09:26 UTC.
This full moon was known by early Native
American tribes as the Full Sturgeon Moon
because the large sturgeon fish of the Great
Lakes and other major lakes were more easily
caught at this time of year. This moon has also
been known as the Green Corn Moon and the
Grain Moon.
August 27 - Conjunction of Venus and
Jupiter. A spectacular conjunction of Venus
and Jupiter will be visible in the evening sky.
The two bright planets will be extremely close,
appearing only 0.06 degrees apart. Look for
this impressive pairing in the western sky just
after sunset.
September 1 - New Moon. The Moon will
located on the same side of the Earth as the
Sun and will not be visible in the night sky.
This phase occurs at 09:03 UTC. This is the
best time of the month to observe faint objects
such as galaxies and star clusters because there
is no moonlight to interfere.
September 1 - Annular Solar Eclipse. An
annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is
too far away from the Earth to completely
cover the Sun. This results in a ring of light
around the darkened Moon. The Sun's corona
is not visible during an annular eclipse. The
path of the eclipse will begin off the eastern
coast of central Africa and travel through
Gabon, Congo, Tanzania, and Madagascar
before ending in the Indian Ocean. A partial
eclipse will be visible throughout most of
Africa and the Indian Ocean. (NASA Map
and Eclipse Information) (NASA
Interactive Google Map)
September 3 - Neptune at Opposition. The
blue giant planet will be at its closest approach
to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated
by the Sun. It will be brighter than any other
time of the year and will be visible all night
long. This is the best time to view and
photograph Neptune. Due to its extreme
distance from Earth, it will only appear as a
tiny blue dot in all but the most powerful
telescopes.
September 16 - Full Moon. The Moon will
be located on the opposite side of the Earth as
the Sun and its face will be will be fully
illuminated. This phase occurs at 19:05 UTC.
This full moon was known by early Native
American tribes as the Full Corn Moon
because the corn is harvested around this time
of year. This moon is also known as the
Harvest Moon. The Harvest Moon is the full
moon that occurs closest to the September
equinox each year.
September 16 - Penumbral Lunar
Eclipse. A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs
when the Moon passes through the Earth's
partial shadow, or penumbra. During this type
of eclipse the Moon will darken slightly but
not completely. The eclipse will be visible
throughout most of eastern Europe, eastern
Africa, Asia, and western Australia. (NASA
Map and Eclipse Information)
September 22 - September Equinox. The
September equinox occurs at 14:21 UTC. The
Sun will shine directly on the equator and there
will be nearly equal amounts of day and night
throughout the world. This is also the first day
of fall (autumnal equinox) in the Northern
Hemisphere and the first day of spring (vernal
equinox) in the Southern Hemisphere.
Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events _____________________________________________
September 28 - Mercury at Greatest
Western Elongation. The planet Mercury
reaches greatest western elongation of 17.9
degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to
view Mercury since it will be at its highest
point above the horizon in the morning sky.
Look for the planet low in the eastern sky just
before sunrise.
October 1 - New Moon. The Moon will
located on the same side of the Earth as the
Sun and will not be visible in the night sky.
This phase occurs at 00:11 UTC. This is the
best time of the month to observe faint objects
such as galaxies and star clusters because there
is no moonlight to interfere.
October 7 - Draconids Meteor Shower. The
Draconids is a minor meteor shower producing
only about 10 meteors per hour. It is produced
by dust grains left behind by comet 21P
Giacobini-Zinner, which was first discovered
in 1900. The Draconids is an unusual shower
in that the best viewing is in the early evening
instead of early morning like most other
showers. The shower runs annually from
October 6-10 and peaks this year on the the
night of the 7th. The first quarter moon will
block the fainter meteors in the early evening.
It will set shortly after midnight leaving darker
skies for observing any lingering stragglers.
Best viewing will be in the early evening from
a dark location far away from city lights.
Meteors will radiate from the constellation
Draco, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
October 15 - Uranus at Opposition. The
blue-green planet will be at its closest
approach to Earth and its face will be fully
illuminated by the Sun. It will be brighter than
any other time of the year and will be visible
all night long. This is the best time to view
Uranus. Due to its distance, the planet will
only appear as a tiny blue-green dot in all but
the most powerful telescopes.
October 16 - Full Moon, Supermoon. The
Moon will be located on the opposite side of
the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be
fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 04:23
UTC. This full moon was known by early
Native American tribes as the Full Hunters
Moon because at this time of year the leaves
are falling and the game is fat and ready to
hunt. This moon has also been known as the
Travel Moon and the Blood Moon. This is also
the first of three supermoons for 2016. The
Moon will be at its closest approach to the
Earth and may look slightly larger and brighter
than usual.
October 21, 22 - Orionids Meteor
Shower. The Orionids is an average shower
producing up to 20 meteors per hour at its
peak. It is produced by dust grains left behind
by comet Halley, which has been known and
observed since ancient times. The shower runs
annually from October 2 to November 7. It
peaks this year on the night of October 21 and
the morning of October 22. The second quarter
moon will block some of the fainter meteors
this year, but the Orionids tend to be fairly
bright so it could still be a good show. Best
viewing will be from a dark location after
midnight. Meteors will radiate from the
constellation Orion, but can appear anywhere
in the sky.
October 30 - New Moon. The Moon will
located on the same side of the Earth as the
Sun and will not be visible in the night sky.
This phase occurs at 17:38 UTC. This is the
best time of the month to observe faint objects
such as galaxies and star clusters because there
is no moonlight to interfere.
November 4, 5 - Taurids Meteor
Shower. The Taurids is a long-running minor
meteor shower producing only about 5-10
meteors per hour. It is unusual in that it
consists of two separate streams. The first is
produced by dust grains left behind by
Asteroid 2004 TG10. The second stream is
produced by debris left behind by Comet 2P
Encke. The shower runs annually from
September 7 to December 10. It peaks this year
on the the night of November 4. The first
quarter moon will set just after midnight
leaving dark skies for viewing. Best viewing
will be just after midnight from a dark location
far away from city lights. Meteors will radiate
from the constellation Taurus, but can appear
anywhere in the sky.
November 14 - Full Moon, Supermoon. The
Moon will be located on the opposite side of
the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be
fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 13:52
UTC. This full moon was known by early
Native American tribes as the Full Beaver
Moon because this was the time of year to set
the beaver traps before the swamps and rivers
froze. It has also been known as the Frosty
Moon and the Hunter's Moon. This is also the
second of three supermoons for 2016. The
Moon will be at its closest approach to the
Earth and may look slightly larger and brighter
than usual.
November 17, 18 - Leonids Meteor
Shower. The Leonids is an average shower,
producing up to 15 meteors per hour at its
peak. This shower is unique in that it has a
cyclonic peak about every 33 years where
hundreds of meteors per hour can be seen. That
last of these occurred in 2001. The Leonids is
produced by dust grains left behind by comet
Tempel-Tuttle, which was discovered in 1865.
The shower runs annually from November 6-
30. It peaks this year on the night of the 17th
and morning of the 18th. The waning gibbous
moon will block many of the fainter meteors
this year, but if you are patient you should be
able to catch quite a few good ones. Best
viewing will be from a dark location after
midnight. Meteors will radiate from the
constellation Leo, but can appear anywhere in
the sky.
November 29 - New Moon. The Moon will
located on the same side of the Earth as the
Sun and will not be visible in the night sky.
This phase occurs at 12:18 UTC. This is the
best time of the month to observe faint objects
such as galaxies and star clusters because there
is no moonlight to interfere.
December 11 - Mercury at Greatest
Eastern Elongation. The planet Mercury
reaches greatest eastern elongation of 20.8
degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to
view Mercury since it will be at its highest
point above the horizon in the evening sky.
Look for the planet low in the western sky just
after sunset.
December 13, 14 - Geminids Meteor
Shower. The Geminids is the king of the
meteor showers. It is considered by many to be
the best shower in the heavens, producing up
to 120 multicolored meteors per hour at its
peak. It is produced by debris left behind by an
asteroid known as 3200 Phaethon, which was
discovered in 1982. The shower runs annually
from December 7-17. It peaks this year on the
night of the 13th and morning of the 14th. The
nearly full moon will block out many of the
fainter meteors this year, but the Geminids are
so bright and numerous that it could still be a
good show. Best viewing will be from a dark
location after midnight. Meteors will radiate
from the constellation Gemini, but can appear
anywhere in the sky.
December 14 - Full Moon, Supermoon. The
Moon will be located on the opposite side of
the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be
fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 00:06
UTC. This full moon was known by early
Native American tribes as the Full Cold Moon
because this is the time of year when the cold
winter air settles in and the nights become long
and dark. This moon has also been known as
the Full Long Nights Moon and the Moon
Before Yule. This is also the last of three
supermoons for 2016. The Moon will be at its
closest approach to the Earth and may look
slightly larger and brighter than usual.
December 21 - December Solstice. The
December solstice occurs at 10:44 UTC. The
South Pole of the earth will be tilted toward the
Sun, which will have reached its southernmost
position in the sky and will be directly over the
Tropic of Capricorn at 23.44 degrees south
latitude. This is the first day of winter (winter
solstice) in the Northern Hemisphere and the
first day of summer (summer solstice) in the
Southern Hemisphere.
December 21, 22 - Ursids Meteor
Shower. The Ursids is a minor meteor shower
producing about 5-10 meteors per hour. It is
produced by dust grains left behind by comet
Tuttle, which was first discovered in 1790.
Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events _____________________________________________
The shower runs annually from December 17-
25. It peaks this year on the the night of the
21st and morning of the 22nd. The second
quarter moon will block many of the fainter
meteors. But if you are patient, you might still
be able to catch a few of the brighter ones. Best
viewing will be just after midnight from a dark
location far away from city lights. Meteors
will radiate from the constellation Ursa Minor,
but can appear anywhere in the sky.
December 29 - New Moon. The Moon will
located on the same side of the Earth as the
Sun and will not be visible in the night sky.
This phase occurs at 06:53 UTC. This is the
best time of the month to observe faint objects
such as galaxies and star clusters because there
is no moonlight to inter
For 2017
fere.
January 3, 4 - Quadrantids Meteor
Shower. The Quadrantids is an above average
shower, with up to 40 meteors per hour at its
peak. It is thought to be produced by dust
grains left behind by an extinct comet known
as 2003 EH1, which was discovered in 2003.
The shower runs annually from January 1-5. It
peaks this year on the night of the 3rd and
morning of the 4th. The first quarter moon will
set shortly after midnight leaving fairly dark
skies for what could be a good show. Best
viewing will be from a dark location after
midnight. Meteors will radiate from the
constellation Bootes, but can appear anywhere
in the sky.
January 12 - Full Moon. The Moon will be
located on the opposite side of the Earth as the
Sun and its face will be will be fully
illuminated. This phase occurs at 11:34 UTC.
This full moon was known by early Native
American tribes as the Full Wolf Moon
because this was the time of year when hungry
wolf packs howled outside their camps. This
moon has also been know as the Old Moon and
the Moon After Yule.
January 12 - Venus at Greatest Eastern
Elongation. The planet Venus reaches
greatest eastern elongation of 47.1 degrees
from the Sun. This is the best time to view
Venus since it will be at its highest point above
the horizon in the evening sky. Look for the
bright planet in the western sky after sunset.
January 19 - Mercury at Greatest Western
Elongation. The planet Mercury reaches
greatest western elongation of 24.1 degrees
from the Sun. This is the best time to view
Mercury since it will be at its highest point
above the horizon in the morning sky. Look for
the planet low in the eastern sky just before
sunrise.
January 28 - New Moon. The Moon will
located on the same side of the Earth as the
Sun and will not be visible in the night sky.
This phase occurs at 00:07 UTC. This is the
best time of the month to observe faint objects
such as galaxies and star clusters because there
is no moonlight to interfere.
February 11 - Full Moon. The Moon will be
located on the opposite side of the Earth as the
Sun and its face will be will be fully
illuminated. This phase occurs at 00:33 UTC.
This full moon was known by early Native
American tribes as the Full Snow Moon
because the heaviest snows usually fell during
this time of the year. Since hunting is difficult,
this moon has also been known by some tribes
as the Full Hunger Moon, since the harsh
weather made hunting difficult.
February 11 - Penumbral Lunar Eclipse. A
penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the
Moon passes through the Earth's partial
shadow, or penumbra. During this type of
eclipse the Moon will darken slightly but not
completely. The eclipse will be visible
throughout most of eastern South America,
eastern Canada, the Atlantic Ocean, Europe,
Africa, and western Asia. (NASA Map and
Eclipse Information)
February 26 - New Moon. The Moon will
located on the same side of the Earth as the
Sun and will not be visible in the night sky.
This phase occurs at 14:59 UTC. This is the
best time of the month to observe faint objects
such as galaxies and star clusters because there
is no moonlight to interfere.
February 26 - Annular Solar Eclipse. An
annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is
too far away from the Earth to completely
cover the Sun. This results in a ring of light
around the darkened Moon. The Sun's corona
is not visible during an annular eclipse. The
path of the eclipse will begin off the coast of
Chile and pass through southern Chile and
southern Argentina, across the southern
Atlantic Ocean, and into Angola and Congo in
Africa. A partial eclipse will be visible
throughout parts of southern South America
and southwestern Africa.
(NASA Map and Eclipse Information)
(NASA Interactive Google Map)
March 12 - Full Moon. The Moon will be
located on the opposite side of the Earth as the
Sun and its face will be will be fully
illuminated. This phase occurs at 14:54 UTC.
This full moon was known by early Native
American tribes as the Full Worm Moon
because this was the time of year when the
ground would begin to soften and the
earthworms would reappear. This moon has
also been known as the Full Crow Moon, the
Full Crust Moon, the Full Sap Moon, and the
Lenten Moon.
March 20 - March Equinox. The March
equinox occurs at 10:29 UTC. The Sun will
shine directly on the equator and there will be
nearly equal amounts of day and night
throughout the world. This is also the first day
of spring (vernal equinox) in the Northern
Hemisphere and the first day of fall (autumnal
equinox) in the Southern Hemisphere.
March 28 - New Moon. The Moon will
located on the same side of the Earth as the
Sun and will not be visible in the night sky.
This phase occurs at 02:58 UTC. This is the
best time of the month to observe faint objects
such as galaxies and star clusters because there
is no moonlight to interfere.
April 1 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern
Elongation. The planet Mercury reaches
greatest eastern elongation of 19 degrees from
the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury
since it will be at its highest point above the
horizon in the evening sky. Look for the planet
low in the western sky just after sunset.
April 7 - Jupiter at Opposition. The giant
planet will be at its closest approach to Earth
and its face will be fully illuminated by the
Sun. It will be brighter than any other time of
the year and will be visible all night long. This
is the best time to view and photograph Jupiter
and its moons. A medium-sized telescope
should be able to show you some of the details
in Jupiter's cloud bands. A good pair of
binoculars should allow you to see Jupiter's
four largest moons, appearing as bright dots on
either side of the planet.
April 11 - Full Moon. The Moon will be
located on the opposite side of the Earth as the
Sun and its face will be will be fully
illuminated. This phase occurs at 06:08 UTC.
This full moon was known by early Native
American tribes as the Full Pink Moon
because it marked the appearance of the moss
pink, or wild ground phlox, which is one of the
first spring flowers. This moon has also been
known as the Sprouting Grass Moon, the
Growing Moon, and the Egg Moon. Many
coastal tribes called it the Full Fish Moon
because this was the time that the shad swam
upstream to spawn.
April 22, 23 - Lyrids Meteor Shower. The
Lyrids is an average shower, usually
producing about 20 meteors per hour at its
peak. It is produced by dust particles left
behind by comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, which
was discovered in 1861. The shower runs
annually from April 16-25. It peaks this year
on the night of the night of the 22nd and
morning of the 23rd. These meteors can
sometimes produce bright dust trails that last
for several seconds. The crescent moon should
not be too much of a problem this year. Skies
should still be dark enough for a good show.
Best viewing will be from a dark location after
midnight. Meteors will radiate from the
constellation Lyra, but can appear anywhere in
the sky.
Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events _____________________________________________
April 26 - New Moon. The Moon will located
on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and
will not be visible in the night sky. This phase
occurs at 12:17 UTC. This is the best time of
the month to observe faint objects such as
galaxies and star clusters because there is no
moonlight to interfere.
May 6, 7 - Eta Aquarids Meteor
Shower. The Eta Aquarids is an above
average shower, capable of producing up to 60
meteors per hour at its peak. Most of the
activity is seen in the Southern Hemisphere. In
the Northern Hemisphere, the rate can reach
about 30 meteors per hour. It is produced by
dust particles left behind by comet Halley,
which has known and observed since ancient
times. The shower runs annually from April 19
to May 28. It peaks this year on the night of
May 6 and the morning of the May 7. The
waxing gibbous moon will block out many of
the fainter meteors this year. But if you are
patient, you should be able to catch quite a few
of the brighter ones. Best viewing will be from
a dark location after midnight. Meteors will
radiate from the constellation Aquarius, but
can appear anywhere in the sky.
May 10 - Full Moon. The Moon will be
located on the opposite side of the Earth as the
Sun and its face will be will be fully
illuminated. This phase occurs at 21:42 UTC.
This full moon was known by early Native
American tribes as the Full Flower Moon
because this was the time of year when spring
flowers appeared in abundance. This moon has
also been known as the Full Corn Planting
Moon and the Milk Moon.
May 17 - Mercury at Greatest Western
Elongation. The planet Mercury reaches
greatest western elongation of 25.8 degrees
from the Sun. This is the best time to view
Mercury since it will be at its highest point
above the horizon in the morning sky. Look for
the planet low in the eastern sky just before
sunrise.
May 25 - New Moon. The Moon will located
on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and
will not be visible in the night sky. This phase
occurs at 19:45 UTC. This is the best time of
the month to observe faint objects such as
galaxies and star clusters because there is no
moonlight to interfere.
June 3 - Venus at Greatest Western
Elongation. The planet Venus reaches
greatest eastern elongation of 45.9 degrees
from the Sun. This is the best time to view
Venus since it will be at its highest point above
the horizon in the morning sky. Look for the
bright planet in the eastern sky before sunrise.
June 9 - Full Moon. The Moon will be
located on the opposite side of the Earth as the
Sun and its face will be will be fully
illuminated. This phase occurs at 13:10 UTC.
This full moon was known by early Native
American tribes as the Full Strawberry Moon
because it signaled the time of year to gather
ripening fruit. It also coincides with the peak
of the strawberry harvesting season. This
moon has also been known as the Full Rose
Moon and the Full Honey Moon.
June 15 - Saturn at Opposition. The ringed
planet will be at its closest approach to Earth
and its face will be fully illuminated by the
Sun. It will be brighter than any other time of
the year and will be visible all night long. This
is the best time to view and photograph Saturn
and its moons. A medium-sized or larger
telescope will allow you to see Saturn's rings
and a few of its brightest moons.
June 21 - June Solstice. The June solstice
occurs at 04:24 UTC. The North Pole of the
earth will be tilted toward the Sun, which will
have reached its northernmost position in the
sky and will be directly over the Tropic of
Cancer at 23.44 degrees north latitude. This is
the first day of summer (summer solstice) in
the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of
winter (winter solstice) in the Southern
Hemisphere.
June 24 - New Moon. The Moon will located
on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and
will not be visible in the night sky. This phase
occurs at 02:31 UTC. This is the best time of
the month to observe faint objects such as
galaxies and star clusters because there is no
moonlight to interfere.
July 9 - Full Moon. The Moon will be located
on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and
its face will be will be fully illuminated. This
phase occurs at 04:07 UTC. This full moon
was known by early Native American tribes as
the Full Buck Moon because the male buck
deer would begin to grow their new antlers at
this time of year. This moon has also been
known as the Full Thunder Moon and the Full
Hay Moon.
July 23 - New Moon. The Moon will located
on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and
will not be visible in the night sky. This phase
occurs at 09:46 UTC. This is the best time of
the month to observe faint objects such as
galaxies and star clusters because there is no
moonlight to interfere.
July 28, 29 - Delta Aquarids Meteor
Shower. The Delta Aquarids is an average
shower that can produce up to 20 meteors per
hour at its peak. It is produced by debris left
behind by comets Marsden and Kracht. The
shower runs annually from July 12 to August
23. It peaks this year on the night of July 28
and morning of July 29. The crescent moon
will set by midnight, leaving dark skies for
what should be a good early morning show.
Best viewing will be from a dark location after
midnight. Meteors will radiate from the
constellation Aquarius, but can appear
anywhere in the sky.
July 30 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern
Elongation. The planet Mercury reaches
greatest eastern elongation of 27.2 degrees
from the Sun. This is the best time to view
Mercury since it will be at its highest point
above the horizon in the evening sky. Look for
the planet low in the western sky just after
sunset.
August 7 - Full Moon. The Moon will be
located on the opposite side of the Earth as the
Sun and its face will be will be fully
illuminated. This phase occurs at 18:11 UTC.
This full moon was known by early Native
American tribes as the Full Sturgeon Moon
because the large sturgeon fish of the Great
Lakes and other major lakes were more easily
caught at this time of year. This moon has also
been known as the Green Corn Moon and the
Grain Moon.
August 7 - Partial Lunar Eclipse. A partial
lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes
through the Earth's partial shadow, or
penumbra, and only a portion of it passes
through the darkest shadow, or umbra. During
this type of eclipse a part of the Moon will
darken as it moves through the Earth's shadow.
The eclipse will be visible throughout most of
eastern Africa, central Asia, the Indian Ocean,
and Australia. (NASA Map and Eclipse
Information)
August 12, 13 - Perseids Meteor
Shower. The Perseids is one of the best
meteor showers to observe, producing up to 60
meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by
comet Swift-Tuttle, which was discovered in
1862. The Perseids are famous for producing a
large number of bright meteors. The shower
runs annually from July 17 to August 24. It
peaks this year on the night of August 12 and
the morning of August 13. The waning
gibbous moon will block out many of the
fainter meteors this year, but the Perseids are
so bright and numerous that it should still be a
good show. Best viewing will be from a dark
location after midnight. Meteors will radiate
from the constellation Perseus, but can appear
anywhere in the sky.
August 21 - New Moon. The Moon will
located on the same side of the Earth as the
Sun and will not be visible in the night sky.
This phase occurs at 18:30 UTC. This is the
best time of the month to observe faint objects
such as galaxies and star clusters because there
is no moonlight to interfere.
August 21 - Total Solar Eclipse. A total solar
eclipse occurs when the moon completely
blocks the Sun, revealing the Sun's beautiful
outer atmosphere known as the corona. This is
a rare, once-in-a-lifetime eventfor viewers in
the United States. The last total solar eclipse
visible in the continental United States
occurred in 1979 and the next one will not take
place until 2024. The path of totality will begin
in the Pacific Ocean and travel through the
Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events _____________________________________________
center of the United States. The total eclipse
will be visible in parts of Oregon, Idaho,
Wyoming, Nebraska, Missouri, Kentucky,
Tennessee, North Carolina, and South
Carolina before ending in the Atlantic Ocean.
A partial eclipse will be visible in most of
North America and parts of northern South
America. (NASA Map and Eclipse
Information | Detailed Zoomable Map of
Eclipse Path)
September 5 - Neptune at Opposition. The
blue giant planet will be at its closest approach
to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated
by the Sun. It will be brighter than any other
time of the year and will be visible all night
long. This is the best time to view and
photograph Neptune. Due to its extreme
distance from Earth, it will only appear as a
tiny blue dot in all but the most powerful
telescopes.
September 6 - Full Moon. The Moon will be
located on the opposite side of the Earth as the
Sun and its face will be will be fully
illuminated. This phase occurs at 07:03 UTC.
This full moon was known by early Native
American tribes as the Full Corn Moon
because the corn is harvested around this time
of year.
September 12 - Mercury at Greatest
Western Elongation. The planet Mercury
reaches greatest western elongation of 17.9
degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to
view Mercury since it will be at its highest
point above the horizon in the morning sky.
Look for the planet low in the eastern sky just
before sunrise.
September 20 - New Moon. The Moon will
located on the same side of the Earth as the
Sun and will not be visible in the night sky.
This phase occurs at 05:30 UTC. This is the
best time of the month to observe faint objects
such as galaxies and star clusters because there
is no moonlight to interfere.
September 22 - September Equinox. The
September equinox occurs at 20:02 UTC. The
Sun will shine directly on the equator and there
will be nearly equal amounts of day and night
throughout the world. This is also the first day
of fall (autumnal equinox) in the Northern
Hemisphere and the first day of spring (vernal
equinox) in the Southern Hemisphere.
October 5 - Full Moon. Moon will be directly
opposite the Earth from the Sun and will be
fully illuminated as seen from Earth. This
phase occurs at 18:40 UTC. This full moon
was known by early Native American tribes as
the Full Hunters Moon because at this time of
year the leaves are falling and the game is fat
and ready to hunt. This moon has also been
known as the Travel Moon and the Blood
Moon. This moon is also known as the Harvest
Moon. The Harvest Moon is the full moon that
occurs closest to the September equinox each
year.
October 7 - Draconids Meteor Shower. The
Draconids is a minor meteor shower producing
only about 10 meteors per hour. It is produced
by dust grains left behind by comet 21P
Giacobini-Zinner, which was first discovered
in 1900. The Draconids is an unusual shower
in that the best viewing is in the early evening
instead of early morning like most other
showers. The shower runs annually from
October 6-10 and peaks this year on the the
night of the 7th. Unfortunately, the nearly full
moon will block all but the brightest meteors
this year. If you are extremely patient, you
may be able to catch a few good ones. Best
viewing will be in the early evening from a
dark location far away from city lights.
Meteors will radiate from the constellation
Draco, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
October 19 - New Moon. The Moon will
located on the same side of the Earth as the
Sun and will not be visible in the night sky.
This phase occurs at 19:12 UTC. This is the
best time of the month to observe faint objects
such as galaxies and star clusters because there
is no moonlight to interfere.
October 19 - Uranus at Opposition. The
blue-green planet will be at its closest
approach to Earth and its face will be fully
illuminated by the Sun. It will be brighter than
any other time of the year and will be visible
all night long. This is the best time to view
Uranus. Due to its distance, it will only appear
as a tiny blue-green dot in all but the most
powerful telescopes.
October 21, 22 - Orionids Meteor
Shower. The Orionids is an average shower
producing up to 20 meteors per hour at its
peak. It is produced by dust grains left behind
by comet Halley, which has been known and
observed since ancient times. The shower runs
annually from October 2 to November 7. It
peaks this year on the night of October 21 and
the morning of October 22. The crescent moon
will set early in the evening leaving dark skies
for what should be a good show. Best viewing
will be from a dark location after midnight.
Meteors will radiate from the constellation
Orion, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
November 4 - Full Moon. The Moon will be
located on the opposite side of the Earth as the
Sun and its face will be will be fully
illuminated. This phase occurs at 05:23 UTC.
This full moon was known by early Native
American tribes as the Full Beaver Moon
because this was the time of year to set the
beaver traps before the swamps and rivers
froze. It has also been known as the Frosty
Moon and the Hunter's Moon.
November 4, 5 - Taurids Meteor
Shower. The Taurids is a long-running minor
meteor shower producing only about 5-10
meteors per hour. It is unusual in that it
consists of two separate streams. The first is
produced by dust grains left behind by
Asteroid 2004 TG10. The second stream is
produced by debris left behind by Comet 2P
Encke. The shower runs annually from
September 7 to December 10. It peaks this year
on the the night of November 4. Unfortunately
the glare from the full moon will block out all
but the brightest meteors. If you are extremely
patient, you may still be able to catch a few
good ones. Best viewing will be just after
midnight from a dark location far away from
city lights. Meteors will radiate from the
constellation Taurus, but can appear anywhere
in the sky.
November 13 - Conjunction of Venus and
Jupiter. A spectacular conjunction of Venus
and Jupiter will be visible in the evening sky.
The two bright planets will be extremely close,
appearing only 0.3 degrees apart. Look for this
impressive pairing in the Eastern sky just
before sunrise.
November 17, 18 - Leonids Meteor
Shower. The Leonids is an average shower,
producing up to 15 meteors per hour at its
peak. This shower is unique in that it has a
cyclonic peak about every 33 years where
hundreds of meteors per hour can be seen. That
last of these occurred in 2001. The Leonids is
produced by dust grains left behind by comet
Tempel-Tuttle, which was discovered in 1865.
The shower runs annually from November 6-
30. It peaks this year on the night of the 17th
and morning of the 18th. The nearly new moon
will not be a problem this year. Skies should
be dark enough for what should be good show.
Best viewing will be from a dark location after
midnight. Meteors will radiate from the
constellation Leo, but can appear anywhere in
the sky.
November 18 - New Moon. The Moon will
located on the same side of the Earth as the
Sun and will not be visible in the night sky.
This phase occurs at 11:42 UTC. This is the
best time of the month to observe faint objects
such as galaxies and star clusters because there
is no moonlight to interfere.
November 24 - Mercury at Greatest
Eastern Elongation. The planet Mercury
reaches greatest eastern elongation of 22.0
degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to
view Mercury since it will be at its highest
point above the horizon in the evening sky.
Look for the planet low in the western sky just
after sunset.
December 3 - Full Moon, Supermoon. The
Moon will be located on the opposite side of
the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be
fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 15:47
UTC. This full moon was known by early
Native American tribes as the Full Cold Moon
because this is the time of year when the cold
winter air settles in and the nights become long
Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events _____________________________________________
and dark. This moon has also been known as
the Full Long Nights Moon and the Moon
Before Yule. This is also the only supermoon
for 2017. The Moon will be at its closest
approach to the Earth and may look slightly
larger and brighter than usual.

December 13, 14 - Geminids Meteor

Shower. The Geminids is the king of the
meteor showers. It is considered by many to be
the best shower in the heavens, producing up
to 120 multicolored meteors per hour at its
peak. It is produced by debris left behind by an
asteroid known as 3200 Phaethon, which was
discovered in 1982. The shower runs annually
from December 7-17. It peaks this year on the
night of the 13th and morning of the 14th. The
waning crescent moon will be no match for the
Geminids this year. The skies should still be
dark enough for an excellent show. Best
viewing will be from a dark location after
midnight. Meteors will radiate from the
constellation Gemini, but can appear
anywhere in the sky.

December 18 - New Moon. The Moon will

located on the same side of the Earth as the
Sun and will not be visible in the night sky.
This phase occurs at 06:30 UTC. This is the
best time of the month to observe faint objects
such as galaxies and star clusters because there
is no moonlight to interfere.

December 21 - December Solstice. The

December solstice occurs at 16:28 UTC. The
South Pole of the earth will be tilted toward the
Sun, which will have reached its southernmost
position in the sky and will be directly over the
Tropic of Capricorn at 23.44 degrees south
latitude. This is the first day of winter (winter
solstice) in the Northern Hemisphere and the
first day of summer (summer solstice) in the
Southern Hemisphere.

December 21, 22 - Ursids Meteor

Shower. The Ursids is a minor meteor shower
producing about 5-10 meteors per hour. It is
produced by dust grains left behind by comet
Tuttle, which was first discovered in 1790.
The shower runs annually from December 17-
25. It peaks this year on the the night of the
21st and morning of the 22nd. The crescent
moon will set early in the evening leaving dark
skies for optimal observing. Best viewing will
be just after midnight from a dark location far
away from city lights. Meteors will radiate
from the constellation Ursa Minor, but can
appear anywhere in the sky.

Source: Sea and Sky

(http://www.seasky.org/)