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Using the Dark Times Calendars
Purpose
My main reason for creating the Dark Times Calendars was to show, in advance, the best times for deep space astronomical observing. If I want to plan a
family vacation that isn’t going to include astronomy, I’d generally prefer to go at a time when I can’t do deep sky observing anyway. If I were planning an
astronomy trip however, I might want to know several months in advance when a good time to take such a trip might be.
Perhaps the biggest difference between a Dark Times Calendar and an ordinary calendar is that the 24 hour period we call a “day” is separated at noon
instead of at midnight. Each night of the calendar, therefore, is shown on a single row. If we don’t separate the “days” this way, some things can be
particularly confusing. For instance, you hear that there will be a big meteor shower on the 18th of November. Should you get up early on the 18th or stay up
late on the 18th to see it? Being wrong could mean you’ll miss the meteor shower altogether.
What the Calendar Shows
Basically, the events section of the calendar is meant to show when events (like that big meteor shower) will occur. Essentially, the left side of the calendar
shows when the sky will be …umm…, dark. By dark, I don’t mean it will just be night time. I mean that the Moon will not be in the sky and the time of the
night is between evening astronomical twilight and morning astronomical twilight. These Dark Times are the best times to view or photograph faint deep
space objects. The shaded areas of the calendar show these Dark Times at a glance.
The Details
The left-most column shows the day of the week. The second column shows the date for that particular day, err night! The third column shows when
astronomical twilight ends for that date. (It is best to have your scope setup and ready to go by this time!) The fourth column gives the time of night during
the PM hours that the Moon will either rise or set. The fifth column gives the time of night during the AM hours that the Moon will either rise or set. The
sixth column gives the time that morning astronomical twilight will begin. The seventh column gives the new date, which changes after midnight. The
eighth column gives the new day of the week, abbreviated to three letters.
If the Moon is rising, the time given will have an “R” in front of it. Likewise, if the Moon is setting, the number will have an “S” in front of it. The number
gives the time for the event where the right-most two digits are the minutes and any digits left of the right two are the hours in twelve-hour format.
When there is a row that is completely shaded and no Moon rise or setting times are listed, the Moon will not be in the sky during the hours between evening
twilight and morning twilight. These are the best times for long observing marathons! If the row is not shaded and there are no times listed, the Moon will
be in the sky the entire night! These are the worst times for deep space observing. (Take your non-astronomy vacations during these times.)
Deep Space Objects
Culmination times are given in the “Events” section for many deep space objects. An object “culminates” when it crosses the meridian. The meridian is an
imaginary line connecting the North Pole, the zenith, and the South Pole. An object is highest in the sky when it culminates and this is therefore typically
the best time to view it.
It is important to note here that all deep space objects culminate every day of the year. Sometimes these culmination times occur during the daytime or at
poor times for observation. For instance, June is a pretty bad month to observe the Orion Nebula because it culminates during daylight hours. Deep space
objects can be observed at times and dates other than the dates they are listed on. For each day prior to the day the object is listed, it will culminate
approximately 4 minutes later. For each day after the object is listed, it will culminate approximately 4 minutes earlier than the time listed. For each month
prior to the date the object is listed, the culmination time will be approximately 2 hours later, and for each month after, approximately 2 hours earlier.
If you are considering observing an object listed on the current date, and it hasn’t yet culminated, it will be located approximately 15 degrees east of the
meridian for each hour prior to the given culmination time. (The 15 degrees applies to objects near the equator. For objects near the poles, the angular
distance will be much smaller.) Likewise, if the current time is past the culmination time, the object will be 15 degrees west of the meridian for each hour.
The listing of a deep space object on a particular date was chosen because the culmination time came close to the middle of the available dark time for that
night. The selection of the objects is somewhat arbitrary, but they are listed on dates and times that should be good times for observing them.
So what’s the point of all this? The point is if you’re like me and not disciplined enough to make an observing list before your all-night observing marathon,
here it is! Any object listed during the month you’re going out, and any object listed in the month before or after, should be fair game as an observing target.
Just be sure to make adjustments for the times and positions of objects as noted above. (Now there may be a few objects close to the southern horizon that
must be observed closer to the time listed, but I haven’t gone into enough detail to be able to tell you which objects, if any, they are.)
Deep space objects with “M” numbers come from the Messier list. Deep space objects with “NGC” numbers come from the Herschel 400 list. (The entire
NGC list has over 7000 objects and the Herschel 400 is a subset of that list.) Some objects are on both the Messier list and the Herschel 400 list. Those
objects are listed with their “M” number.
Highlights/Interesting Events:
Data Sources
Culmination times come from “Cartes du Ciel” astronomy simulation software. Moon rise and set times as well as astronomical twilight times come from
the US Naval Observatory website. I have converted the times to twelve hour format and applied Daylight Savings Time when appropriate.
All times shown for the Moon and astronomical twilight are accurate for Wilmot, Ohio. I wouldn’t expect an error of more than 10 minutes for any location
within Ohio. The calendar can be used outside of Ohio with proper consideration for changes due to local time zones and location within those time zones.
Clear, and dark, skies!
Phil
Dark Times January 2016
PM Day
PM Date
Twilight Ends
PM Moon
AM Moon
Twilight Begins
AM Date
AM Day
Events
Friday 1 648 R 36 612 2 Sat Comet C/2013 US10 (Catalina) rises 0043 and is visible unaided eye under dark skies.
Saturday 2 649 R 132 612 3 Sun Earth At Perihelion (0.983 AU From Sun)
Sunday 3 650 R 229 613 4 Mon Quadrantid meteor shower peaks; Mars sets (1:04 PM) less than 1º from Moon
Monday 4 650 R 325 613 5 Tue NGC 1964 (galaxy/Lepus) culminates at 11:09 PM
Tuesday 5 651 R 423 613 6 Wed NGC 2158 (open cluster/Gemini) culminates at 11:40 PM
Wednesday 6 652 R 519 613 7 Thu NGC 2266 (open cluster/Gemini) culminates at 12:12 AM
Thursday 7 653 613 8 Fri NGC 2343 (open cluster/Monoceros) culminates at 12:32 AM
Friday 8 654 613 9 Sat Venus rises (5:14 AM) less than 1/2º from Saturn. C/2013 US10 (Catalina) at it’s brightest.
Saturday 9 655 613 10 Sun New Moon
Sunday 10 656 613 11 Mon NGC 2371-2 (double-lobed planetary nebula/Gemini) culminates at 12:38 AM
Monday 11 657 S 727 612 12 Tue NGC 2440 (planetary nebula/Puppis) culminates at 12:50 AM
Tuesday 12 657 S 835 612 13 Wed NGC 2571 (open cluster/Puppis) culminates at 1:23 AM
Wednesday 13 658 S 943 612 14 Thu NGC 2655 (galaxy/Camelopardalis) culminates at 1:56 AM
Thursday 14 659 S 1052 612 15 Fri NGC 2903 (galaxy/Leo) culminates at 2:29 AM (contains NGC 2905; 41’ to NGC 2916)
Friday 15 700 S 0 612 16 Sat NGC 3169 (galaxy/Sextans) culminates at 3:06 AM (NGC 3166, 3165 & 3156 nearby)
Saturday 16 701 S 108 611 17 Sun NGC 3432 (galaxy/Leo Minor) culminates at 3:41 AM
Sunday 17 702 S 216 611 18 Mon NGC 3686 (galaxy/Leo) culminates at 4:12 AM (13' to NGC 3684)
Monday 18 703 S 321 611 19 Tue NGC 4030 (galaxy/Virgo) culminates at 4:41 AM
Tuesday 19 704 S 425 610 20 Wed Mercury (in Sagittarius) rises 6:51 AM, culminates 11:46, sets 4:48 PM
Wednesday 20 705 S 524 610 21 Thu Venus (in Sagittarius) rises 5:36 AM, culminates 10:19 AM, sets 3:00 PM
Thursday 21 706 609 22 Fri Mars (in Libra) rises 1:44 AM, culminates 7:00 AM, sets 12:18 PM
Friday 22 707 609 23 Sat Jupiter (in Leo) rises 9:44 PM, culminates 4:00 AM, sets 10:15 AM.
Saturday 23 708 608 24 Sun Full Moon
Sunday 24 709 608 25 Mon Saturn (in Ophiuchus) rises 4:17 AM, culminates 9:05 AM, sets 1:56 PM.
Monday 25 710 R 732 607 26 Tue Uranus (in Pisces) rises 10:50 AM, culminates 5:17 PM, sets 11:40 PM
Tuesday 26 711 R 831 607 27 Wed Neptune (in Aquarius) rises 9:17 AM, culminates 2:51 PM, sets 8:21 PM
Wednesday 27 712 R 928 606 28 Thu Pluto (in Sagittarius) rises 6:24 AM, culminates 11:11 AM, sets 4:02 PM
Thursday 28 713 R 1025 605 29 Fri NGC 1647 (open cluster/Taurus) culminates at 8:48 PM
Friday 29 714 R 1121 605 30 Sat NGC 1857 (open cluster/Auriga) culminates at 9:18 PM
Saturday 30 716 R 17 604 31 Sun M37 (open cluster/Auriga) culminates at 9:46 PM (asteroid (2500) Alascattalo 1/2º away.)
Sunday 31 717 R 113 603 1 Mon NGC 2232 (open cluster/Monoceros) culminates at 10:18 PM
Dark Times February 2016
PM Day
PM Date
Twilight Ends
PM Moon
AM Moon
Twilight Begins
AM Date
AM Day
Events
Monday 1 718 R 209 602 2 Tue
Tuesday 2 719 R 305 601 3 Wed
Wednesday 3 720 R 401 601 4 Thu
Thursday 4 721 R 454 600 5 Fri
Friday 5 722 R 546 559 6 Sat
Saturday 6 723 558 7 Sun Mercury at greatest western elongation (26 Degrees)
Sunday 7 724 557 8 Mon New Moon
Monday 8 725 556 9 Tue
Tuesday 9 726 S 727 555 10 Wed
Wednesday 10 727 S 838 554 11 Thu
Thursday 11 728 S 948 553 12 Fri NGC 3395 (galaxy/Leo Minor) culminates at 1:50 AM (4 other galaxies w/in 30’)
Friday 12 730 S 1058 552 13 Sat NGC 3726 (galaxy/Ursa Major) culminates at 2:30 AM
Saturday 13 731 S 7 550 14 Sun NGC 4088 (galaxy/Ursa Major) culminates at 2:57 AM (NGC 4085 11’ away)
Sunday 14 732 S 114 549 15 Mon NGC 4643 (galaxy/Virgo) culminates at 3:32 AM
Monday 15 733 S 218 548 16 Tue Moon passes through Hyades star cluster.
Tuesday 16 734 S 318 547 17 Wed NGC 5322 (galaxy/Ursa Major) culminates at 4:28 AM (NGC 5342 25’ away)
Wednesday 17 735 S 412 546 18 Thu NGC 5631 (galaxy/Ursa Major) culminates at 5:02 AM
Thursday 18 736 S 501 544 19 Fri Mercury (in Capricornus) rises 6:18 AM, culminates 11:11 AM, sets 4:02 PM
Friday 19 737 543 20 Sat Venus (in Capricornus) rises 6:01 AM, culminates 10:53 AM, sets 3:44 PM
Saturday 20 738 542 21 Sun Mars (in Libra) rises 12:54 AM, culminates 5:53 AM, sets 10:53 AM
Sunday 21 739 540 22 Mon Jupiter (in Leo) rises 7:27 PM, culminates 1:46 AM, sets 8:06 AM.
Monday 22 741 539 23 Tue Full Moon
Tuesday 23 742 538 24 Wed Saturn (in Ophiuchus) rises 2:24 AM, culminates 7:10 AM, sets 11:56 AM.
Wednesday 24 743 R 815 536 25 Thu Uranus (in Pisces) rises 8:49 AM, culminates 3:18 PM, sets 9:42 PM
Thursday 25 744 R 911 535 26 Fri Neptune (in Aquarius) rises 7:16 AM, culminates 12:51 PM, sets 6:23 PM
Friday 26 745 R 1007 533 27 Sat Pluto (in Sagittarius) rises 4:25 AM, culminates 9:11 AM, sets 2:01 PM
Saturday 27 746 R 1103 532 28 Sun NGC 2395 (open cluster/Gemini) culminates at 9:25 PM (34’ to PN PK205+14.1/Abell 21)
Sunday 28 747 R 1158 529 29 Mon NGC 2506 (open cluster/Monoceros) culminates at 9:54 PM
Monday 29 748 R 54 527 1 Tue NGC 2613 (galaxy/Pyxis) culminates at 10:23 PM
Dark Times March 2016
PM Day
PM Date
Twilight Ends
PM Moon
AM Moon
Twilight Begins
AM Date
AM Day
Events
Tuesday 1 749 R 148 527 2 Wed
Wednesday 2 751 R 242 526 3 Thu Moon passes over open cluster M23.
Thursday 3 752 R 333 524 4 Fri
Friday 4 753 R 421 523 5 Sat
Saturday 5 754 R 507 521 6 Sun
Sunday 6 755 520 7 Mon
Monday 7 756 518 8 Tue Jupiter at opposition
Tuesday 8 757 516 9 Wed New Moon: Total solar eclipse visible from Indonesia and south Pacific ocean.
Wednesday 9 758 515 10 Thu
Thursday 10 800 S 840 513 11 Fri
Friday 11 801 S 952 511 12 Sat
Saturday 12 802 S 1102 610 13 Sun Daylight Savings Time begins
Sunday 13 903 S 109 608 14 Mon
Monday 14 904 S 212 606 15 Tue
Tuesday 15 905 S 309 605 16 Wed
Wednesday 16 906 S 400 603 17 Thu
Thursday 17 908 S 444 601 18 Fri
Friday 18 909 S 524 559 19 Sat Mercury (in Aquarius) rises 7:31 AM, culminates 1:19 PM, sets 7:07 PM
Saturday 19 910 558 20 Sun Venus (in Aquarius) rises 6:49 AM, culminates 12:20 PM, sets 5:51 PM; Vernal Equinox
Sunday 20 911 556 21 Mon Mars (in Scorpius) rises 12:52 AM, culminates 5:42 AM, sets 10:31 AM
Monday 21 912 554 22 Tue Jupiter (in Leo) rises 6:14 PM, culminates 12:39 AM, sets 7:04 AM.
Tuesday 22 914 552 23 Wed Full Moon
Wednesday 23 915 550 24 Thu Saturn (in Ophiuchus) rises 1:34 AM, culminates 6:19 AM, sets 11:05 AM.
Thursday 24 916 548 25 Fri Uranus (in Pisces) rises 7:59 AM, culminates 2:29 PM, sets 8:56 PM
Friday 25 917 R 955 547 26 Sat Neptune (in Aquarius) rises 6:24 AM, culminates 12:01 PM, sets 5:35 PM
Saturday 26 918 R 1051 545 27 Sun Pluto (in Sagittarius) rises 3:34 AM, culminates 8:20 AM, sets 1:10 PM
Sunday 27 920 R 1146 543 28 Mon
Monday 28 921 R 41 541 29 Tue
Tuesday 29 922 R 134 539 30 Wed
Wednesday 30 924 R 224 537 31 Thu Moon partially blocks open cluster M25.
Thursday 31 925 R 313 536 1 Fri Uranus & Mars set 39’ apart.
Dark Times April 2016
PM Day
PM Date
Twilight Ends
PM Moon
AM Moon
Twilight Begins
AM Date
AM Day
Events
Friday 1 926 R 358 534 2 Sat
Saturday 2 927 R 440 532 3 Sun
Sunday 3 929 R 520 530 4 Mon
Monday 4 930 528 5 Tue
Tuesday 5 931 526 6 Wed
Wednesday 6 933 524 7 Thu New Moon
Thursday 7 934 522 8 Fri
Friday 8 935 S 940 520 9 Sat
Saturday 9 937 S 1052 519 10 Sun
Sunday 10 938 S 1159 517 11 Mon
Monday 11 939 S 101 515 12 Tue
Tuesday 12 941 S 155 513 13 Wed
Wednesday 13 942 S 243 511 14 Thu
Thursday 14 944 S 325 509 15 Fri
Friday 15 945 S 402 507 16 Sat
Saturday 16 947 S 435 505 17 Sun
Sunday 17 948 503 18 Mon Mercury (in Aries) rises 7:24 AM, culminates 2:40 PM, sets 9:56 PM
Monday 18 949 502 19 Tue Venus (in Pisces) R 6:18 AM, C 12:39 PM, S 7:00 PM: Mercury at greatest eastern elongation
Tuesday 19 951 500 20 Wed Mars (in Ophiuchus) rises 11:16 PM, culminates 4:00 AM, sets 8:43 AM
Wednesday 20 952 458 21 Thu Jupiter (in Leo) rises 4:02 PM culminates 10:31 PM, sets 4:59 AM.
Thursday 21 954 456 22 Fri Full Moon: Lyrid Meteor Shower; Uranus and Venus rise 58’ apart.
Friday 22 955 454 23 Sat Saturn (in Ophiuchus) rises 11:32 PM, culminates 4:18 AM, sets 9:04 AM.
Saturday 23 957 452 24 Sun Uranus (in Pisces) rises 6:05 AM, culminates 12:37 PM, sets 7:06 PM
Sunday 24 958 R 1036 450 25 Mon Neptune (in Aquarius) rises 4:29 AM, culminates 10:03 AM, sets 3:41 PM
Monday 25 1000 R 1129 449 26 Tue Pluto (in Sagittarius) R 1:36 AM, C 6:22 AM, S 11:08 AM; Moon rises occulting globular M9.
Tuesday 26 1001 R 21 447 27 Wed Moon passes through M24.
Wednesday 27 1003 R 109 445 28 Thu
Thursday 28 1004 R 155 443 29 Fri
Friday 29 1006 R 237 441 30 Sat
Saturday 30 1007 R 316 440 1 Sun
Dark Times May 2016
PM Day
PM Date
Twilight Ends
PM Moon
AM Moon
Twilight Begins
AM Date
AM Day
Events
Sunday 1 1009 R 354 438 2 Mon
Monday 2 1010 R 431 436 3 Tue
Tuesday 3 1012 434 4 Wed
Wednesday 4 1013 433 5 Thu
Thursday 5 1015 431 6 Fri
Friday 6 1017 429 7 Sat New Moon: Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower peaks
Saturday 7 1018 428 8 Sun
Sunday 8 1020 S 1044 426 9 Mon Transit of Mercury across the Sun, begins 7:12 AM 5/9, ends 2:41 PM 5/9
Monday 9 1021 S 1144 424 10 Tue
Tuesday 10 1023 S 37 423 11 Wed
Wednesday 11 1024 S 123 421 12 Thu
Thursday 12 1026 S 203 420 13 Fri Mercury and Venus rise less than ½º apart.
Friday 13 1027 S 238 418 14 Sat
Saturday 14 1029 S 309 417 15 Sun
Sunday 15 1030 S 339 415 16 Mon
Monday 16 1032 S 408 414 17 Tue
Tuesday 17 1033 412 18 Wed Mercury (in Aries) rises 5:41 AM, culminates 12:37 PM, sets 7:29 PM
Wednesday 18 1035 411 19 Thu Venus (in Aries/Taurus) rises 5:55 AM, culminates 1:03 PM, sets 8:10 PM
Thursday 19 1036 410 20 Fri Mars (in Scorpius) rises 8:52 PM, culminates 1:34 AM, sets 6:17 AM
Friday 20 1038 408 21 Sat Jupiter (in Leo) rises 2:02 PM, culminates 8:31 PM, sets 3:00 AM.
Saturday 21 1039 407 22 Sun Full Moon
Sunday 22 1041 406 23 Mon Saturn (in Ophiuchus) rises 9:26 PM, culminates 2:13 AM, sets 6:59 AM. Mars at Opposition.
Monday 23 1042 404 24 Tue Uranus (in Pisces) rises 4:10 AM, culminates 10:42 AM, sets 5:16 PM
Tuesday 24 1044 R 1108 403 25 Wed Neptune (in Aquarius) rises 2:32 AM, culminates 8:07 PM, sets 1:46 PM
Wednesday 25 1045 R 1155 402 26 Thu Pluto (in Sagittarius) rises 11:37 PM, culminates 4:23 AM, sets 9:09 AM
Thursday 26 1046 R 37 401 27 Fri
Friday 27 1048 R 117 400 28 Sat
Saturday 28 1049 R 154 359 29 Sun
Sunday 29 1050 R 230 358 30 Mon
Monday 30 1051 R 305 357 31 Tue
Tuesday 31 1053 R 341 356 1 Wed
Dark Times June 2016
PM Day
PM Date
Twilight Ends
PM Moon
AM Moon
Twilight Begins
AM Date
AM Day
Events
Wednesday 1 1054 355 2 Thu
Thursday 2 1055 355 3 Fri Saturn at Opposition. Cherry Springs Star Party 6/2-5/2016
Friday 3 1056 354 4 Sat
Saturday 4 1057 353 5 Sun New Moon. Mercury at Greatest Elong: 24.2°W
Sunday 5 1058 353 6 Mon
Monday 6 1059 352 7 Tue
Tuesday 7 1100 S 1115 351 8 Wed
Wednesday 8 1101 S 1159 351 9 Thu
Thursday 9 1102 S 37 351 10 Fri
Friday 10 1102 S 111 350 11 Sat
Saturday 11 1103 S 142 350 12 Sun
Sunday 12 1104 S 211 350 13 Mon
Monday 13 1104 S 240 349 14 Tue
Tuesday 14 1105 S 310 349 15 Wed
Wednesday 15 1105 S 341 349 16 Thu Mercury (in Taurus) rises 4:48 AM, culminates Noon sets 7:10 PM
Thursday 16 1106 349 17 Fri Venus (in Taurus) rises 6:07 AM, culminates 1:39 PM, sets 9:12 PM
Friday 17 1106 349 18 Sat Mars (in Libra) rises 6:18 PM, culminates 11:04 PM, sets 3:49 AM
Saturday 18 1107 349 19 Sun Jupiter (in Leo) rises 12:16 PM, culminates 6:42 PM, sets 1:15 AM.
Sunday 19 1107 349 20 Mon Full Moon
Monday 20 1107 350 21 Tue Saturn (in Ophiuchus) R 7:22 PM, C 12:10 AM, S 4:57 AM. 6.5’ to 6.25 mag star, Solstice
Tuesday 21 1107 350 22 Wed Uranus (in Pisces) rises 2:19 AM, culminates 8:52 AM, sets 3:28 PM
Wednesday 22 1107 350 23 Thu Neptune (in Aquarius) rises 12:38 AM, culminates 6:13 AM, sets 11:49 AM
Thursday 23 1107 R 1119 351 24 Fri Pluto (in Sagittarius) rises 9:41 PM, culminates 2:26 AM, sets 7:12 AM; 3’ to Pi Sgr mag 2.9
Friday 24 1107 R 1157 351 25 Sat
Saturday 25 1107 R 33 352 26 Sun
Sunday 26 1107 R 107 352 27 Mon
Monday 27 1107 R 142 353 28 Tue
Tuesday 28 1107 R 219 353 29 Wed
Wednesday 29 1107 R 258 354 30 Thu
Thursday 30 1106 R 341 355 1 Fri Mars 20’ from globular cluster NGC 5897.
Dark Times July 2016
PM Day
PM Date
Twilight Ends
PM Moon
AM Moon
Twilight Begins
AM Date
AM Day
Events
Friday 1 1106 356 2 Sat
Saturday 2 1105 356 3 Sun
Sunday 3 1105 357 4 Mon New Moon
Monday 4 1104 358 5 Tue
Tuesday 5 1104 359 6 Wed
Wednesday 6 1103 400 7 Thu
Thursday 7 1102 S 1109 401 8 Fri
Friday 8 1102 S 1142 402 9 Sat
Saturday 9 1101 S 13 403 10 Sun
Sunday 10 1100 S 42 405 11 Mon
Monday 11 1059 S 111 406 12 Tue
Tuesday 12 1058 S 142 407 13 Wed
Wednesday 13 1057 S 214 408 14 Thu
Thursday 14 1056 S 249 410 15 Fri
Friday 15 1055 S 329 411 16 Sat Mercury (in Cancer) rises 6:59 AM, culminates 2:15 PM, sets 9:38 PM; Close conj. with Venus
Saturday 16 1054 412 17 Sun Venus (in Cancer) rises 7:04 AM, culminates 2:20 PM, sets 9:37 PM
Sunday 17 1053 413 18 Mon Mars (in Libra) rises 4:27 PM, culminates 9:10 PM, sets 1:52 AM; Venus & Mercury in M44
Monday 18 1051 415 19 Tue Jupiter (in Leo) rises 10:39 AM, culminates 5:02 PM, sets 11:22 PM.
Tuesday 19 1050 416 20 Wed Full Moon
Wednesday 20 1049 418 21 Thu Saturn (in Ophiuchus) rises 5:17 PM, culminates 10:05 PM, sets 2:53 AM.
Thursday 21 1047 419 22 Fri Uranus (in Pisces) rises 12:22 AM, culminates 6:56 AM, sets 1:33 PM
Friday 22 1046 420 23 Sat Neptune (in Aquarius) R 10:40 PM, C 4:14 AM, S 9:49 AM; Moon occults Neptune
Saturday 23 1045 R 1110 422 24 Sun Pluto (in Sagittarius) rises 7:41 PM, culminates 12:25 AM, sets 5:10 AM
Sunday 24 1043 R 1145 423 25 Mon
Monday 25 1042 R 21 425 26 Tue
Tuesday 26 1040 R 59 426 27 Wed
Wednesday 27 1039 R 139 428 28 Thu
Thursday 28 1037 R 225 429 29 Fri Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower peaks; Moon in Hyades open cluster.
Friday 29 1036 R 315 431 30 Sat
Saturday 30 1034 R 410 432 31 Sun
Sunday 31 1033 434 1 Mon
Dark Times August 2016
PM Day
PM Date
Twilight Ends
PM Moon
AM Moon
Twilight Begins
AM Date
AM Day
Events
Monday 1 1031 435 2 Tue
Tuesday 2 1029 437 3 Wed New Moon
Wednesday 3 1028 438 4 Thu
Thursday 4 1026 440 5 Fri
Friday 5 1024 441 6 Sat
Saturday 6 1022 S 1043 443 7 Sun
Sunday 7 1021 S 1112 444 8 Mon
Monday 8 1019 S 1142 446 9 Tue
Tuesday 9 1017 S 13 447 10 Wed
Wednesday 10 1015 S 47 449 11 Thu
Thursday 11 1014 S 124 450 12 Fri
Friday 12 1012 S 206 452 13 Sat Perseids Meteor Shower peaks
Saturday 13 1010 S 253 453 14 Sun Mercury (in Leo) R 8:59 AM, C 3:12 PM, S 9:26 PM; Moon occults open cluster M23.
Sunday 14 1008 S 345 454 15 Mon Venus (in Leo) rises 8:13 AM, culminates 2:45 PM, sets 9:18 PM
Monday 15 1006 S 443 456 16 Tue Mars (in Scorpius) rises 3:57 PM, culminates 8:00 PM, sets 12:33 AM.
Tuesday 16 1004 457 17 Wed Jupiter (in Virgo) R 9:13 AM, C 3:28 PM, S 9:40 PM. Mercury at Greatest Elong: 27.4°E
Wednesday 17 1003 459 18 Thu Full Moon
Thursday 18 1001 500 19 Fri Saturn (in Ophiuchus) rises 3:21 PM, culminates 8:09 PM, sets 12:57 AM.
Friday 19 959 502 20 Sat Uranus (in Pisces) rises 10:28 PM, culminates 5:01 AM, sets 11:34 AM
Saturday 20 957 503 21 Sun Neptune (in Aquarius) rises 8:44 PM, culminates 2:18 AM, sets 7:51 AM
Sunday 21 955 R 1022 504 22 Mon Pluto (in Sagittarius) rises 5:45 PM, culminates 10:29 PM, sets 3:13 AM
Monday 22 953 R 1100 506 23 Tue
Tuesday 23 951 R 1140 507 24 Wed Mercury, Venus and Jupiter all set in close conjunction in evening.
Wednesday 24 949 R 24 508 25 Thu
Thursday 25 947 R 112 510 26 Fri Moon in close conjunction with open clusters NGC 1817 & NGC 1807.
Friday 26 946 R 204 511 27 Sat Extremely close conjunction between Venus and Jupiter, < 5’ at 6 PM
Saturday 27 944 R 301 512 28 Sun
Sunday 28 942 R 401 514 29 Mon
Monday 29 940 R 502 515 30 Tue
Tuesday 30 938 516 31 Wed
Wednesday 31 936 518 1 Thu New Moon (2nd in calendar month) Annular Solar eclipse visible from Africa, Atlantic & Indian oceans.)
Dark Times September 2016
PM Day
PM Date
Twilight Ends
PM Moon
AM Moon
Twilight Begins
AM Date
AM Day
Events
Thursday 1 934 519 2 Fri Neptune at Opposition
Friday 2 932 520 3 Sat Jupiter 24’ from Moon @ 7 PM. Black Forest Star Party 9/2-4/2016 (at Cherry Springs SP).
Saturday 3 930 521 4 Sun Almost Heaven Star Party 9/2-6/2016
Sunday 4 928 S 942 523 5 Mon
Monday 5 926 S 1013 524 6 Tue
Tuesday 6 924 S 1046 525 7 Wed
Wednesday 7 922 S 1121 526 8 Thu
Thursday 8 921 S 0 528 9 Fri
Friday 9 919 S 44 529 10 Sat
Saturday 10 917 S 133 530 11 Sun Moon sets occulting open cluster M25
Sunday 11 915 S 228 531 12 Mon
Monday 12 913 S 327 532 13 Tue Mercury (in Leo) rises 7:08 AM, culminates 1:19 PM, sets 7:22 PM
Tuesday 13 911 S 431 534 14 Wed Venus (in Virgo) rises 9:23 AM, culminates 3:01 PM, sets 8:41 PM
Wednesday 14 909 535 15 Thu Mars (in Ophiuchus) rises 2:49 PM, culminates 7:14 PM, sets 11:40 PM
Thursday 15 907 536 16 Fri Jupiter (in Virgo) rises 7:46 AM, culminates 1:53 PM, sets 7:57 PM.
Friday 16 905 537 17 Sat Full Moon
Saturday 17 904 538 18 Sun Saturn (in Ophiuchus) rises 1:28 PM, culminates 6:15 PM, sets 11:02 PM.
Sunday 18 902 539 19 Mon Uranus (in Pisces) rises 8:28 PM, culminates 3:00 AM, sets 9:32 AM
Monday 19 900 R 937 541 20 Tue Neptune (in Aquarius) rises 6:44 PM, culminates 12:17 AM, sets 5:49 AM
Tuesday 20 858 R 1021 542 21 Wed Pluto (in Sagittarius) rises 3:46 PM, culminates 8:30 PM, sets 1:14 AM
Wednesday 21 856 R 1109 543 22 Thu Autumnal Equinox
Thursday 22 854 R 1 544 23 Fri
Friday 23 853 R 57 545 24 Sat
Saturday 24 851 R 155 546 25 Sun
Sunday 25 849 R 255 547 26 Mon
Monday 26 847 R 356 548 27 Tue
Tuesday 27 846 R 456 549 28 Wed
Wednesday 28 844 550 29 Thu Mercury at Greatest Elong: 17.9°W
Thursday 29 842 552 30 Fri
Friday 30 840 553 1 Sat New Moon; Mars 8’ from GC NGC 6553. Hidden Hollow Star Party 9/30-10/2/2016
Dark Times October 2016
PM Day
PM Date
Twilight Ends
PM Moon
AM Moon
Twilight Begins
AM Date
AM Day
Events
Saturday 1 839 554 2 Sun
Sunday 2 837 555 3 Mon
Monday 3 835 S 846 556 4 Tue
Tuesday 4 834 S 920 557 5 Wed
Wednesday 5 832 S 957 558 6 Thu Mars 8’ from globular cluster M28.
Thursday 6 830 S 1039 559 7 Fri
Friday 7 829 S 1125 600 8 Sat Draconids Meteor Shower peaks (10 zhr), best viewed in early evening.
Saturday 8 827 S 16 601 9 Sun
Sunday 9 826 S 111 602 10 Mon
Monday 10 824 S 212 603 11 Tue Mercury 48’ from Jupiter
Tuesday 11 822 S 316 604 12 Wed Mercury (in Virgo) rises 6:38 AM, culminates 12:34 PM, sets 6:32 PM
Wednesday 12 821 S 423 605 13 Thu Venus (in Libra) rises 10:31 AM, culminates 3:22 PM, sets 8:15 PM
Thursday 13 819 S 533 606 14 Fri Mars (in Sagittarius) rises 2:16 PM, culminates 6:44 PM, sets 11:13 PM
Friday 14 818 607 15 Sat Jupiter (in Virgo) rises 6:23 AM, culminates 12:22 PM, sets 6:17 PM. Uranus at Opposition
Saturday 15 816 608 16 Sun Full Moon
Sunday 16 815 609 17 Mon Saturn (in Ophiuchus) rises 11:41 AM, culminates 4:30 PM, sets 9:16 PM.
Monday 17 814 610 18 Tue Uranus (in Pisces) rises 6:31 PM, culminates 1:02 AM, sets 7:32 AM
Tuesday 18 812 R 900 611 19 Wed Neptune (in Aquarius) R 4:49 PM, C 10:20 PM, S 3:52 AM; Moon passes thru Hyades cluster.
Wednesday 19 811 R 952 612 20 Thu Pluto (in Sagittarius) rises 1:53 PM, culminates 6:36 PM, sets 11:20 PM
Thursday 20 809 R 1049 613 21 Fri
Friday 21 808 R 1148 614 22 Sat Orionids Meteor Shower peaks
Saturday 22 807 R 49 615 23 Sun
Sunday 23 805 R 150 617 24 Mon
Monday 24 804 R 250 618 25 Tue
Tuesday 25 803 R 349 619 26 Wed
Wednesday 26 802 R 448 620 27 Thu
Thursday 27 801 R 545 621 28 Fri
Friday 28 759 622 29 Sat
Saturday 29 758 623 30 Sun
Sunday 30 757 624 31 Mon New Moon
Monday 31 756 625 1 Tue
Dark Times November 2016
PM Day
PM Date
Twilight Ends
PM Moon
AM Moon
Twilight Begins
AM Date
AM Day
Events
Tuesday 1 755 S 756 626 2 Wed
Wednesday 2 754 S 836 627 3 Thu
Thursday 3 753 S 920 628 4 Fri
Friday 4 752 S 1009 629 5 Sat
Saturday 5 751 S 1102 530 6 Sun Daylight Savings Time ends 2 AM
Sunday 6 650 S 1059 531 7 Mon
Monday 7 649 S 0 532 8 Tue Mars sets 14’ from globular cluster M75.
Tuesday 8 648 S 103 533 9 Wed
Wednesday 9 648 S 210 534 10 Thu Mercury (in Libra) rises 7:55 AM, culminates 12:41 PM, sets 5:32 PM
Thursday 10 647 S 319 535 11 Fri Venus (in Sagittarius) rises 10:32 AM, culminates 2:58 PM, sets 7:25 PM
Friday 11 646 S 430 536 12 Sat Mars (in Capricornus) rises 12:35 PM, culminates 5:19 PM, sets 10:04 PM
Saturday 12 645 537 13 Sun Jupiter (in Virgo) rises 3:59 AM, culminates 9:46 AM, sets 3:37 PM.
Sunday 13 644 538 14 Mon Full Moon
Monday 14 644 539 15 Tue Saturn (in Ophiuchus) rises 9:01 AM, culminates 1:49 PM, sets 6:32 PM.
Tuesday 15 643 540 16 Wed Uranus (in Pisces) rises 3:35 PM, culminates 10:04 PM, sets 4:32 AM
Wednesday 16 643 R 733 541 17 Thu Neptune (in Aquarius) R 1:54 PM, C 7:25 PM, S 12:56 AM. Leonids Meteor Shower peaks.
Thursday 17 642 R 833 542 18 Fri Pluto (in Sagittarius) rises 10:57 AM, culminates 3:44 PM, sets 8:28 PM
Friday 18 641 R 936 543 19 Sat
Saturday 19 641 R 1040 544 20 Sun
Sunday 20 640 R 1142 545 21 Mon
Monday 21 640 R 42 546 22 Tue
Tuesday 22 640 R 141 547 23 Wed
Wednesday 23 639 R 239 548 24 Thu
Thursday 24 639 R 336 549 25 Fri
Friday 25 638 R 432 550 26 Sat
Saturday 26 638 R 528 551 27 Sun
Sunday 27 638 552 28 Mon
Monday 28 638 552 29 Tue New Moon
Tuesday 29 638 553 30 Wed
Wednesday 30 637 554 1 Thu
Dark Times December 2016
PM Day
PM Date
Twilight Ends
PM Moon
AM Moon
Twilight Begins
AM Date
AM Day
Events
Thursday 1 637 S 705 555 2 Fri
Friday 2 637 S 757 556 3 Sat
Saturday 3 637 S 852 557 4 Sun
Sunday 4 637 S 951 558 5 Mon
Monday 5 637 S 1052 558 6 Tue
Tuesday 6 637 S 1156 559 7 Wed Venus 47’ from M75.
Wednesday 7 637 S 101 600 8 Thu
Thursday 8 637 S 209 601 9 Fri
Friday 9 638 S 319 602 10 Sat Mercury (in Sagittarius) rises 9:22 AM, culminates 1:49 PM, sets 6:17 PM
Saturday 10 638 S 431 602 11 Sun Venus (in Capricornus) R 10:49 AM, C 3:33 PM, S 8:17 PM. Mercury at Greatest Elong: 20.8°E
Sunday 11 638 S 543 603 12 Mon Mars (in Capricornus) rises 11:38 AM, culminates 4:51 PM, sets 10:02 PM;
Monday 12 638 604 13 Tue Jupiter (in Virgo) R 2:26 AM, C 8:07 AM, S 1:52 PM. Geminids Meteor Shower peaks. Moon Occults Aldebaran
Tuesday 13 638 604 14 Wed Full Moon
Wednesday 14 639 605 15 Thu Saturn (in Ophiuchus) rises 7:20 AM, culminates 12:06 PM, sets 4:48 PM.
Thursday 15 639 R 715 606 16 Fri Uranus (in Pisces) rises 1:36 PM, culminates 8:03 PM, sets 2:31 AM
Friday 16 639 R 821 606 17 Sat Neptune (in Aquarius) rises 11:53 AM, culminates 5:28 PM, sets 10:59 PM
Saturday 17 640 R 926 607 18 Sun Pluto (in Sagittarius) rises 9:02 AM, culminates 1:50 PM, sets 6:34 PM
Sunday 18 640 R 1030 607 19 Mon
Monday 19 641 R 1131 608 20 Tue
Tuesday 20 641 R 30 608 21 Wed Winter Solstice
Wednesday 21 642 R 128 609 22 Thu
Thursday 22 642 R 225 609 23 Fri
Friday 23 643 R 321 610 24 Sat
Saturday 24 643 R 417 610 25 Sun
Sunday 25 644 R 512 611 26 Mon
Monday 26 644 R 606 611 27 Tue
Tuesday 27 645 611 28 Wed
Wednesday 28 646 612 29 Thu New Moon
Thursday 29 647 612 30 Fri
Friday 30 647 612 31 Sat
Saturday 31 648 S 745 612 1 Sun Mars sets 7’ from Neptune.
