Overview

The most noteworthy astronomical phenomenon of 2016 is the partial eclipse of the Sun on March 9. It can be observed from throughout all of Japan, but the farther south an area is, the greater the extent of the eclipse will appear. As seen from Tokyo, the Sun will be partially eclipsed for about 2 hours, from 10:12 to 12:05. At 11:08, the time of greatest eclipse, over 15% of the solar disk will be concealed by the Moon.

Among the 3 biggest meteor showers, the timing of the peak and the phase of the Moon are favorable for the Perseid Meteor Shower, so we can expect to see many meteors. The timing of the peak of the Quadrantid Meteor Shower (January) is not good, making it ill-suited for observation. Likewise, the Geminid Meteor Shower (December) is not favorable for observation, because the Moon is bright.

Mars makes its closest approach to Earth on May 31. Earth and Mars make a close approach about every two years, but this time is the closest they have come since 2005. Because Mars appears large at the time of closest approach, this is a good chance to observe it. At that time, Mars is visible throughout the entire night. The 1st magnitude star Antares in the constellation Scorpio and Saturn are also visible nearby.

2016 is yet another year with many fun astronomical phenomena.

January

1	New Year’s Day [Shogatsu] (national holiday)
2	Last Quarter Moon
3	Earth passes perihelion
4	Peak of the Quadrantid Meteor Shower (about 15 per hour)
5	Mercury at stationary point
9	Jupiter at stationary point
10	New Moon
11	Coming-of-Age Day [Seijin-no-hi] (national holiday)
14	Mercury at inferior conjunction
17	First Quarter Moon
24	Full Moon
26	Mercury at stationary point

Astronomical information for January

February

1	Last Quarter Moon
7	Greatest Western Elongation of Mercury
8	New Moon
11	National Foundation Day [Kenkoku-Kinen-no-hi] (national holiday)
15	First Quarter Moon
23	Full Moon
29	Neptune at conjunction

Astronomical information for February

March

2	Last Quarter Moon
8	Jupiter at opposition
9	Total solar eclipse (A partial solar eclipse can be seen from all of Japan) Reference: Solar eclipse visibility forecast for various locations / New Moon
16	First Quarter Moon
20	Vernal Equinox Day [Shunbun-no-hi] (national holiday) / Vernal equinox (Sun’s ecliptic longitude 0°)
21	Holiday
23	Full Moon
24	Mercury at superior conjunction
25	Saturn at stationary point

Astronomical information for March

April

1	Last Quarter Moon
7	New Moon
10	Uranus at conjunction
14	First Quarter Moon
17	Mars at stationary point
18	Greatest Eastern Elongation of Mercury
22	Full Moon/ Peak of April Lyrid Meteor Shower (about 2 per hour)
29	Mercury at stationary point/ Showa Day [Showa-no-hi] (national holiday)
30	Last Quarter Moon

Astronomical information for April

May

3	Constitution Memorial Day [Kenpou-Kinen-bi] (national holiday)
4	Greenery Day [Midori-no-hi] (national holiday)
5	Children’s Day [Kodomo-no-hi] (national holiday)
6	Peak of Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower (about 5 per hour)
7	New Moon
9	Transit of Mercury across the Solar Disk (not visible from Japan) Reference: Transit visibility forecast for various locations
10	Mercury at inferior conjunction/ Jupiter at stationary point
14	First Quarter Moon
22	Full Moon/ Mercury at stationary point/ Mars at opposition
29	Last Quarter Moon
31	Mars makes its closest approach to Earth (Distance 0.503 au)

Astronomical information for May

June

3	Saturn at opposition
5	New Moon/ Greatest Western Elongation of Mercury
7	Venus at inferior conjunction
12	First Quarter Moon
14	Neptune at stationary point
20	Full Moon
21	Summer solstice (Sun’s ecliptic longitude 90°)
28	Last Quarter Moon
30	Mars at stationary point

Astronomical information for June

July

4	New Moon
5	Earth passes aphelion
7	Mercury at superior conjunction
12	First Quarter Moon
18	Ocean Day [Umi-no-hi](national holiday)
20	Full Moon
27	Last Quarter Moon
30	Uranus at stationary point/ Peak of Delta Aquarid Meteor Shower (about 3 per hour)

Astronomical information for July

August

3	New Moon
9	Traditional tanabata (traditional star festival)
11	First Quarter Moon/ Mountain Day [Yama-no-hi](national holiday)
12	Peak of Perseid Meteor Shower (about 45 per hour)
14	Saturn at stationary point
17	Greatest Eastern Elongation of Mercury
18	Full Moon
25	Last Quarter Moon
30	Mercury at stationary point

Astronomical information for August

September

1	Annular solar eclipse (not visible from Japan) Reference: Solar Eclipse visibility forecast for various locations/ New Moon
3	Neptune at opposition
9	First Quarter Moon
13	Mercury at inferior conjunction
15	Harvest Moon
17	Full Moon
19	Respect-for-the-Aged Day [Keiro-no-hi ](national holiday)
21	Mercury at stationary point
22	Autumnal Equinox Day / Autumn equinox (Sun’s ecliptic longitude 180°)
23	Last Quarter Moon
26	Jupiter at conjunction
29	Greatest Western Elongation of Mercury

Astronomical information for September

October

1	New Moon
8	Peak of the October Draconid Meteor Shower (about 1 per hour)
9	First Quarter Moon
10	Health-Sports Day [Taiku-no-hi]/ Peak of Southern Taurid Meteor Shower (about 2 per hour)
15	Uranus at opposition
16	Full Moon
21	Peak of Orionid Meteor Shower (about 3 per hour)
23	Last Quarter Moon
28	Mercury at superior conjunction
31	New Moon

Astronomical information for October

November

3	Culture Day [Bunka-no-hi](national holiday)
8	First Quarter Moon
12	Peak of Northern Taurid Meteor Shower (about 2 per hour)
14	Full Moon
16	Occultation of Aldebaran (for Tokyo disappearance is at 2:23 am and reappearance is at 3:27 am)
17	Peak of Leonid Meteor Shower (about 2 per hour)
20	Neptune at Stationary Point
21	Last Quarter Moon
23	Labor Thanksgiving Day [Kinro-kansha-no-hi] (national holiday)
29	New Moon

Astronomical information for November

December

7	First Quarter Moon
10	Saturn at conjunction
11	Greatest Eastern Elongation of Mercury
14	Full Moon/ Peak of Geminid Meteor Shower (about 10 per hour)
19	Mercury at stationary point
21	Last Quarter Moon/ Winter solstice (Sun’s ecliptic longitude 270°)
23	Emperor’s Birthday [Tennou-Tanjyobi] (national holiday)
29	New Moon/ Mercury at inferior conjunction
30	Uranus at stationary point

Astronomical information for December