Your Ultimate Guide To Meteor Showers, Rocket Launches And More In 2016
In 2015, there's been some truly ~stellar~ space developments: We got to see a "Super Blood Moon" eclipse, the successful landing of SpaceX's Falcon 9, and got to (sort of) live our dreams when NASA announced it was looking for astronauts.
The end of this year is fast-approaching, but we know that space exploration never stops. There's so much to look forward to in 2016, and we promise it's going to be out of this world.
Here's your handy guide to some must-see space events happening in 2016. Feel free to share it liberally with fellow space nerds and aspiring astronauts.
January
SpaceX Dragon CRS-8 Launch
Date: January, day TBD
SpaceX Falcon 9, CRS 8 Launch
Date: January 3
Quatranids Meteor Shower
Date: January 3-4
February
United Launch Alliance Atlas V GPS IIF-12 Launch
Date: February 3
March
Total Solar Eclipse
Date: March 9
SpaceX Falcon 9, CRS 9 Launch
Date: March 21
Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
Date: March 23
April
Lyrids Meteor Shower
Date: April 22-23
May
Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower
Date: May 6-7
Transit of Mercury
Date: May 9
United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 Rocket, MUOS 5
Date: May 5
July
Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower
Date: July 28-29
August
Perseids Meteor Shower
Date: August 12-13
September
United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 Rocket, GOES-R
Date: September, day TBD
Annular Solar Eclipse
Date: September 1
Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
Date: September 16
October
Draconids Meteor Shower
Date: October 7
Orionids Meteor Shower
Date: October 21-22
November
Taurids Meteor Shower
Date: November 4-5
December
Ursids Meteor Shower
Date: December 21-22