541.

The Moon at aphelion The Moon recedes to its orbit's furthest point from the Sun, which happens each month around the time of full moon. Tue, 13 Dec 2016 at 02:17 EDT (2,723 days ago) in Taurus

542.

Lunar occultation of Aldebaran The Moon will pass in front of Aldebaran (Alpha Tauri), creating a lunar occultation visible from countries and territories including the Contiguous United States, Canada, Mexico and Spain amongst others. Mon, 12 Dec 2016 at 23:29 EDT (2,723 days ago) in Taurus

543.

Close approach of the Moon and Collinder 50 The Moon and Collinder 50 pass close to each other. Mon, 12 Dec 2016 at 20:00 EDT (2,724 days ago) in Taurus

544.

The Large Magellanic Cloud is well placed The Milky Way's dwarf companion, the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC; mag 0.9), in Dorado culminates at around midnight local time. Mon, 12 Dec 2016 (2,724 days ago) in Dorado

545.

The Moon at perigee The Moon makes its monthly closest approach to the Earth, making it appear fractionally larger than at other times of the month. Mon, 12 Dec 2016 at 18:29 EDT (2,724 days ago) in Taurus

546.

σ-Hydrid meteor shower 2016 The σ-Hydrid meteor shower reaches its peak. Sun, 11 Dec 2016 (2,725 days ago) in Hydra

547.

Mercury at greatest elongation east Mercury is bright and well placed in the evening sky. Sun, 11 Dec 2016 at 02:55 EDT (2,725 days ago) in Sagittarius

548.

Saturn at solar conjunction Saturn is unobservable as it passes around the far side of the Sun – marking the end of one apparition and the beginning of the next. Sat, 10 Dec 2016 at 06:41 EDT (2,726 days ago) in Ophiuchus

549.

Monocerotid meteor shower 2016 The Monocerotid meteor shower reaches its peak. Thu, 08 Dec 2016 (2,728 days ago) in Monoceros

550.

Moon at First Quarter The Moon reaches first quarter phase – appearing high in the sky at sunset and setting in the west at around midnight. Wed, 07 Dec 2016 at 04:03 EDT (2,729 days ago) in Aquarius

551.

Puppid-Velid meteor shower 2016 The Puppid-Velid meteor shower reaches its peak. Tue, 06 Dec 2016 (2,730 days ago) in Vela

552.

Lunar occultation of Neptune The Moon will pass in front of Neptune, creating a lunar occultation visible from countries and territories including Greenland, Canada, Iceland and Ireland amongst others. Tue, 06 Dec 2016 at 16:40 EDT (2,730 days ago) in Aquarius

553.

December φ-Cassiopeid meteor shower 2016 The December φ-Cassiopeid meteor shower reaches its peak. Mon, 05 Dec 2016 (2,731 days ago) in Andromeda

554.

Conjunction of the Moon and Mars The Moon and Mars share the same right ascension, at a separation of 2°56'. Mon, 05 Dec 2016 at 05:39 EDT (2,731 days ago) in Capricornus

555.

Close approach of the Moon and Mars The Moon and Mars pass close to each other. Mon, 05 Dec 2016 at 04:19 EDT (2,731 days ago) in Capricornus

556.

Conjunction of the Moon and Venus The Moon and Venus share the same right ascension, at a separation of 5°48'. Sat, 03 Dec 2016 at 07:33 EDT (2,733 days ago) in Sagittarius

557.

Close approach of the Moon and Venus The Moon and Venus pass close to each other. Sat, 03 Dec 2016 at 06:10 EDT (2,733 days ago) in Sagittarius

558.

Pheonicid meteor shower 2016 The Pheonicid meteor shower reaches its peak. Thu, 01 Dec 2016 (2,735 days ago) in Phoenix

559.

Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury The Moon and Mercury share the same right ascension, at a separation of 7°05'. Wed, 30 Nov 2016 at 22:49 EDT (2,736 days ago) in Sagittarius

560.

The Moon at perihelion The Moon passes its orbit's closest point to the Sun, which happens each month around the time of new moon. Wed, 30 Nov 2016 at 20:12 EDT (2,736 days ago) in Ophiuchus