March 2016 brings exciting astronomical events: Jupiter at opposition, total solar eclipse, March equinox, and penumbral lunar eclipse. Explore more!

On February 7 Mercury will be at greatest western elongation of 25.6 degrees from the Sun. This makes it 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.

On the night of January 3 and 4 the Quadrantids meteor shower will peak. It is an above average shower, with up to 40 meteors per hour at peak, although some meteors can be visible between January 1 and 5. The meteors originate from dust grains left behind by an extinct comet known as 2003 EH1, which was discovered in 2003.

On the night of December 13 and 14 the Geminids meteor shower will peak. It is considered by many to be the best shower in the heavens, producing up to 120 multicolored meteors per hour at its peak. This is why it is known as the king of meteor showers. Some meteors can also be seen anytime from December 7 to 17.

On the night of November 5 and 6 we will witness the peak of the Taurids meteor shower. It is a long-running minor meteor shower producing only about 5-10 meteors per hour at peak, while some meteors can also be seen from September 7 to December 10. However 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 one is produced by debris left behind by Comet 2P Encke.

On October 8 we will witness the Draconids meteor shower. It is a minor meteor shower producing only about 10 meteors per hour originating from 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.

On September 13 there will be a partial solar eclipse. This type of eclipse occurs when the Moon covers only a part of the Sun, sometimes resembling a bite taken out of a cookie. For safety reasons, an eclipse should only be observed with a special solar filter or by looking at the Sun's reflection.

This month on the night of August 12 and 13 we will witness the Perseids meteor shower, which is one of the best meteor showers to observe, producing up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak. Some meteors can also be seen from July 17 to August 24. It originates from debris produced by comet Swift-Tuttle, which was discovered in 1862.

On July 14 NASA's New Horizons spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at Pluto after a nine and a half year journey. It was launched on January 19, 2006 and 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.

On June 6 the planet Venus will be at greatest eastern elongation. Venus will reach greatest eastern elongation of 45.4 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Venus because 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.

Early this month, on the night of May 5th and 6th we will witness the peak of the Eta Aquarids meteor shower. It is an above average shower, capable of producing up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak. However most of the meteors can be seen in the Southern Hemisphere. For the rest of us in the Northern Hemisphere, the rate can reach about 30 meteors per hour.