Skywatching in 2026 with eclipses, supermoons, meteor showers and Artemis II
Get ready for a celestial spectacle in 2026! Witness a 'ring of fire' solar eclipse, a deep red lunar eclipse, and a rare Blue Moon. The year culminates with a spectacular total solar eclipse paired with the Perseid meteor shower, plus a supermoon on Christmas Eve. Don't miss NASA's Artemis II lunar mission!
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Whether it be with naked-eye viewing, through a pair of binoculars, or with a beginner’s telescope, a certain amount of planning can make way for viewing enthusiasts to fully enjoy the spectacular events that take place in the sky in 2026.
Be it eclipses, aligned planets, or an eight-year supermoon, there are plenty of spectacular sky events in 2026 for enthusiasts to enjoy. Sky viewing in 2026 has plenty on offer for anyone, be it a beginner sky watcher or an enthusiast with a deep love for astronomy. Events such as a lunar eclipse, a solar eclipse, a list of sky showers, aligned planets, and an Artemis Mission to orbit around the Moon by NASA make it a perfect year to experience the beauty of sky viewing with friends and family.
List of celestial events in 2026
**Date
**
**Event type
**
**Description
**
Visibility / Notes
3 Jan 2026
Full Moon / Supermoon
Wolf Moon appears larger and brighter due to its proximity to Earth
Global
10 Jan 2026
Planetary Opposition
Jupiter is at its brightest point for 13 months
Visible worldwide
17 Feb 2026
Annular Solar Eclipse
“Ring of fire” effect as the Moon covers the Sun
Total in Antarctica; partial in southern Africa and S. America
3 Mar 2026
Total Lunar Eclipse
Worm moon turns deep red during 58-minute totality
Western North America, East Asia, Australia, New Zealand
20 Mar 2026
Auroras / Equinox
Potential vivid green & red northern lights
Mid-latitudes
31 May 2026
Blue Moon
The second full moon of the month
Global
12–13 Aug 2026
Total Solar Eclipse + Perseid Meteor Shower
Total solar eclipse in Greenland, Iceland, Spain + meteor shower peak
Best in dark-sky locations
28 Aug 2026
Deep Partial Lunar Eclipse
Over 96% of Moon immersed in Earth’s shadow, rust-coloured
Americas, Europe, Africa
14–16 Nov 2026
Planetary Conjunction
Mars and Jupiter within 1° of each other