A Month-by-Month Guide to the Best Skywatching Events of the Year
Bookmark this page, you’ll want to come back to it all year long! At the bottom of the page, you’ll also find downloadable calendars you can print and hang up at home.
2026 is packed with exciting sky events, from bright planets that are viewable to memorable meteor showers. The event I’m most excited about? The Perseid Meteor Shower in August. The peak happens during a new moon, meaning a dark sky and, weather permitting, about as good as it gets for meteor watching!
JANUARY
In January, Saturn and Jupiter will both be visible, with Jupiter standing out as the brightest planet in the evening sky.
- January 3–4: Quadrantids Meteor Shower peaks (up to ~25 meteors per hour).
- January 3: Full Wolf Moon (Supermoon) at 5:03 a.m. EST.
- January 10: Jupiter reaches opposition, when Earth passes directly between Jupiter and the Sun. Jupiter will be at its brightest and visible all night.
- January 29: Approximately 10 hours of daylight.
FEBRUARY
- February 1: Full Snow Moon at 5:09 p.m. EST.
- February 17: Annular “Ring of Fire” Solar Eclipse (not visible from the United States).
- Mid-February: Look to a clear western horizon shortly after sunset for a planetary parade featuring Saturn, Venus, and Mercury. Neptune will also be nearby but requires a telescope.
- February 22: Approximately 11 hours of daylight.
MARCH
- March 3: Full Worm Moon at 6:38 a.m. EST.
- March 3: Total Lunar Eclipse.During the eclipse, the Moon may take on a deep red or coppery color. This is the only total lunar eclipse of 2026. We won’t see another until 2028.
- March 8: Daylight Saving Time begins.
- March 17: Approximately 12 hours of daylight.
- March 20: Spring (Vernal) Equinox at 10:46 a.m. EDT.
APRIL
- April 1: Full Pink Moon at 10:12 p.m. EDT.
- April 9: Approximately 13 hours of daylight.
- April 19–20: A waxing crescent Moon appears near Venus and several bright stars after sunset.
- April 22: Lyrids Meteor Shower peaks, producing about 10–20 meteors per hour. The Moon should cooperate for viewing.
MAY
- May 1: Full Flower Moon at 1:23 p.m. EDT.
- May 2: Approximately 14 hours of daylight.
- May 4: Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower peaks. Under a dark sky, up to 50 meteors per hour are possible.
- May 19: About 30 minutes after sunset, look for a crescent Moon positioned between Venus to the south and Jupiter to the north, with Castor and Pollux also visible.
- May 31: Full Blue Moon at 4:45 a.m. EDT.
JUNE
- June 6: Approximately 15 hours of daylight.
- June 8–9: Venus–Jupiter conjunction visible about 60 minutes after sunset in the northwest. Mercury will also be nearby.
- June 16–17: A thin waxing crescent Moon highlights Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury in the evening sky.
- June 21: Summer Solstice at 4:24 a.m. EDT.
- June 29: Full Strawberry Moon at 7:56 p.m. EDT.
JULY
- July 25 – August 5: Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower peaks, producing around 20 meteors per hour under ideal conditions.
- July 29: Full Buck Moon at 10:36 a.m. EDT.
AUGUST
- August 12: Total Solar Eclipse visible from Greenland, Iceland, and parts of northern Europe, including Spain.
- August 12: Perseids Meteor Shower peaks during a New Moon! Excellent viewing conditions, with up to ~100 meteors per hour possible.
- August 28: Full Sturgeon Moon at 12:18 a.m. EDT. A partial lunar eclipse will give the Moon a subtle reddish appearance.
SEPTEMBER
- September 6–7: In the predawn sky, a crescent Moon appears near Mars, close to Castor and Pollux.
- September 22: Autumnal Equinox at 8:05 p.m. EDT.
- September 26: Full Corn (Harvest) Moon at 12:49 p.m. EDT.
OCTOBER
- October 21–22: Orionids Meteor Shower peaks, with up to 20 meteors per hour.
- October 26: Full Hunter’s Moon at 12:12 a.m. EDT.
NOVEMBER
- November 1: Daylight Saving Time ends.
- November 4–5: Taurids Meteor Shower peaks. While rates are low, this shower is known for bright fireballs.
- November 14–16: Pre-dawn planetary parade with Mars and Jupiter appearing very close together in the sky.
- November 17–18: Leonids Meteor Shower peaks, producing around 10–15 meteors per hour.
- November 24: Full Beaver Moon (Supermoon) at 9:53 a.m. EST.
DECEMBER
- December 4: Before sunrise, look for a crescent Moon and Venus close together, with Spica, the brightest star in Virgo, nearby. Higher in the southern sky, bright Jupiter and reddish Mars shine, with Regulus, the brightest star in Leo, between them.
- December 14: Geminids Meteor Shower peaks, often producing up to 140 meteors per hour under dark skies.
- December 21: Winter Solstice at 12:50 p.m. EST.
- December 22: Ursids Meteor Shower peaks, producing about 10 meteors per hour.
- December 24: Full Cold Moon (Supermoon) at 8:28 a.m. EST and the closest supermoon since 2019.
PRINTABLE CALENDARS
Dates and times are based on astronomical data from NASA, https://skyandtelescope.org and the full moon times are based on the U.S. Navy’s Moon Phases at https://aa.usno.navy.mil/. Visibility may vary by location and weather conditions.
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