Astronomical Events 2026
Check out the dates and times for astronomical events like equinoxes, solstices, meteor showers, eclipses, supermoons, and more.
Jan 3: Wolf Moon
3Jan
The first Full Moon of the year is colloquially known as the Wolf Moon in many northern cultures.
Jan 3: Earth at Perihelion
3Jan
At around 17:15 UTC, the Earth reaches perihelion—the point on its orbit closest to the Sun.
Jan 3/4: Quadrantid Meteor Shower
3Jan
The first major meteor shower of 2026, the Quadrantids, peaks on the night of January 3 and the early morning hours of January 4 (depending on your time zone).
Jan 10: Jupiter at Opposition
10 Jan
The massive planet, Jupiter, reaches the opposite side of Earth to the Sun, and is visible from sunset to sunrise.
Jan 18: New Moon
18Jan
A New Moon in the sky means no moonlight to hinder your view of stars and planets. Use our Interactive Night Sky Map to find out what planets are visible tonight and where.
Feb 1: Snow Moon
1 FEB
February’s Full Moon is also known as the Snow Moon in many Northern Hemisphere cultures.
Feb 17: Annular Solar Eclipse
17 Feb
An annular solar eclipse happens in a remote area of Antarctica. Parts of southern Africa and the southern tip of South America will see a small partial solar eclipse.
Feb 17: New Moon
17 Feb
Take advantage of the New Moon to check out the skies with our Interactive Night Sky Map, weather permitting, of course.
Feb 19: Mercury at Greatest Elongation East
19 Feb
This might be a good time to try and spot Mercury: The planet appears at its farthest distance from the Sun in the evening sky.
Mar 2/3: Total Lunar Eclipse
3 Mar
This is the last total lunar eclipse until the very end of 2028. Totality will be visible across parts of North and South America, Australia, and Asia.
Mar 3: Worm Moon
3 Mar
The Full Moon in March is traditionally called the Worm Moon, after earthworms that tend to appear around this time in many locations in the Northern Hemisphere.
Mar 19: New Moon
19 Mar
Dark nights a few days before and after the Moon reaches its New Moon phase at 01:23 UTC on March 19 are the best nights to do some night sky watching—see our map!
Mar 20: March Equinox
20 Mar
The March equinox is the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the start of fall in the Southern Hemisphere, by astronomical definitions.
Apr 2: Pink Moon
2Apr
April’s Full Moon is traditionally known as the Pink Full Moon. In 2026, it falls at 02:11 UTC on April 2.
Apr 3: Mercury at Greatest Elongation West
3 Apr
This might be a good time to try and spot Mercury: the planet appears at its farthest distance from the Sun in the morning sky.
Apr 13/14: Earthshine Mornings
13 Apr
The Waxing and Waning Crescent Moon phases in April and May are the best time to see Earthshine, where the unlit part of the Moon becomes visible. It is also known as Da Vinci glow.
Apr 17: New Moon
17 Apr
The New Moon of April 2026 falls at 11:51 UTC on the 17th. At New Moon, the far side of the Moon—which we cannot see—is fully illuminated by the Sun.
Apr 20/21: Earthshine Nights
20 Apr
The Waxing and Waning Crescent Moon phases in April and May are the best time to see Earthshine, where the unlit part of the Moon becomes visible. It is also known as Da Vinci glow.
Apr 22/23: Lyrid Meteor Shower
22 Apr
The Lyrid meteor shower is expected to peak around April 22 and 23, depending on your location.
May 1: Flower Moon
1 May
May’s Full Moon is known as the Flower Moon after all the flowers that bloom around this time in the Northern Hemisphere.
May 5/6: Eta Aquarid Meteors
5May
Use our handy Interactive Meteor Shower Sky Map to increase your chances of seeing shooting stars from the Eta Aquarids.
May 12/13: Earthshine Mornings
12 May
The Waxing and Waning Crescent Moon phases in April and May are the best time to see Earthshine, where the unlit part of the Moon becomes visible. It is also known as Da Vinci glow.
May 16: Super New Moon
16 May
This month’s New Moon is at 20:01 UTC on May 16. It is the first of two Super New Moons in 2026.
May 19/20: Earthshine Nights
19 May
The Waxing and Waning Crescent Moon phases in April and May are the best time to see Earthshine, where the unlit part of the Moon becomes visible. It is also known as Da Vinci glow.
May 31: Micro Blue Moon
31 May
Across all time zones, this is the second Full Moon in the month of May, making it a monthly Blue Moon. It is also a Micromoon.
Jun 15: Super New Moon
15Jun
Following on from May, this is the second and final Super New Moon of 2026.
Jun 15: Mercury at Greatest Elongation East
15 Jun
This might be a good time to try and spot Mercury: the planet appears at its farthest distance from the Sun in the evening sky.
Jun 21: June Solstice
21Jun
This solstice is the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, where it is the longest day of the year.
In the Southern Hemisphere, it’s the winter solstice and the shortest day of the year.
Jun 29: Micro Strawberry Moon
29Jun
The Full Moon in June is often called the Strawberry Full Moon, after the berries that grow in the Northern Hemisphere around this time of the year. As with the Blue Moon at the end of May, it is a Micromoon.
Note: All dates are UTC, unless otherwise stated.