The Best Skywatching Events of 2026

1. Moon Near Regulus: February 2, 2026

During the evening hours

Ready to spot a bright winter star? Find the Moon low in the eastern sky after sunset—the bluish point nearby is Regulus. Watch as the pair climbs higher together through the night. The Moon’s glow may soften Regulus a bit, but the pairing is still visible without equipment. For more experienced observers: In many parts of North America, the Moon will briefly cover Regulus in a subtle event called an occultation, best viewed with binoculars or a small telescope.

2. Moon Meets Mercury: February 18, 2026

Shortly after sunset

Ready for a rare chance to spot Mercury, the tiny planet closest to the Sun? Tonight, the Moon sits unusually close to Mercury, making the planet easier to spot than usual.

About 45 minutes after sunset, look west-southwest and start by finding the slender crescent Moon hanging low in the twilight. Just above it, Mercury shines like a bright star. It’s usually hard to see because it stays so close to the Sun’s glare, but this evening the Moon acts as a perfect pointer.

For more experienced observers: In parts of the southern United States, the Moon will pass extremely close to Mercury around 7:37 P.M. EST / 6:37 P.M. CST, a subtle event best viewed with binoculars against the twilight sky.

3. A Total Eclipse of the Moon: March 3, 2026

Early morning, before sunrise

Ready to watch the Full Moon slowly darken and turn red? In the early morning hours, the Moon will fade into a deep, coppery glow as it moves completely into Earth’s central shadow. Totality—the fully eclipsed phase—lasts 59 minutes, beginning at 6:03 A.M. EST (3:03 A.M. PST). This is the last total lunar eclipse visible from the contiguous U.S. and most of southern Canada until June 2029!

Skywatchers across the western half of the U.S. will see the entire lunar eclipse from start to finish. Along the East Coast, the Moon will set while the eclipse is still underway, creating a dramatic “eclipsed Moon at moonset” view for many.

Curious why the eclipsed Moon turns red? Learn more about what a “Blood Moon” is—and isn’t.

4. A Brilliant “Double Planet”: June 9, 2026

Shortly after sunset

Venus and Jupiter come together tonight in a striking close pairing—appearing as a brilliant “double planet.”  Start by finding Venus, the brightest object in the evening sky, then use it as a guide to spot Jupiter shining just below. (The Moon isn’t out this evening; it rises after midnight.)

Shortly after sunset, look low in the west-northwest as the sky begins to darken. To the right of the planets, you’ll see Pollux and Castor, the brightest stars of Gemini. Very low on the horizon, Mercury may also be visible in the fading twilight.

Curious how bright these objects are compared to one another? Try our Bright Star Calculator.

5. The Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks: August 12–13, 2026

Late night into early morning

It’s a good year to watch the famous Perseids. A thin crescent Moon sets early on August 12, leaving the sky dark for the best viewing after midnight and into the early morning of the 13th. Under these conditions, you could see up to 60 to 100 meteors per hour.

For the best views, look overhead and toward the northeast, away from bright lights.

These “shooting stars” are tiny bits of debris from the comet Swift‑Tuttle. Earth passes through this dust trail every August, and the particles burn up in our atmosphere as meteors. It’s normal to see a meteor every minute or two, with occasional bursts of several in quick succession. 

See our full guide to the Perseid meteor shower for more details.

Also on August 12

A partial solar eclipse will be visible from the northern United States and Canada. This is a very subtle event—you won’t notice a change in daylight as you would during a total solar eclipse. (Learn more about the difference between partial and total solar eclipses.)

Use proper eye protection at all times. With safe eclipse glasses or a solar filter, you may see the Moon take a small “bite” out of the Sun around 1:45 P.M. EDT, depending on your location.

6. An ‘Almost’ Total Lunar Eclipse: August 27–28, 2026

Around midnight

This is a deep partial lunar eclipse—so deep it will look almost like a total one. At the peak of the eclipse, about  93% of the Full Moon will slip into Earth’s shadow at 12:12 A.M. EDT on August 28. Most of the Moon will glow a coppery red, while a thin upper edge stays bright.

Look around midnight to see the eclipse at its deepest. Much of North America will have a good view. In the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, and Hawaii, the eclipse will already be underway as the Moon rises on the evening of August 27.

7. Moon Near Jupiter: October 6, 2026

Before sunrise

The Moon and Jupiter rise unusually close together, creating one of the year’s easiest sky sights. The Moon sits right beside Jupiter, which is extremely bright in early October 2026—brighter than any planet or star in the pre‑dawn sky. It’s a simple, beautiful pairing for beginners.

Look to the east before dawn to catch the pair in the morning sky. Check your local sunrise and twilight times with our Sunrise Calculator. No telescope is needed to enjoy the pairing.

For more experienced observers: In central and eastern North America, the Moon will pass in front of Jupiter—a rare dark‑sky occultation best seen with binoculars. Much of the region gets a true ringside seat. In the West, the occultation occurs before moonrise.

8. A Gathering of the Moon, Venus, and Spica: November 7, 2026

Before dawn

The Moon and Venus gather with a bright bluish star in a tight grouping this morning. That star is Spica, the brightest star in the constellation Virgo. All three sit low in the east-southeast before dawn, fitting into a small patch of sky—just a couple of fingertips wide at arm’s length.

The light from Spica has taken about 250 years to reach us, meaning you’re seeing it as it appeared around the time the Declaration of Independence was signed. For 2026, it’s fitting to think of Spica as “America’s star.”

9. A ‘Gem’ of a Meteor Shower: December 13-14, 2026

Early morning

In 2026, conditions for the famous Geminid meteor shower are outstanding. A thin crescent Moon sets shortly after sunset, leaving skies dark for the rest of the night—ideal for this reliable December display.

Under truly dark skies, observers could see up to 120 slow, graceful shooting stars per hour, ranging from faint streaks to bright meteors and occasional fireballs. While the official peak occurs around 2 a.m., the Geminids are an evening-friendly shower. You can catch plenty of activity before midnight, and in 2026, the sky will already be beautifully dark early on.

Dr. Eliot Herman, an accomplished astrophotographer, captured the brilliant Geminid fireball shown below. Reflecting on the night, he said, “The 2017 Geminids were the meteor shower of my lifetime. Everything lined up just right, and I saw five fireballs in a single hour. This one was the best of them all. It was epic.”

10. A Pre-Christmas Supermoon: December 23, 2026

At moonrise

This is the year the Christmas‑card sky comes true. The Moon turns full at 8:28 P.M. EST (5:28 A.M. PST) on December 23—the night before Christmas Eve—and it will rise looking big, bright, and beautifully round.

Because this Full Moon closely coincides with perigee, its closest approach to Earth, it will be the largest Full Moon of the year, coming within 221,612 miles of Earth. That added closeness makes the Moon appear noticeably larger in the sky—an effect often nicknamed a “Supermoon.”

And just like in holiday illustrations, the Moon will look full for a couple of nights, both before and after December 23. It’s easy to imagine Santa and his sleigh crossing a bright December Moon—a beautiful way to end the year beneath the night sky.