12 Must-See Night-Sky Events in 2026 — From a Total Solar Eclipse to Dazzling Auroras

If you’re looking for reasons to start watching the night sky, 2026 delivers. The year opens with a January supermoon, includes a rare six-planet parade and a total lunar eclipse before St. Patrick’s Day, and builds to a midyear total solar eclipse that crosses parts of mainland Europe for the first time since 1999. Add moonless Perseid peak nights, striking planetary pairings, and repeat occultations of the Pleiades, and you’ve got a calendar full of memorable evenings under the stars.

January: Supermoon and a Bright Jupiter

On the evening of January 3, a supermoon (the full moon near perigee) rises near Jupiter. The moon looks larger and brighter because it is closer to Earth in its orbit. For the most dramatic view, watch the moonrise at sunset — the moon illusion makes it appear especially big near the horizon.

A bald eagle sits near its nest while the super pink moon rises in the distance at Chatfield State Park in Littleton, Colorado on April 7, 2020. The first supermoon of the new year will take place on January 3, 2026, also known as the "wolf moon."Eric Lutzens, MediaNews Group/The Denver Post/Getty Images

Jupiter reaches opposition on January 10, meaning Earth sits between the gas giant and the Sun. The planet will appear brighter and larger during January 9–10 — its most prominent appearance since December 2024 — and won’t look this bold again until 2027. Face east around sunset to find Jupiter; this month it sits in Gemini and remains observable all night.

Late February: Six-Planet Alignment

The last week of February brings a six-planet parade visible shortly after sunset. Look west for Venus, Mercury, and Saturn low near the horizon (all visible to the unaided eye). Neptune is nearby but requires a telescope, while Jupiter will sit higher in the southern sky and Uranus will lie near the Pleiades — the latter needs binoculars or a telescope.

The moon is seen during a lunar eclipse in the sky over Wenling City in China's Zhejiang Province. Stargazers will get a chance to see another total lunar eclipse, known as a blood moon, in March 2026.Xu Weijie, Xinhua/eyevine/Redux

Tip: Wait until full darkness before pointing telescopes toward the western horizon, and choose a location with an unobstructed western view.

March 3: Total Lunar Eclipse (Blood Moon)

Early on March 3 the Moon will experience a total lunar eclipse, often called a blood moon because the lunar surface takes on deep orange-red tones. The color results from sunlight refracting through Earth’s atmosphere and bathing the Moon in reddened light.

A stargazer admires aurora near Fairbanks, Alaska in March, 2025.Marc Rassel

Much of the Americas, the Pacific, and large parts of Asia and Oceania can see the event. Observers in the western U.S., western Canada, Pacific islands, and New Zealand will enjoy the most complete, start-to-finish views. Continental U.S. viewers will still see much of the eclipse, though sunrise may cut the finale short.

Spring Auroras

The spring equinox can favor auroral activity, and the Sun’s heightened cycle (peaking in 2024–2025) continues to increase the odds of vivid northern lights into 2026. March is often a strong month for aurora-chasing in Alaska, where clearer nights and boosted solar activity align for excellent viewing opportunities.

Aurora are seen near Fairbanks, Alaska in March, 2025.Marc Rassel

June 8–9 and June 17: Venus and Jupiter Conjunctions

On June 8 and 9, Venus and Jupiter will appear very close — just over 1 degree apart — above the western horizon, with Mercury briefly visible after sunset. Their near-pairing remains impressive for days, and on June 17 the two planets align with Mercury and a thin crescent Moon for a photogenic grouping.

August 7 (Pre-Dawn) and October 27: Moon Occults the Pleiades

Just after midnight on August 7, a crescent Moon will pass in front of the Pleiades star cluster, sequentially hiding and revealing the cluster's brightest stars. This occultation will be visible across much of the contiguous United States, and it repeats soon after sunset on October 27. Occultations help astronomers refine positions and motions of celestial objects.

A composite image of the total solar eclipse sequence photographed above the Grand Teton mountains and Lake Solitude in 2017.Babak Tafreshi, Nat Geo Image Collection

August 12: Total Solar Eclipse Across Parts of Europe

The centerpiece astronomical event of 2026 is the total solar eclipse on August 12. The path of totality crosses parts of the Arctic Ocean, eastern Greenland, western Iceland, a narrow stretch of remote Portugal, and northern Spain — making it mainland Europe’s first total solar eclipse since 1999.

Observers in the path will experience daylight dim to dusk and can view the Sun's corona during totality. Totality lasts roughly one to two minutes in most locations along the track. People just outside the path will see a dramatic partial eclipse. Important: use proper solar filters for any viewing except during the brief interval of totality.

A composite image showing the Milky Way and some of the brightest meteors captured during the peak of Perseids meteor shower in 2021 as seen from Dark Sky Aldeias do Xisto, the second Starlight Tourist Destination in Portugal.Migue Claro

August 12–13: Moonless Perseid Peak

The Perseid meteor shower peaks on the night of August 12–13 in 2026, and the peak coincides with a new moon — ideal conditions because there will be no moonlight to wash out fainter meteors. From a dark, remote site the shower could produce around 90 meteors per hour at peak, with the best viewing window from midnight until dawn.

November 25 and December 23: Supermoons

A second supermoon rises November 25, traditionally called the beaver or frost moon. The year's closest supermoon arrives on December 23 — the 'cold moon' — appearing especially large and bright at moonrise in the early evening. Around late December, Jupiter and Mars will sit just below the Moon before midnight while Saturn remains visible after sunset in the west.

This sequence shows the August 2023 super “blue” moon, the largest super moon of that year, rising above Monsaraz castle at Dark Sky Alqueva in Portugal.Miguel Claro

Late December: Year-End Planet Parade

The year closes with another strong planetary alignment. Around 10 p.m. local time in late December, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Saturn, and Neptune appear together while the bright Moon moves among them during the holiday week. Saturn and Neptune set before dawn as Venus rises to create a second pre-sunrise alignment. December 25–26 are particularly photogenic, with Mars, Jupiter, and a waning gibbous Moon forming a diagonal procession above the eastern horizon before dawn.

Viewing Tips

Check local timing, weather, and light-pollution maps. Use binoculars for many conjunctions and a small telescope for Uranus and Neptune. Never look at the Sun without an approved solar filter — except during the moments of totality when the Sun is fully blocked. For meteor showers, find a dark site, give your eyes 20–30 minutes to adapt, and look toward the part of the sky opposite the Moon.

With events spanning the globe and offering a mix of short spectacles and long-running shows, 2026 is an excellent year to plan night-sky outings. Whether you prefer photographing eclipses, chasing auroras, or simply watching a bright planet cross the sky, there’s something for every stargazer.