2026 will spotlight both the Moon and the Sun: NASA plans a crewed lunar flyby early in the year and several robotic landers — including a Blue Origin demonstrator — are targeting lunar missions. A Feb. 17 annular "ring‑of‑fire" eclipse will be visible over parts of Antarctica and a total solar eclipse will cross the Arctic on Aug. 12. Three supermoons and increased solar activity could produce notable auroras, while the interstellar comet 3I/Atlas fades after its December flyby.
Moon and Sun Take Center Stage in 2026: Lunar Return, Ring‑of‑Fire Eclipse and Three Supermoons
FILE - This photo provided by NASA shows the Moon's shadow covering portions of Canada and the U.S. during a total solar eclipse as seen from the International Space Station on Monday, Aug. 8, 2024. (NASA via AP, File)
The year 2026 promises a packed calendar of celestial events, led by human and robotic missions to the Moon plus dramatic solar spectacles. From a crewed lunar flyby to an annular "ring‑of‑fire" eclipse in the Antarctic and a total solar eclipse across the high North, skywatchers have plenty to anticipate.
Interstellar Visitor and Other Early Highlights
The comet known as 3I/Atlas — the third interstellar object identified by astronomers — faded after its December close approach and will remain visible only in larger backyard telescopes as it continues back into interstellar space. Jupiter will be prominent in March, and improved detection technology makes future interstellar discoveries more likely, experts say.
Next Stop, the Moon
NASA plans a crewed Artemis flyby early in the year. Commander Reid Wiseman and a three-person American-Canadian crew are expected to complete a roughly 10-day mission: a lunar flyby, a pass behind the Moon and a return to Earth. The flight should offer fresh views of portions of the lunar far side that Apollo missions did not explore, providing useful geological observations and helping select future landing sites.
Multiple robotic landers are also targeting 2026. Blue Origin plans to launch a demonstrator of its Blue Moon lander early in the year — about 26 feet (8 meters) tall — with a larger crewed concept planned for later. Commercial teams including Astrobotic Technology and Intuitive Machines are aiming for scientific landings, and Firefly Aerospace seeks to attempt a private Moon mission to the far side. China plans missions to the lunar south pole, including a rover and a hopper designed to investigate permanently shadowed, ice‑rich craters.
Eclipses: Ring‑of‑Fire and Totality
2026 delivers two major solar eclipses. An annular (ring‑of‑fire) eclipse on Feb. 17 will be centered over parts of Antarctica, with only a handful of research stations in prime position; South Africa and southern Chile and Argentina will see partial phases. The year’s marquee event is a total solar eclipse on Aug. 12 that will begin in the Arctic and sweep across Greenland, Iceland and Spain. Totality at locations beneath the Moon’s shadow will last about two minutes and 18 seconds.
In addition to these solar events, a total lunar eclipse will occur about two weeks after the February annular eclipse, and a partial lunar eclipse will follow at the end of August.
Parading Planets
On or about Feb. 28, six of the solar system’s eight planets will form a striking lineup in the evening sky. Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn should be visible to the naked eye shortly after sunset (weather permitting), while Uranus and Neptune will require binoculars or a small telescope. Mars will miss that February grouping but is expected to participate in a six‑planet display in August.
Supermoons
Three supermoons will brighten nights in 2026 when full moons coincide with the Moon’s closest approach to Earth. The first in January overlaps with a meteor shower, likely washing out many faint meteors. The second supermoon occurs on Nov. 24. The year’s final and closest supermoon arrives the night of Dec. 23 into Dec. 24, passing within about 221,668 miles (356,740 kilometers) of Earth.
Northern and Southern Lights
Solar activity is expected to remain energetic in 2026, producing eruptions that can trigger geomagnetic storms and spark auroras at lower latitudes than usual. While the overall 11‑year solar cycle should start to decline, new spacecraft and instruments coming online will improve measurements of the solar wind and help forecasters better predict space weather impacts.
'I can’t believe it’s taken this long to find three,' said NASA's Paul Chodas, reflecting on interstellar visitors. With ever improving detection systems, scientists expect the odds of spotting more such objects to rise.
Note: Times and visibility for eclipses, planetary lineups and auroras depend on local conditions and weather. Observers should consult local forecasts and official eclipse maps before planning travel for viewing events.
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