Space fans and backyard astronomers have plenty to watch in 2026: multiple eclipses, a string of meteor showers, and three noticeable supermoons. Below is a concise guide to the year’s best sky events and where to catch them.
Four eclipses in 2026
February 17 — Annular solar eclipse: The path of annularity crosses parts of the Southern Hemisphere, with maximum around 12:12 UTC. The full “ring of fire” will be visible only from portions of Antarctica and nearby research stations. Observers in Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe and southern areas of Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania and Zambia will see a partial solar eclipse.
March 3 — Total lunar eclipse: This total lunar eclipse will be best seen from western North America (west coast US and Canada), Australia and Central Asia. It will not be visible from Africa, Europe or western Asia.
August 12 — Total solar eclipse: The path of totality favors Iceland and parts of Spain; much of Europe will witness a partial eclipse. Portions of Canada and the northeastern United States will also see a partial solar event.
August 28 — Partial lunar eclipse: This partial lunar eclipse will be visible across South America with additional visibility in parts of the United States and Canada, Europe and Africa. It favors regions that did not have good views of the March total lunar eclipse.
Major meteor showers to watch in 2026
Several annual meteor showers will produce reliable displays; peak dates and typical radiants are listed below. For best viewing: find a dark location away from city lights, allow 20–30 minutes for your eyes to adapt, and check local weather and moonlight conditions for each peak.
– Lyrids — visible April 16–25; peak April 22; radiant near Lyra.
– Eta Aquariids — visible April 19–May 28; peak May 6; radiant near η Aquarii (Aquarius).
– Delta Aquariids — visible July 12–August 23; peak July 30; radiant near δ Aquarii.
– Perseids — visible July 17–August 24; peak August 13; radiant near Perseus.
– Taurids — broad activity September 10–November 20 (southern) and October 20–December 10 (northern); radiant near Taurus; known for slow, bright fireballs.
– Draconids — visible October 6–10; peak October 9; radiant near Draco (best in the evening hours).
– Orionids — visible October 2–November 7; peak October 21; radiant near Orion.
– Leonids — visible November 6–30; peak November 18; radiant near Leo.
– Geminids — visible December 4–20; peak December 14; radiant near Gemini; one of the year’s richest showers.
– Ursids — visible December 17–26; peak December 22; radiant near Ursa Minor.
– Quadrantids — activity starts late December 28 and continues into the first week of January 2027; a concentrated peak near Boötes, with viewing similar to the Ursids region.
When are the 2026 supermoons?
There are three supermoons in 2026. The first occurred on January 3 (the Super Wolf Moon). The two remaining supermoons are the Super Beaver Moon on November 24 and the Super Cold Moon on December 24. “Supermoon” is an informal term for a full moon that occurs near lunar perigee, when the Moon is closest to Earth in its orbit; it can appear up to roughly 10% larger and noticeably brighter than at apogee.
Full-moon names for 2026
Many full-moon names come from traditional North American indigenous and colonial calendars and are now widely used. The 13 full moons in 2026 are listed below with their traditional names:
– January 3: Super Wolf Moon
– February 1: Snow Moon
– March 3: Worm Moon
– April 2: Pink Moon
– May 1: Flower Moon
– May 31: Blue Moon
– June 30: Strawberry Moon
– July 29: Buck Moon
– August 28: Sturgeon Moon
– September 26: Corn or Harvest Moon
– October 26: Hunter Moon
– November 24: Super Beaver Moon
– December 24: Super Cold Moon
Plan ahead and stay safe
For solar eclipses, never look directly at the Sun without proper eye protection designed for eclipse viewing (ISO-certified solar filters or eclipse glasses). For lunar events and meteor showers, no special equipment is required—just a clear, dark sky—and binoculars or a telescope can enhance views of lunar detail and bright meteors.
Edited by: Carla Bleiker, Zulfikar Abbany
Editor’s note: Originally published December 3, 2025; updated January 16, 2026.