Seth Jacobson

USA TODAY NETWORK - New England

Jan. 2, 2026

Meteor showers. Supermoons. Planetary alignments. Black moons. The Milky Way. The northern lights. Partial solar eclipses. "Pinwheels" in the sky.

The year 2025 was a great one for astronomy, and 2026 will also have its share of spectacular celestial events.

Whether you're looking for a great view of the planet Jupiter, planetary alignments, or meteor showers, there will be something that sparks your interest in the coming year.

Here's some of the highlights for astronomy in 2026.

See Jupiter in January

Jupiter will be shining "at its very brightest" on Jan. 10, 2026, according to the Star Walk website.

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Star Walk noted that, "You’ll see Jupiter glowing all night long, from sunset to sunrise," on the day in question, adding that stargazers will not need any fancy equipment to see the large planet.

Also in January, people will be able to see the Quadrantids meteor shower Jan. 3-4.

Planetary alignment in February

Six planets will line up in the night sky around Feb. 28, 2026, Star Walk stated online.

The planets will include Jupiter, Uranus, Saturn, Neptune, Venus, and Mercury.

"About an hour after sunset, you’ll see them lined up in a gentle diagonal, rising from the western horizon up toward the almost full moon," Star Walk states online.

See a total lunar eclipse in March

A total lunar eclipse will happen at the perfect time for early morning risers in March.

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It will start on March 3 at 6:04 a.m. according to the Time and Date website.

Time and Date added that the peak of the eclipse, or "maximum" eclipse, will occur on March 3 at 6:33 a.m.

It will end on March 3 at 7:02 a.m.

More: A total lunar eclipse is coming in 2026. Here's when

See a bright comet in April

The comet, known as C/2025 R3 (PANSTARRS), will reach its "maximum brightness" around April 25, according to Star Walk online, which added the comet "may become the brightest comet of 2026."

Star Walk stated that you may need binoculars or a telescope to get a good view of the comet, depending on the weather.

Also in April, the Lyrids meteor shower will peak April 22, 2026.

See a blue micromoon in May

The moon will look smaller, but it won't look blue.

May will have two full moons, as the 29.5 day lunar cycle is shorter than most months, creating an occasionally month with a double moon referred to as a "blue moon." This one will appear smaller because of the distance between the earth and the moon. It's the converse effect of a supermoon.

Also in May, the Eta Aquariids meteor shower will peak on May 6.

Venus, Jupiter bright in the June sky

Both planets will be bright in the night sky, situated near each other. No binoculars or telescopes will be needed to see the two planets.

Solar eclipse in August

There will be a total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026, according to Time and Date. In Rhode Island, it will only be visible as a partial solar eclipse, with a maximum of not even 15% of the sun obscured. It will hit maximum coverage just before 2 p.m.

Perseid Meteor Shower

One of the most popular meteor showers of the year, the Perseids will peak Aug. 12-13, 2026.

See Saturn in October

On Oct. 4, 2026, stargazers will be able to get a glimpse of the ringed-planet at its brightest from "sunset to sunrise," and they'll be able to see it with the naked eye. Star Walk states that, "a small telescope will reveal (Saturn's) magnificent ring system."

Geminid meteor shower in December

Dec. 14 will mark the peak of this meteor shower, which is one of the biggest ones of the year. On a dark night, at the peak of the shower at around 2 a.m. (for all time zones), "you can often catch 50 or more meteors per hour," EarthSky.org stated. "During an optimum night for the Geminids, it’s possible to see 120 meteors – or more – per hour."

What is the 2026 full moon calendar?

Here's the full moon schedule:

• Jan. 3, 2026: Wolf Moon (supermoon) - The Farmer's Almanac explained that it's because "wolves were more likely to be heard howling at this time. It was traditionally believed that wolves howled due to hunger during winter, but we know today that isn’t accurate."
• Feb. 1, 2026: Snow Moon - It was known as the Snow Moon because of the heavy snows that fall in this season, according to NASA online.
• March 3, 2026: Worm Moon - The Old Farmer's Almanac explained that the name refers to all the earthworms that appear as the weather gets warmer in March.
• April 1, 2026: Pink Moon - The moon doesn't actually appear pink. The Farmer's Almanac stated that the name is derived from the early spring bloom of a North American wildflower called "Phlox subulata," commonly known moss phlox. "This flower, often called 'moss pink,' was in full bloom around April’s full moon."
• May 1, 2026: Flower Moon - The "Flower Moon" is named for the wildflowers the burst into bloom in the North America this time of year, according to the Farmer's Almanac.
• May 31, 2026: Blue Moon - Because the lunar calendar is shorter than most months, occasionally there is a "Blue Moon" when two full moons appear in the same month.
• June 29, 2026: Strawberry Moon - June's Strawberry Moon takes its name from seasonal plant growth, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. Many ripening strawberries were ready to be harvested around this time in the northeastern United States.
• July 29, 2026: Buck Moon - The Buck Moon, a Native American term, is called as such because "the antlers of male deer (bucks) are in full-growth mode at this time," according to the Farmer's Almanac. "Bucks shed and regrow their antlers each year, producing a larger and more impressive set as the years go by."
• Aug. 28, 2026: Sturgeon Moon - This name comes from the giant lake sturgeon, a prehistoric-looking fish, once found abundantly in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. This food staple was readily caught during the months of August and September.
• Sept. 26, 2026: Corn Moon/Harvest Moon - According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, "unlike other full moons, this full moon rises at nearly the same time—around sunset—for several evenings in a row, giving farmers several extra evenings of moonlight and allowing them to finish their harvests before the frosts of fall arrive."
• Oct. 26, 2026: Hunter's Moon - The Farmer's Almanac explained that the name most likely originates from the fact that the October full moon was a signal for hunters to prepare for winter by going hunting to stock up on food.
• Nov. 24, 2026: Beaver Moon (supermoon) - The Old Farmer's Almanac online explained that November is typically the month when beavers start to take shelter in their habitats, previously having shored up their food stores for the winter.
• Dec. 23, 2026: Cold Moon(supermoon) - The Old Farmer's Almanac online stated that the Cold Moon is "a Mohawk name that conveys the frigid conditions of this time of year when cold weather truly begins to grip us...(it) has also been called the Long Night Moon (Mohican), as it rises during the 'longest' nights of the year, near the December winter solstice."