CalendarWorld
The 2026 astronomy calendar: solar and lunar eclipse dates, meteor shower peaks (from the Quadrantids to the Geminids), equinoxes and solstices in UTC, and supermoons — plus today's moon phase and a tool to check the moon phase for any date. 2026 has four eclipses, including a total solar eclipse on 12 August over Greenland, Iceland, and Spain.
Pick any date — your birthday, for example — to see its moon phase.
The full schedule of eclipses, meteor shower peaks, astronomical season changes, and notable full moons throughout 2026. Times are in UTC.
| Date | Event | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 January 2026 | Supermoon | Moon Phase | Full moon peaks at 10:04 UTC; the Moon appears slightly larger and brighter than usual. |
| Night of 3–4 January 2026 | Quadrantid Meteor Shower Peak | Meteor Shower | Up to ~120 meteors/hour, favoring the Northern Hemisphere; the full moon washes out fainter meteors in 2026. |
| 17 February 2026 | Annular Solar Eclipse | Eclipse | The annular path crosses Antarctica; partial phases are visible from the far Southern Hemisphere. |
| 3 March 2026 | Total Lunar Eclipse | Eclipse | Visible from Asia, Australia, the Pacific, and western North America. |
| 20 March 2026 | March Equinox | Season | At 21:58 UTC the Sun crosses the equator heading north; day and night are nearly equal worldwide. |
| Night of 22–23 April 2026 | Lyrid Meteor Shower Peak | Meteor Shower | ~18 meteors/hour under a dark, light-pollution-free sky. |
| Night of 5–6 May 2026 | Eta Aquariid Meteor Shower Peak | Meteor Shower | ~50 meteors/hour; one of the best showers for tropical and Southern Hemisphere observers, peaking before dawn. |
| 31 May 2026 | Blue Moon | Moon Phase | The second full moon of May (UTC calendar); a calendar nickname only — the Moon does not actually turn blue. |
| 21 June 2026 | June Solstice | Season | At 08:25 UTC the Sun reaches its northernmost point, marking the start of Northern Hemisphere summer. |
| 12 August 2026 | Total Solar Eclipse | Eclipse | The path of totality crosses Greenland, Iceland, and Spain; partial phases are visible across Europe, northern Africa, and northeastern North America. |
| Night of 12–13 August 2026 | Perseid Meteor Shower Peak | Meteor Shower | ~100 meteors/hour, and 2026 is nearly moonlight-free as the peak coincides with a new moon; best from the Northern Hemisphere before dawn. |
| 28 August 2026 | Partial Lunar Eclipse | Eclipse | Visible from the Americas and parts of Europe and Africa. |
| 23 September 2026 | September Equinox | Season | At 00:06 UTC the Sun crosses the equator heading south. |
| Night of 21–22 October 2026 | Orionid Meteor Shower Peak | Meteor Shower | ~20 meteors/hour; debris from Halley's Comet, observable from both hemispheres. |
| Night of 17–18 November 2026 | Leonid Meteor Shower Peak | Meteor Shower | ~15 meteors/hour in the hours before dawn. |
| 24 November 2026 | Supermoon | Moon Phase | Full moon peaks at 14:53 UTC. |
| Night of 14–15 December 2026 | Geminid Meteor Shower Peak | Meteor Shower | ~150 meteors/hour, the strongest shower of the year; the young crescent moon sets early, leaving a dark sky. |
| 21 December 2026 | December Solstice | Season | At 20:50 UTC the Sun reaches its southernmost point, marking the start of Southern Hemisphere summer. |
| 24 December 2026 | Supermoon | Moon Phase | The largest and brightest full moon of 2026, falling on Christmas Eve. |
Meteor counts are ideal rates (ZHR) under a dark, light-pollution free sky; real conditions depend on location and weather.
The Moon completes one phase (synodic) cycle roughly every 29.5 days.
The Moon lines up with the Sun, so its lit side faces away from Earth and it is not visible.
A thin crescent appears low in the west shortly after sunset.
Half of the Moon's disk is lit; it rises around noon and sets around midnight.
More than half of the disk is lit and keeps growing toward full moon.
The whole disk is lit; the Moon rises at sunset and is visible all night.
The lit disk starts shrinking after full moon; it rises after dusk.
Half of the disk is lit; it rises around midnight and stays visible into the morning.
A thin crescent is visible low in the east before dawn, before returning to new moon.
There are four eclipses in 2026: an annular solar eclipse on 17 February (Antarctica), a total lunar eclipse on 3 March (Asia, Australia, the Pacific, western North America), a total solar eclipse on 12 August (Greenland, Iceland, Spain), and a partial lunar eclipse on 28 August (the Americas, parts of Europe and Africa).
The Geminids on the night of 14–15 December 2026 (~150 meteors/hour with a dark, nearly moonless sky) and the Perseids on 12–13 August, which coincide with a new moon. For tropical and Southern Hemisphere observers, the Eta Aquariids in early May are also among the best.
A supermoon is a full moon that occurs when the Moon is near its closest point to Earth (perigee), making it look larger and brighter. 2026 has three: 3 January, 24 November, and 24 December — the last being the largest full moon of the year.
An equinox is when the Sun stands directly above the equator, making day and night nearly equal (2026: 20 March and 23 September UTC). A solstice is when the Sun reaches its northernmost or southernmost point (2026: 21 June and 21 December UTC).
Yes. The second full moon of May 2026 falls on 31 May (UTC calendar) and is commonly called a monthly blue moon. The term is purely a calendar nickname — the Moon's color does not change.
Moon phases are computed from the mean synodic cycle of 29.53 days, with a maximum deviation of about half a day from the exact astronomical moment — accurate enough for phase names and illumination percentages. For precise full or new moon times, consult an astronomical almanac.
The event schedule is compiled from international astronomy sources with times in UTC; moon phases are computed from the mean synodic cycle and can differ by a few hours from the exact moment. For official public holidays, browse the country holiday calendars.