Astronomical Calendar for 2026

January 2026
1	The Moon at perigee
2	Lunar occultation of Beta Tauri The cluster Messier 41 is well placed
3	Full Moon The Moon at aphelion The Earth at perihelion Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter Quadrantid meteor shower 2026 Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter
4	Comet 24P/Schaumasse passes perigee
5	Close approach of the Moon and M44
6	Mercury at aphelion Venus at superior solar conjunction Lunar occultation of Regulus
7	Comet 24P/Schaumasse reaches peak brightness
8	Comet 24P/Schaumasse passes perihelion
9	Jupiter at perigee Mars at solar conjunction
10	Jupiter at opposition Moon at Last Quarter
13	The Moon at apogee
14	Lunar occultation of Antares
15	The cluster Messier 47 is well placed NGC 2403 is well placed
17	The Moon at perihelion The cluster NGC 2451 is well placed
18	New Moon
19	γ-Ursae Minorid meteor shower 2026
20	The cluster NGC 2516 is well placed
21	Mercury at superior solar conjunction
22	Venus at aphelion
23	Close approach of the Moon, Saturn and Neptune Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn Asteroid 44 Nysa at opposition 134340 Pluto at solar conjunction The cluster NGC 2547 is well placed
26	Moon at First Quarter
27	Close approach of the Moon and M45
29	Lunar occultation of Beta Tauri The Moon at perigee
31	Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter The Beehive cluster is well placed The Omicron Velorum cluster is well placed The cluster IC 2395 is well placed

February 2026
1	Close approach of the Moon and M44 Full Moon
3	Lunar occultation of Regulus The Moon at aphelion
4	Uranus ends retrograde motion
8	α-Centaurid meteor shower 2026 NGC 2808 is well placed
9	Moon at Last Quarter
10	The Moon at apogee
11	Lunar occultation of Antares
13	Lunar occultation of Sigma Sagittarii
15	The Moon at perihelion
16	Conjunction of Saturn and Neptune
17	New Moon Annular solar eclipse
18	Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury Close approach of the Moon and Mercury Lunar occultation of Mercury
19	Mercury at perihelion Mercury at greatest elongation east
20	Mercury at highest altitude in evening sky
19	Mercury at dichotomy Messier 81 is well placed
20	Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn
21	The cluster NGC 3114 is well placed
24	Close approach of the Moon and M45 Moon at First Quarter The Moon at perigee
25	Lunar occultation of Beta Tauri
26	Conjunction of Venus and Mercury
27	Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter Asteroid 7 Iris at opposition The cluster IC 2581 is well placed
28	Close approach of the Moon and M44

March 2026
2	Lunar occultation of Regulus
3	Total lunar eclipse Full Moon The Theta Carinae cluster is well placed
6	The Moon at aphelion Conjunction of Ceres and Eris
7	Mercury at inferior solar conjunction Conjunction of Venus and Neptune
8	Conjunction of Venus and Saturn
9	The Wishing Well cluster is well placed
10	Lunar occultation of Antares The Moon at apogee
11	Jupiter ends retrograde motion Moon at Last Quarter
13	Lunar occultation of Sigma Sagittarii
14	Conjunction of Mars and Mercury γ-Normid meteor shower 2026
16	The Moon at perihelion
17	Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury Conjunction of the Moon and Mars
18	Comet 88P/Howell passes perihelion
19	New Moon
20	Conjunction of the Moon and Venus March equinox
21	Asteroid 20 Massalia at opposition
22	Neptune at solar conjunction The Moon at perigee
23	Close approach of the Moon and M45
24	Lunar occultation of Beta Tauri
25	Saturn at solar conjunction Moon at First Quarter
26	Mars at perihelion Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter
28	Close approach of the Moon and M44
29	Lunar occultation of Regulus
22	Mercury at highest altitude in morning sky

April 2026
1	136472 Makemake at opposition
2	The Sombrero Galaxy is well placed Full Moon
3	Mercury at greatest elongation west Mercury at dichotomy
4	Mercury at aphelion
5	Messier 94 is well placed The Moon at aphelion
6	The Jewel Box cluster is well placed Lunar occultation of Antares
7	The Moon at apogee
8	Conjunction of Venus and Ceres
9	Lunar occultation of Sigma Sagittarii
10	Moon at Last Quarter
13	Conjunction of Mars and Neptune
14	Centaurus A is well placed Omega Centauri is well placed The Moon at perihelion
15	The Whirlpool Galaxy is well placed 136199 Eris at solar conjunction Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury
16	Conjunction of the Moon and Mars Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn Conjunction of Mercury and Neptune
17	Messier 83 is well placed New Moon
18	Messier 3 is well placed
19	The Moon at perigee Conjunction of the Moon and Venus Close approach of the Moon and M45
20	Conjunction of Mercury and Mars Conjunction of Mercury and Saturn Close approach of Mercury and Saturn Conjunction of Saturn and Mars
21	Lunar occultation of Beta Tauri
22	Comet 141P/Machholz passes perihelion Lyrid meteor shower 2026 Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter
23	Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter 136108 Haumea at opposition
24	Messier 101 is well placed π-Puppid meteor shower 2026 Moon at First Quarter Conjunction of Venus and Uranus Close approach of the Moon and M44
26	Lunar occultation of Regulus

May 2026
1	Full Moon
2	Conjunction of Mercury and Eris
4	Lunar occultation of Antares The Moon at aphelion The Moon at apogee
6	η-Aquariid meteor shower 2026 Lunar occultation of Sigma Sagittarii
9	η-Lyrid meteor shower 2026 Moon at Last Quarter
13	Messier 5 is well placed Close approach of the Moon and Saturn Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn
14	Mercury at superior solar conjunction
15	Conjunction of the Moon and Mars The Moon at perihelion Venus at perihelion 1 Ceres at solar conjunction
16	New Moon
17	The Moon at perigee
18	Mercury at perihelion Lunar occultation of Beta Tauri
19	Conjunction of the Moon and Venus Close approach of the Moon and Venus
20	Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter
21	Close approach of the Moon and M44
22	Uranus at solar conjunction
23	Lunar occultation of Regulus Moon at First Quarter
29	Messier 4 is well placed Asteroid 29 Amphitrite at opposition
31	Blue Moon Lunar occultation of Antares
22	Venus at highest altitude in evening sky

June 2026
1	The Moon at apogee The Moon at aphelion
3	The Great Globular Cluster in Hercules is well placed Lunar occultation of Sigma Sagittarii
4	Messier 12 is well placed
7	Messier 10 is well placed
8	Messier 62 is well placed Moon at Last Quarter
9	Conjunction of Venus and Jupiter Close approach of Venus and Jupiter Mercury at dichotomy
10	Close approach of the Moon and Saturn Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn Daytime Arietid meteor shower 2026
12	Messier 92 is well placed Conjunction of the Moon and Mars
13	Close approach of the Moon and M45
14	The Moon at perihelion
15	The Moon at perigee New Moon Asteroid 14 Irene at opposition
9	Mercury at highest altitude in evening sky
15	Mercury at greatest elongation east
16	Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury
17	NGC 6388 is well placed Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter Conjunction of the Moon and Venus Close approach of the Moon and Venus Lunar occultation of Venus
18	The Butterfly cluster is well placed NGC 6397 is well placed Close approach of the Moon and M44
19	The cluster IC 4665 is well placed Lunar occultation of Regulus
20	Close approach of Venus and M44
21	The Ptolemy cluster is well placed June solstice Moon at First Quarter
24	The Lagoon Nebula is well placed Comet 78P/Gehrels passes perihelion
25	NGC 6541 is well placed
27	Lunar occultation of Antares June Bootid meteor shower 2026
28	The Moon at apogee
30	The cluster NGC 6633 is well placed Full Moon The Moon at aphelion Lunar occultation of Sigma Sagittarii

July 2026
1	Mercury at aphelion
2	Messier 22 is well placed The cluster IC 4756 is well placed
4	Conjunction of Mars and Uranus Close approach of Mars and Uranus
6	The Earth at aphelion
7	Neptune enters retrograde motion Close approach of the Moon and Saturn Moon at Last Quarter Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn
9	Asteroid 18 Melpomene at opposition Asteroid 8 Flora at opposition
11	Close approach of the Moon and M45 The Great Peacock Globular Cluster is well placed Close approach of the Moon and Mars Conjunction of the Moon and Mars
12	Lunar occultation of Beta Tauri
13	Mercury at inferior solar conjunction The Moon at perigee
14	New Moon The Moon at perihelion
17	Lunar occultation of Regulus Close approach of the Moon and Venus Conjunction of the Moon and Venus
18	Messier 55 is well placed
21	Moon at First Quarter
24	Lunar occultation of Antares
25	The Moon at apogee
26	Saturn enters retrograde motion
27	Asteroid 3 Juno at opposition Lunar occultation of Sigma Sagittarii 134340 Pluto at opposition
28	The Moon at aphelion
29	Piscis Austrinid meteor shower 2026 Asteroid 324 Bamberga at opposition Jupiter at solar conjunction Full Moon
30	Southern δ-Aquariid meteor shower 2026 α-Capricornid meteor shower 2026 Jupiter at apogee

August 2026
2	Comet 10P/Tempel passes perihelion Mercury at greatest elongation west
6	Mercury at highest altitude in morning sky
3	Comet 10P/Tempel reaches peak brightness Comet 10P/Tempel passes perigee Close approach of the Moon and Saturn
4	Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn
5	Mercury at dichotomy
6	Moon at Last Quarter
7	Close approach of the Moon and M45
8	Lunar occultation of Beta Tauri
9	Conjunction of the Moon and Mars Close approach of the Moon and Mars
10	The Moon at perigee Conjunction of Mars and Ceres
11	Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury
12	New Moon Total solar eclipse Venus at dichotomy
13	Perseid meteor shower 2026
14	The Moon at perihelion Mercury at perihelion Venus at greatest elongation east
15	Messier 15 is well placed Conjunction of Jupiter and Mercury
16	Messier 2 is well placed Close approach of the Moon and Venus Conjunction of the Moon and Venus
18	κ-Cygnid meteor shower 2026
20	Moon at First Quarter
21	Lunar occultation of Antares
22	The Moon at apogee
23	Lunar occultation of Sigma Sagittarii
25	The Moon at aphelion
27	Mercury at superior solar conjunction
28	Partial lunar eclipse Full Moon Asteroid 9 Metis at opposition
31	Close approach of the Moon and Saturn Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn

September 2026
1	Aurigid meteor shower 2026
3	Close approach of the Moon and M45
4	Moon at Last Quarter Venus at aphelion
5	Lunar occultation of Beta Tauri
6	Conjunction of the Moon and Mars Close approach of the Moon and Mars The Moon at perigee
8	Close approach of the Moon and M44 Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter Lunar occultation of Jupiter
9	September ε-Perseid meteor shower 2026
10	Uranus enters retrograde motion
11	New Moon
12	Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury
13	The Moon at perihelion
14	Conjunction of the Moon and Venus Close approach of the Moon and Venus Lunar occultation of Venus
17	Lunar occultation of Antares
18	Moon at First Quarter
19	The Moon at apogee
20	Lunar occultation of Sigma Sagittarii
22	Venus at greatest brightness
23	September equinox The Moon at aphelion
26	NGC 55 is well placed Neptune at opposition Full Moon
27	Close approach of the Moon and Saturn Mercury at aphelion Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn Daytime Sextantid meteor shower 2026
28	47 Tuc is well placed
30	Close approach of the Moon and M45 Asteroid 192 Nausikaa at opposition
27	Mercury at highest altitude in evening sky

October 2026
1	The Moon at perigee
2	Lunar occultation of Beta Tauri
3	The Andromeda Galaxy is well placed Moon at Last Quarter
4	NGC 253 is well placed Saturn at opposition Asteroid 2 Pallas at opposition
5	The Small Magellanic Cloud is well placed Conjunction of the Moon and Mars Close approach of the Moon and Mars Lunar occultation of Mars Close approach of the Moon and M44 Conjunction of Venus and Mercury 136472 Makemake at solar conjunction
6	NGC 300 is well placed October Camelopardalid meteor shower 2026 Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter Lunar occultation of Jupiter
7	Lunar occultation of Regulus
8	NGC 362 is well placed
9	Draconid meteor shower 2026
10	New Moon Southern Taurid meteor shower 2026
11	Close approach of Mars and M44 δ-Aurigid meteor shower 2026
12	Conjunction of the Moon and Venus Mercury at greatest elongation east Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury
13	Asteroid 4 Vesta at opposition The Moon at perihelion
14	Lunar occultation of Antares
16	The Triangulum Galaxy is well placed The Moon at apogee
17	Lunar occultation of Sigma Sagittarii Mercury at dichotomy
18	Moon at First Quarter ε-Geminid meteor shower 2026
19	136199 Eris at opposition
21	Orionid meteor shower 2026
23	The Moon at aphelion
24	Venus at inferior solar conjunction Close approach of the Moon and Saturn Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn Leonis Minorid meteor shower 2026
26	Full Moon The Perseus Double Cluster is well placed
27	136108 Haumea at solar conjunction
28	Close approach of the Moon and M45 The Moon at perigee
29	Lunar occultation of Beta Tauri

November 2026
1	Close approach of the Moon and M44 Moon at Last Quarter
2	Close approach of the Moon and Mars Lunar occultation of Mars Conjunction of the Moon and Mars Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter Lunar occultation of Jupiter Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter
3	Lunar occultation of Regulus
4	Mercury at inferior solar conjunction
7	Lunar occultation of Venus Conjunction of the Moon and Venus
9	New Moon
10	Mercury at perihelion
11	Lunar occultation of Antares The Moon at perihelion
12	Comet 69P/Taylor passes perihelion Northern Taurid meteor shower 2026
13	The Moon at apogee Lunar occultation of Sigma Sagittarii
15	Conjunction of Jupiter and Mars
16	Close approach of Jupiter and Mars
17	Moon at First Quarter
18	Leonid meteor shower 2026 Mercury at dichotomy The Pleiades cluster is well placed
20	Close approach of the Moon and Saturn
19	Mercury at highest altitude in morning sky
21	Mercury at greatest elongation west Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn α-Monocerotid meteor shower 2026
22	The Moon at aphelion
24	Close approach of the Moon and M45 Full Moon
25	The Moon at perigee Uranus at opposition Lunar occultation of Beta Tauri
27	Venus at greatest brightness
28	Comet 161P/Hartley-IRAS passes perihelion November Orionid meteor shower 2026 The Hyades cluster is well placed
29	Close approach of the Moon and M44
30	Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter Lunar occultation of Jupiter Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter Lunar occultation of Regulus Close approach of the Moon and Mars Conjunction of the Moon and Mars

December 2026
1	Moon at Last Quarter
2	Pheonicid meteor shower 2026
5	Conjunction of the Moon and Venus
6	December φ-Cassiopeid meteor shower 2026
7	Puppid-Velid meteor shower 2026 Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury
9	New Moon Monocerotid meteor shower 2026
10	The Moon at perihelion
11	Saturn ends retrograde motion Lunar occultation of Sigma Sagittarii The Moon at apogee
12	σ-Hydrid meteor shower 2026 Neptune ends retrograde motion The Large Magellanic Cloud is well placed
13	Jupiter enters retrograde motion
14	Geminid meteor shower 2026
15	The Running Man cluster is well placed The Orion Nebula is well placed
16	Comae Berenicid meteor shower 2026
17	Moon at First Quarter
18	Close approach of the Moon and Saturn Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn
20	December Leonis Minorid meteor shower 2026
21	December solstice Close approach of the Moon and M45
22	Ursid meteor shower 2026
23	Lunar occultation of Beta Tauri The Moon at aphelion
24	Full Moon Mercury at aphelion The Moon at perigee
25	Venus at perihelion
26	Close approach of the Moon and M44
27	Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter