Northern Hemisphere Astronomy Calendar 2026
Complete guide to celestial events, planets, and deep-sky objects for northern observers
Moon Phases
Meteor Showers
Planet Events
Deep Sky
January 2026
Moon Phases
New Moon
Jan 1
01:58 UTC
First Quarter
Jan 8
12:28 UTC
Full Moon
Jan 16
20:53 UTC
Last Quarter
Jan 24
01:48 UTC
Key Events
- •Quadrantids Meteor Shower peaks Jan 3-4 (120 meteors/hr, ZHR)
- •Venus reaches greatest western elongation (47°) Jan 10
- •Mars at opposition Jan 16 - closest approach to Earth
- •Mercury at greatest eastern elongation (19°) Jan 23
- •Comet 13P/Olbers fading but may still be visible (magnitude 9-10)
Planet Visibility
Mercury
Evening sky early month, fading by month end
Venus
Brilliant morning star, magnitude -4.6
Mars
At opposition mid-month, visible all night at magnitude -1.2
Jupiter
Evening sky in Pisces, magnitude -2.3
Saturn
Low in evening twilight, magnitude +0.9
Prime Deep-Sky Targets
- ★M42 Orion Nebula - prime viewing in evening sky
- ★M45 Pleiades - high overhead in early evening
- ★M31 Andromeda Galaxy - still visible in western sky
- ★M1 Crab Nebula - well placed in Taurus
Evening Sky Constellations
Orion dominates southern sky; Auriga, Taurus, Gemini well placed; Ursa Major rising in northeast
February 2026
Moon Phases
New Moon
Feb 1
04:01 UTC
First Quarter
Feb 7
03:06 UTC
Full Moon
Feb 15
11:57 UTC
Last Quarter
Feb 22
13:29 UTC
Key Events
- •Mars continues bright display in evening sky
- •Saturn passes behind Sun (conjunction) Feb 23
- •Venus continues spectacular morning apparition
- •Winter Circle asterism prominent in evening sky
- •Comet C/2024 E1 (Wierzchos) bright at magnitude 7-8 early month!
- •Comet 144P/Kushida may reach magnitude 10-11 (small telescope)
Planet Visibility
Mercury
Not visible (solar conjunction Feb 6)
Venus
Morning star, magnitude -4.5
Mars
Still bright at magnitude -0.5, fading
Jupiter
Evening sky, setting around midnight
Saturn
Not visible (conjunction)
Prime Deep-Sky Targets
- ★M35 Open Cluster in Gemini - excellent viewing
- ★M36, M37, M38 clusters in Auriga
- ★M41 Open Cluster in Canis Major
- ★NGC 2244 Rosette Nebula (with filter)
Evening Sky Constellations
Orion past meridian; Cancer, Leo rising in east; Big Dipper climbing northeast
March 2026
Moon Phases
New Moon
Mar 3
11:39 UTC
First Quarter
Mar 9
01:51 UTC
Full Moon
Mar 17
03:44 UTC
Last Quarter
Mar 24
02:30 UTC
Key Events
- •Total Solar Eclipse Mar 20 (visible from Arctic, Greenland, Iceland)
- •Spring Equinox Mar 20 at 10:02 UTC
- •Venus at greatest brilliancy (magnitude -4.7) Mar 21
- •Mercury at greatest western elongation (28°) Mar 29
- •Comet C/2024 E1 (Wierzchos) fading but still visible (magnitude 8-9)
- •Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS) brightening - Kreutz sungrazer (magnitude ~13)
Planet Visibility
Mercury
Morning sky, best apparition of year
Venus
Brilliant morning star at maximum brightness
Mars
Evening sky, fading to magnitude +0.2
Jupiter
Low in evening twilight
Saturn
Emerging in morning twilight
Prime Deep-Sky Targets
- ★M81 and M82 galaxies in Ursa Major - ideal viewing
- ★Leo Triplet (M65, M66, NGC 3628) - galaxy season begins
- ★M44 Beehive Cluster in Cancer
- ★M3 Globular Cluster in Canes Venatici rising
Evening Sky Constellations
Leo high in south; Virgo rising; Winter constellations setting in west; Spring triangle forming
April 2026
Moon Phases
New Moon
Apr 1
22:22 UTC
First Quarter
Apr 7
22:51 UTC
Full Moon
Apr 15
19:12 UTC
Last Quarter
Apr 22
16:32 UTC
Key Events
- •Lyrids Meteor Shower peaks Apr 22-23 (20 meteors/hr)
- •Mercury at greatest eastern elongation (20°) Apr 11
- •Mars passes through Pleiades Apr 16-20
- •Peak galaxy observing season begins
- •Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS) perihelion Apr 4 - DISINTEGRATED before perihelion (did not survive)
- •Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) at peak - reached naked-eye magnitude ~4-5 late April!
Planet Visibility
Mercury
Evening sky, visible after sunset
Venus
Morning star, starting to lower
Mars
Faint in evening sky (magnitude +0.8)
Jupiter
Not visible (approaching conjunction)
Saturn
Morning sky, brightening
Prime Deep-Sky Targets
- ★Virgo Galaxy Cluster - prime viewing (M84, M86, M87, M89, M90)
- ★M51 Whirlpool Galaxy - rising in east
- ★M13 Hercules Cluster - late night viewing
- ★Leo galaxies at zenith
Evening Sky Constellations
Virgo high in south; Boötes rising; Leo past meridian; Hercules in northeast
May 2026
Moon Phases
New Moon
May 1
11:32 UTC
First Quarter
May 7
17:12 UTC
Full Moon
May 15
09:48 UTC
Last Quarter
May 22
06:18 UTC
New Moon
May 31
02:45 UTC
Key Events
- •Eta Aquariids Meteor Shower peaks May 6-7 (40 meteors/hr)
- •Mercury passes behind Sun (inferior conjunction) May 10
- •Venus at inferior conjunction May 31
- •Saturn reaches opposition later in year setup
- •Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) fading but still binocular target early month
- •Comet 10P/Tempel 2 brightening - may reach magnitude 8-9 (binoculars)
Planet Visibility
Mercury
Not visible (conjunction)
Venus
Transitioning to evening sky end of month
Mars
Very faint in west after sunset
Jupiter
Not visible (conjunction May 18)
Saturn
Morning sky, magnitude +0.6
Prime Deep-Sky Targets
- ★M3 and M53 globular clusters well placed
- ★M63, M94, M106 galaxies in Canes Venatici
- ★M13 Hercules Cluster rising higher
- ★Coma Berenices star cluster overhead
Evening Sky Constellations
Virgo high south; Boötes at zenith; Hercules rising; Cygnus in northeast; Summer Triangle forming
June 2026
Moon Phases
First Quarter
Jun 6
08:00 UTC
Full Moon
Jun 13
22:43 UTC
Last Quarter
Jun 20
18:56 UTC
New Moon
Jun 29
19:31 UTC
Key Events
- •Summer Solstice Jun 21 at 02:24 UTC - longest day
- •Mercury at greatest western elongation (23°) Jun 14
- •Neptune at opposition Jun 23
- •Shortest nights for deep-sky observation
Planet Visibility
Mercury
Morning sky, best morning apparition
Venus
Evening sky, very low after sunset
Mars
Lost in solar glare
Jupiter
Morning sky, brightening
Saturn
Morning sky, magnitude +0.5
Prime Deep-Sky Targets
- ★M13 Globular Cluster at prime position
- ★M92 Globular Cluster in Hercules
- ★M5 Globular Cluster in Serpens
- ★NGC 6210 and NGC 6543 planetary nebulae
Evening Sky Constellations
Hercules at zenith; Ophiuchus, Serpens rising; Summer Triangle prominent; Milky Way beginning to show
July 2026
Moon Phases
First Quarter
Jul 5
19:49 UTC
Full Moon
Jul 13
10:01 UTC
Last Quarter
Jul 20
05:48 UTC
New Moon
Jul 29
13:32 UTC
Key Events
- •Earth at aphelion (farthest from Sun) Jul 3
- •Delta Aquariids Meteor Shower peaks Jul 28-29 (25 meteors/hr)
- •Mercury at greatest eastern elongation (27°) Jul 22
- •Best month for Milky Way core observation
- •Comet 10P/Tempel 2 at peak - magnitude ~8, visible in binoculars all month
- •Comet 220P/McNaught also visible around magnitude 9-10
Planet Visibility
Mercury
Evening sky after sunset
Venus
Evening sky, getting higher
Mars
Not visible
Jupiter
Morning sky, magnitude -2.1
Saturn
Rising before midnight
Prime Deep-Sky Targets
- ★M57 Ring Nebula in Lyra at zenith
- ★M27 Dumbbell Nebula rising high
- ★M8 Lagoon Nebula in Sagittarius
- ★M20 Trifid Nebula - excellent viewing
- ★Milky Way core visible - M6, M7, M22, M28
Evening Sky Constellations
Cygnus, Lyra, Aquila at zenith (Summer Triangle); Sagittarius low south; Scorpius visible
August 2026
Moon Phases
First Quarter
Aug 4
04:13 UTC
Full Moon
Aug 11
20:04 UTC
Last Quarter
Aug 18
14:54 UTC
New Moon
Aug 28
07:17 UTC
Key Events
- •Perseids Meteor Shower peaks Aug 12-13 (100 meteors/hr) - EXCELLENT, no moon!
- •Total Lunar Eclipse Aug 12 (visible across Americas, Pacific)
- •Saturn at opposition Aug 15 - best viewing of year
- •Venus reaches greatest eastern elongation (46°) Aug 9
- •Comet 10P/Tempel 2 at perihelion Aug 2 - bright around magnitude 8-9 in Capricornus
- •Comet 169P/NEAT brightening - closest approach (0.17 AU) mid-August, mag 10-11
- •Comet 220P/McNaught unexpectedly brightened to ~mag 6 - brightest comet in the sky now
- •Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) - the "Great Comet of 2026" - now fading for southern observers
Planet Visibility
Mercury
Not visible (superior conjunction Aug 4)
Venus
Evening star, magnitude -4.0
Mars
Not visible
Jupiter
Morning sky, magnitude -2.4
Saturn
At opposition, visible all night at magnitude +0.2
Prime Deep-Sky Targets
- ★M11 Wild Duck Cluster in Scutum
- ★M16 Eagle Nebula and M17 Swan Nebula
- ★NGC 6826 Blinking Planetary
- ★Milky Way still spectacular
- ★Andromeda Galaxy (M31) rising late evening
Evening Sky Constellations
Summer Triangle at zenith; Sagittarius south; Pegasus rising east; Aquarius, Capricornus visible
September 2026
Moon Phases
First Quarter
Sep 2
10:03 UTC
Full Moon
Sep 10
05:27 UTC
Last Quarter
Sep 16
22:30 UTC
New Moon
Sep 27
00:28 UTC
Key Events
- •Autumnal Equinox Sep 22 at 20:04 UTC
- •Neptune at opposition Sep 14
- •Mercury at greatest western elongation (18°) Sep 12
- •Jupiter approaching opposition
- •Comet 161P/Hartley-IRAS brightening - may reach magnitude 10 (small telescope)
- •Comet 169P/NEAT at peak - magnitude ~10, morning sky target
Planet Visibility
Mercury
Morning sky, poor visibility
Venus
Evening star, magnitude -4.2
Mars
Reappearing in morning twilight
Jupiter
Visible most of night, magnitude -2.7
Saturn
Evening sky, past opposition
Prime Deep-Sky Targets
- ★M31 Andromeda Galaxy high in evening
- ★M33 Triangulum Galaxy
- ★NGC 7331 and Stephan's Quintet
- ★M15 Globular Cluster in Pegasus
- ★Double Cluster in Perseus rising
Evening Sky Constellations
Pegasus, Andromeda high; Pisces, Aries rising; Summer Triangle in west; Cassiopeia in northeast
October 2026
Moon Phases
First Quarter
Oct 1
14:25 UTC
Full Moon
Oct 9
14:53 UTC
Last Quarter
Oct 16
04:56 UTC
New Moon
Oct 26
17:24 UTC
First Quarter
Oct 30
18:21 UTC
Key Events
- •Orionids Meteor Shower peaks Oct 21-22 (25 meteors/hr)
- •Draconids Meteor Shower Oct 8 (variable rate)
- •Mercury at greatest eastern elongation (24°) Oct 22
- •Jupiter at opposition Oct 26 - best viewing
- •Comet 161P/Hartley-IRAS at peak - magnitude ~10, evening sky
- •Comet 10P/Tempel 2 still visible around magnitude 9
- •Comet C/2024 T5 (ATLAS) brightening to magnitude ~11-12
Planet Visibility
Mercury
Evening sky after month-end
Venus
Evening star, magnitude -4.5
Mars
Morning sky, brightening
Jupiter
At opposition, visible all night at magnitude -2.9
Saturn
Evening sky in south
Prime Deep-Sky Targets
- ★M31, M32, M110 Andromeda group at zenith
- ★M33 Triangulum Galaxy high
- ★NGC 869/884 Double Cluster high in Perseus
- ★NGC 891 edge-on galaxy
- ★M52 Open Cluster in Cassiopeia
Evening Sky Constellations
Andromeda at zenith; Perseus, Cassiopeia high; Taurus, Pleiades rising; Orion late night
November 2026
Moon Phases
Full Moon
Nov 8
01:02 UTC
Last Quarter
Nov 14
11:13 UTC
New Moon
Nov 25
10:46 UTC
Key Events
- •Taurids Meteor Shower peaks Nov 5 (10 meteors/hr, fireballs)
- •Leonids Meteor Shower peaks Nov 17-18 (15 meteors/hr)
- •Mercury at greatest western elongation (20°) Nov 16
- •Uranus at opposition Nov 15
- •Comet 161P/Hartley-IRAS still visible ~magnitude 10 in evening sky
Planet Visibility
Mercury
Morning sky, visible before sunrise
Venus
Evening star at peak brilliancy
Mars
Morning sky, magnitude +1.0
Jupiter
Past opposition, evening sky
Saturn
Evening sky, setting earlier
Prime Deep-Sky Targets
- ★M45 Pleiades high overhead
- ★M42 Orion Nebula rising late evening
- ★M1 Crab Nebula in Taurus
- ★California Nebula (NGC 1499) with filter
- ★Hyades Cluster prominent
Evening Sky Constellations
Perseus at zenith; Auriga, Taurus high; Orion rising; Gemini late evening; Andromeda still well placed
December 2026
Moon Phases
Full Moon
Dec 7
12:27 UTC
Last Quarter
Dec 13
18:38 UTC
New Moon
Dec 25
03:31 UTC
Key Events
- •Geminids Meteor Shower peaks Dec 13-14 (120 meteors/hr) - Queen of meteor showers!
- •Ursids Meteor Shower peaks Dec 22 (10 meteors/hr)
- •Winter Solstice Dec 21 at 14:48 UTC - longest night
- •Mercury at greatest eastern elongation (22°) Dec 4
Planet Visibility
Mercury
Evening sky early month
Venus
Evening star, lowering toward sunset
Mars
Morning sky, magnitude +0.5
Jupiter
Evening sky, setting midnight
Saturn
Low in evening twilight
Prime Deep-Sky Targets
- ★M42 Orion Nebula prime viewing
- ★M35, M36, M37, M38 open clusters
- ★M1 Crab Nebula at zenith
- ★NGC 2237 Rosette Nebula
- ★Winter Milky Way visible
Evening Sky Constellations
Orion high south; Taurus, Auriga, Gemini overhead; Canis Major rising; Leo late night; Winter hexagon prominent
Observing Notes
- • All times are in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). Convert to your local time zone.
- • Meteor shower rates (ZHR) are ideal maximums under perfect dark-sky conditions.
- • Planet magnitudes and positions are approximate; use planetarium software for precise data.
- • Deep-sky objects require dark skies; many require telescopes or binoculars.
- • Moon phases affect meteor shower and deep-sky visibility significantly.
- • Latitude affects constellation and planet visibility; guide optimized for 40°N.
- • Comet brightnesses are predictions and can vary significantly. Check comet websites regularly for newly discovered comets and updated predictions.