A spectacular celestial display awaits us in 2026, featuring a red Moon, a blue Moon, a supermoon, and other incredible phenomena! Enthusiastic stargazers can look forward to witnessing a total lunar eclipse at a prime time, alongside the rare occurrence of a blue Moon and a supermoon. Additionally, the two brightest planets will appear close together, while Jupiter will momentarily vanish behind the Moon during daylight hours.
Remarkably, all but one of these breathtaking events can be enjoyed with the naked eye, even from urban areas plagued by light pollution.
Alongside these unique events, we can also anticipate the regular spectacle of meteor showers and the nightly display of constellations. Although the optimal viewing conditions are found in darker rural locations, many of these wonders can still be appreciated from cities.
Let’s delve into the highlights of the upcoming year:
March, May, and December: The Moon
Mark your calendars for Tuesday, March 3, when a lunar eclipse will grace the evening sky. During this event, the full Moon will drift into Earth’s shadow, likely taking on a striking red or copper hue. This phenomenon occurs because sunlight refracts through Earth's atmosphere and casts a warm glow onto the Moon, reminiscent of the colors seen at sunrise and sunset across our planet.
Lunar eclipses are safe to view without any special equipment, making them ideal opportunities for nighttime photography. If you want to capture stunning images, ensure your camera or smartphone is capable of timed exposures and is held steady on a tripod or similar support.
For those in southeast Australia, the total eclipse will reach its peak between 10:04 PM and 11:03 PM local time. Residents in Brisbane should adjust their watches an hour earlier, while those in Perth will need to account for a three-hour difference. In Aotearoa New Zealand, totality will commence just after midnight.
Another notable lunar event will occur on Sunday, May 31, known as a "blue Moon." This term typically describes the second full Moon occurring within a single calendar month, a rarity that happens roughly once every two to three years.
The final lunar highlight will take place on Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24, when a supermoon will illuminate the night sky. This occurs when the full Moon aligns with its closest approach to Earth during its monthly orbit, resulting in a slightly larger and more luminous appearance. The supermoon will look particularly mesmerizing at moonrise, where an optical illusion makes it appear even larger as it hovers near the horizon.
April, June, and November: The Planets
Early risers will be treated to a spectacular planetary alignment from April 19 to 22, as Mercury, Mars, and Saturn will form a tight grouping in the eastern sky just before dawn.
On the evenings of June 9 and 10, the two brightest planets, Venus and Jupiter, will come together in the sky, passing within the span of three moon widths from our perspective.
Additionally, on November 3, the crescent Moon will transit in front of Jupiter. While this event will occur during daytime hours, it can still be observed using binoculars. (Remember, never point binoculars at the Sun, and ensure children are closely supervised during observations.) For those in Sydney, the bright edge of the Moon will cover Jupiter at 10:40 AM, with Jupiter reappearing at the dark edge at 11:39 AM.
December: Meteor Shower
In mid-December, just before dawn, you will have an excellent opportunity to witness the Geminid meteor shower, which is renowned as one of the finest meteor showers of the year. This shower occurs when Earth passes through a stream of dust left by the rocky asteroid known as Phaethon.
As these dust particles incinerate upon entering our atmosphere, they create brief streaks of light referred to as meteors. This year presents particularly favorable conditions for viewing, as the Moon's brightness will not overshadow the display.
The peak of the Geminid meteor shower is expected on the early morning of Tuesday, December 15. To catch the best view, find the darkest location possible and gaze towards the northern direction. The meteors will seem to radiate from a point near Castor, in the Gemini constellation.
January and December: Taurus
Many of the constellations we recognize from European traditions were named long ago, while explorers and astronomers who ventured south of the equator in the 18th century named much of what we see today.
Previously, I have covered the well-known constellations of Orion and Scorpius, along with the Southern Cross and Sagittarius. In 2026, let's focus on the zodiac constellation of Taurus, the Bull.
To locate Taurus, extend a line downward from the three stars that form Orion's belt until you reach Aldebaran, a bright reddish star. Aldebaran is situated within an inverted V-shaped formation of stars that represents the Bull's head—upside down for us, as it was originally named in the northern hemisphere. The stars in this group belong to a cluster known as the Hyades.
Another noteworthy cluster within Taurus is the Pleiades, also referred to as the Seven Sisters. This designation is not only recognized in European tradition but is also acknowledged by various cultures worldwide, including First Nations people of Australia.
While most observers can see only six stars in this compact cluster with the naked eye, hundreds can be detected using a telescope. Interestingly, astronomers discovered in 2025 that the Pleiades may contain as many as twenty times more stars than previously believed.
The insights shared in this article are derived from the 2026 Australasian Sky Guide, a fantastic resource that includes monthly star maps and additional information to enhance your experience of the night sky from both Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
