Sky calendar
Moon phases, eclipses and meteor showers 2026
Every full and new moon, every solar and lunar eclipse, the meteor showers and the seasons of 2026 — and where to see them. Moon dates are in your time zone (America/New_York).
Eclipses 2026
Never look at the Sun without certified eclipse glasses. Lunar eclipses are safe to watch with the naked eye.
Annular solar eclipse · Tuesday, February 17, 2026 · passed
Central path: Antarctica
Seen from Antarctica, Africa and South America
What is this?
The Moon is a little farther from Earth, so it looks too small to cover the Sun. A bright 'ring of fire' stays around it. Eye protection is needed the whole time.
Total lunar eclipse Blood moon · Tuesday, March 3, 2026 · passed
Seen from Asia, Australia, the Pacific and the Americas
What is this?
Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon. Sunlight bent through Earth's atmosphere turns the Moon copper-red, which is why it is called a 'blood moon'. Anyone on the night side of Earth can see it, safely, with the naked eye.
Total solar eclipse · Wednesday, August 12, 2026 · passed
Central path: Greenland, Iceland, Spain
Seen from Europe, Africa, North America and the Atlantic
What is this?
The Moon covers the Sun completely. Along a narrow path the sky goes dark for a few minutes, stars appear and the Sun's corona glows. Outside the path you see only a partial eclipse. Only during totality is it safe to look without eclipse glasses.
Partial lunar eclipse · Friday, August 28, 2026 · passed
Seen from the Americas, Europe and Africa
What is this?
Only part of the Moon passes through Earth's dark central shadow, so a dark 'bite' moves across it. Safe to watch with the naked eye.
Full and new moons 2026
Full moon
The Moon sits opposite the Sun, so the whole face we see is lit. It rises around sunset and sets around sunrise. Full moons happen about every 29.5 days.
New moon
The Moon sits between Earth and the Sun, so its lit side faces away from us and it is invisible. Many lunar calendars, Islamic, Chinese and Hindu among them, start their months from the new moon or the first crescent after it.
Quarter moon
Half the Moon's face is lit. First quarter comes about a week after the new moon (lit on the right in the Northern Hemisphere); last quarter about a week after the full moon (lit on the left).
| Full moon | New moon | |
|---|---|---|
| January | Sat, Jan 3 Wolf Moon | Sun, Jan 18 |
| February | Sun, Feb 1 Snow Moon | Tue, Feb 17 |
| March | Tue, Mar 3 Worm Moon | Wed, Mar 18 |
| April | Wed, Apr 1 Pink Moon | Fri, Apr 17 |
| May | Fri, May 1 Flower Moon Sun, May 31 Blue Moon (second full moon this month) | Sat, May 16 |
| June | Mon, Jun 29 Strawberry Moon | Sun, Jun 14 |
| July | Wed, Jul 29 Buck Moon | Tue, Jul 14 |
| August | Fri, Aug 28 Sturgeon Moon | Wed, Aug 12 |
| September | Sat, Sep 26 Harvest Moon | Thu, Sep 10 |
| October | Mon, Oct 26 Hunter's Moon | Sat, Oct 10 |
| November | Tue, Nov 24 Beaver Moon | Mon, Nov 9 |
| December | Wed, Dec 23 Cold Moon | Tue, Dec 8 |
Meteor showers 2026
Peak nights are approximate. Watch after midnight, away from city lights.
What is this?
Each year Earth crosses trails of dust left by comets. The grains burn up in the atmosphere as 'shooting stars'. The best hours are usually after midnight, under a dark sky, with no moon.
- QuadrantidsSat, Jan 3passed
- LyridsWed, Apr 22passed
- Eta AquariidsWed, May 6passed
- PerseidsWed, Aug 12passed
- OrionidsWed, Oct 21passed
- LeonidsTue, Nov 17in 8 days
- GeminidsMon, Dec 14in 35 days
Seasons 2026
What is this?
Equinoxes (March and September) are when day and night are nearly equal everywhere. Solstices (June and December) bring the longest and shortest days. They mark the astronomical start of each season, and many festivals around the world are tied to them.
- First day of springFri, Mar 20passed
- First day of summerSun, Jun 21passed
- First day of fallWed, Sep 23passed
- First day of winterMon, Dec 21in 42 days