What is the next astronomy event?

The next listed astronomy event is Orionids Meteor Shower, with timing shown as Active through Nov 7 - Formal maximum passed Oct 21. Check local cloud cover, moonlight, and darkness before traveling.

Is there an astronomy event today or this week?

Orionids Meteor Shower is the next listed event, with timing shown as Active through Nov 7 - Formal maximum passed Oct 21. Events are only worth planning around after checking local clouds, moonlight, and darkness.

When is the next meteor shower?

The next listed meteor shower is Orionids Meteor Shower, with timing shown as Active through Nov 7 - Formal maximum passed Oct 21. After midnight through predawn; exact Moon and weather timing depends on location

How do I know if an astronomy event is worth watching near me?

Use the event date and peak window first, then verify local cloud cover, moonlight, darkness, and the best viewing window on the map or tonight forecast before leaving.

Which astronomy events are best for beginners?

Full Moon events, bright planet visibility windows, and major meteor showers are usually easiest for beginners. Faint Milky Way and deep-sky events need darker skies and better timing.

Stargazing calendar 2026

Astronomy Calendar 2026

Find the next verified sky event, then check whether your local sky is worth the trip

Direct answer

The 2026 astronomy calendar shows source-checked dates for listed sky events and puts the active or next event first. Use it to see what is happening, what comes next, and open the relevant event guide for planning details. Each date and event status comes from the cited event source. If local timing or visibility is unavailable, the calendar leaves it unavailable instead of estimating it.

Now and next

Start with the listed event that is active now or comes next.

Active now: Orionids Meteor Shower - Active through Nov 7 - Formal maximum passed Oct 21. Open the event guide for the current source-checked details and any available local planning information.

October 2026

1 listed event

Active after maximum

Orionids Meteor Shower

Date: Active through Nov 7 - Formal maximum passed Oct 21

Planning window: After midnight through predawn; exact Moon and weather timing depends on location

Moon risk: Moderate

Expected activity: Descriptive only

Timing: Well defined

Local forecast: Unavailable

Safety: Confirm legal access, weather, and local conditions before leaving.

Location relevance: Both hemispheres where the radiant, Moon timing, clouds, and darkness cooperate

The 2026 Orionids have a broad October 21-22 planning window. Moon timing, radiant altitude, and local weather determine the useful predawn hours.

Review remaining Orionids activity Check current conditions

Plan around the next event

Open the event details, then recheck local clouds, darkness, and moonlight before leaving.

Check local conditions

November 2026

3 listed events

Active window

Southern Taurids Meteor Shower

Date: Active through Nov 20 - Peak Nov 5

Planning window: Use the clearest, darkest practical window near the broad early-November maximum

Moon risk: Low

Expected activity: Descriptive only

Timing: Well defined

Local forecast: Unavailable

Safety: Confirm legal access, weather, and local conditions before leaving.

Location relevance: A broad range of latitudes under dark skies with legal nighttime access

The 2026 Southern Taurids are a broad, low-rate fireball opportunity centered around November 5, not a one-night high-volume display.

Plan for the Southern Taurids Check current conditions

Active window

Northern Taurids Meteor Shower

Date: Active through Dec 10 - Peak Nov 12

Planning window: Use the clearest dark window across several nights around November 12

Moon risk: Low

Expected activity: Descriptive only

Timing: Well defined

Local forecast: Unavailable

Safety: Confirm legal access, weather, and local conditions before leaving.

Location relevance: A broad range of latitudes under dark skies with legal nighttime access

The 2026 Northern Taurids form the later Taurid window, with a broad maximum around November 11-12 and favorable Moon conditions.

Plan for the Northern Taurids Check current conditions

Upcoming event

Leonids Meteor Shower

Date: Nov 6-Nov 30 - Peak Nov 17

Planning window: After midnight through predawn; convert the UTC reference maxima for the observer location

Moon risk: Low

Expected activity: Descriptive only

Timing: Well defined

Local forecast: Unavailable

Safety: Confirm legal access, weather, and local conditions before leaving.

Location relevance: Both hemispheres, with local radiant altitude and darkness determining practical visibility

The 2026 Leonids are a normal, modest return. Weak modeled trail encounters do not support a storm or significant outburst claim.

Plan for the Leonids Check current conditions

December 2026

1 listed event

Upcoming event

Geminids Meteor Shower

Date: Dec 4-Dec 20 - Peak Dec 14

Planning window: Late evening through pre-dawn

Moon risk: Unavailable

Expected activity: Descriptive only

Timing: Well defined

Local forecast: Unavailable

Safety: Confirm legal access, weather, and local conditions before leaving.

Location relevance: Nationwide where clouds and moon interference stay low

The Geminids frequently deliver dense meteor activity and are one of the best annual opportunities for casual observers and photographers.

Plan for the Geminids Check current conditions

January 2027

No major listed events

No major source-backed event is currently listed for January 2027

This does not mean the sky is empty. Use the tonight forecast for routine planets, Moon, constellations, and general stargazing conditions.

Check ordinary stargazing conditions

February 2027

1 listed event

Upcoming event

Penumbral Lunar Eclipse February 20-21, 2027

Date: Peak Feb 20 - NASA lists broad visibility across the Americas and other regions; check local Moon position and phase circumstances.

Planning window: Use the authoritative UTC event window, convert it to local time, and confirm the Moon is above the local horizon.

Local visibility: Geometry unavailable

Eclipse phase: Penumbral

Moon position & timing: Unavailable

Equipment: Naked eye is sufficient

Safety: Confirm legal access, weather, and local conditions before leaving.

Location relevance: NASA lists broad visibility across the Americas and other regions; check local Moon position and phase circumstances.

A subtle penumbral lunar eclipse; local Moon position and clouds determine whether it is observable.

Review eclipse viewing guide Check current conditions

March 2027

No major listed events

No major source-backed event is currently listed for March 2027

This does not mean the sky is empty. Use the tonight forecast for routine planets, Moon, constellations, and general stargazing conditions.

Check ordinary stargazing conditions

April 2027

2 listed events

Upcoming event

Lyrids Meteor Shower

Date: Apr 14-Apr 30

Planning window: Compare the adjacent NASA- and AMS-labeled overnight windows April 21-22 and April 22-23; check local moonset and forecasts; no exact maximum is assigned

Moon risk: High

Expected activity: Descriptive only

Timing: Broad window

Local forecast: Unavailable

Safety: Confirm legal access, weather, and local conditions before leaving.

Location relevance: Northern Hemisphere favored, including much of the U.S. under dark skies

The 2027 Lyrids are active April 14-30; NASA and AMS label adjacent candidate peak nights without establishing a precise maximum.

Plan for the Lyrids Check current conditions

Upcoming event

Eta Aquariids Meteor Shower 2027

Date: Apr 19-May 28

Planning window: Use May 5-6 as the published peak-night label, not a precise maximum instant. Compare nearby pre-dawn sessions against local radiant altitude, twilight, Moon position and forecast.

Moon risk: Unavailable

Expected activity: Descriptive only

Timing: Broad window

Local forecast: Unavailable

Safety: Confirm legal access, weather, and local conditions before leaving.

Location relevance: Visible from both hemispheres; southern tropics favored. U.S. rates are generally lower; check local pre-dawn radiant height.

The 2027 Eta Aquariids are active April 19-May 28, with a May 5-6 peak-night label; southern latitudes are favored and no exact maximum instant is assigned.

Plan for the Eta Aquariids Meteor Shower 2027 Check current conditions

May 2027

No major listed events

No major source-backed event is currently listed for May 2027

This does not mean the sky is empty. Use the tonight forecast for routine planets, Moon, constellations, and general stargazing conditions.

Check ordinary stargazing conditions

June 2027

No major listed events

No major source-backed event is currently listed for June 2027

This does not mean the sky is empty. Use the tonight forecast for routine planets, Moon, constellations, and general stargazing conditions.

Check ordinary stargazing conditions

July 2027

3 listed events

Upcoming event

Alpha Capricornids Meteor Shower

Date: Jul 3-Aug 15

Planning window: AMS peak-night label July 30-31; no exact maximum instant or universal local hour. Check local Moon timing, darkness and clouds.

Moon risk: Unavailable

Expected activity: Descriptive only

Timing: Broad window

Local forecast: Unavailable

Safety: Confirm legal access, weather, and local conditions before leaving.

Location relevance: AMS says visible on either side of the equator; local radiant altitude, horizon and sky conditions vary.

2027 AMS peak-night label July 30-31; 14% waning crescent. AMS activity endpoints conflict; local Moon overlap and viewing conditions vary.

Plan for the Alpha Capricornids Check current conditions

Upcoming event

Southern Delta Aquariids

Date: Jul 12-Aug 23

Planning window: Use July 30-31 as the AMS peak-night label, not a precise maximum instant. Compare nearby active nights using local radiant altitude, darkness, Moon position and forecast.

Moon risk: Unavailable

Expected activity: Descriptive only

Timing: Broad window

Local forecast: Unavailable

Safety: Confirm legal access, weather, and local conditions before leaving.

Location relevance: Southern tropics and Southern Hemisphere favored; reduced potential farther north

The 2027 Southern Delta Aquariids are active July 12-August 23, with a July 30-31 AMS peak-night label; southern latitudes are favored and no exact maximum instant is assigned.

Plan for the Southern Delta Aquariids Check current conditions

Upcoming event

Perseids Meteor Shower

Date: Jul 17-Aug 24

Planning window: AMS labels Aug 12-13 as the 2027 peak night but provides no precise maximum instant; compare local late-night and pre-dawn Moon, radiant, darkness, weather and horizon conditions

Moon risk: Unavailable

Expected activity: Descriptive only

Timing: Broad window

Local forecast: Unavailable

Safety: Confirm legal access, weather, and local conditions before leaving.

Location relevance: Northern Hemisphere and dark U.S. skies away from urban glow

The Perseids are active July 17-August 24, 2027. AMS labels August 12-13 as the peak night and lists a 79% waxing gibbous Moon; no precise maximum instant or personal count is promised.

Plan for the Perseids Check current conditions

August 2027

1 listed event

Upcoming event

August 2, 2027 Total Solar Eclipse

Date: Peak Aug 2 - NASA lists totality in southern Spain, North Africa, Saudi Arabia and Yemen; its broad partial-visibility summary includes northern Maine. Check local circumstances; no U.S. totality.

Planning window: Use an authoritative location-specific eclipse map for local daytime circumstances. Weather and an unobstructed solar horizon determine local visibility.

Eye safety: Solar protection required

Local visibility: Geometry unavailable

Eclipse type: Partial

Official timing: Use authoritative lookup

Safety: Use certified solar viewers or indirect projection. Never use unfiltered optical equipment.

Location relevance: NASA lists totality in southern Spain, North Africa, Saudi Arabia and Yemen; its broad partial-visibility summary includes northern Maine. Check local circumstances; no U.S. totality.

A daytime total solar eclipse abroad; NASA lists only broad partial visibility in northern Maine in the U.S. Safe solar protection is required for any direct partial view.

Review eclipse viewing guide Check current conditions

October skywatching highlight

Moon near the Pleiades: October 27–28, 2026

NASA says the Moon passes near the Pleiades on the night of October 27 into the morning of October 28; look east as they rise in the evening. Bright moonlight may hide fainter cluster stars. NASA’s roughly 11 p.m. chart is illustrative, not a universal local time. Use a chart set to your location, date, and time, and check your horizon. The USNO places full Moon at October 26, 04:12 UTC; the local clock date varies by time zone.

The event date is known, but the live forecast covers only the observing night stated on that page—not October 27–28 weather. Recheck when the event enters the supported forecast horizon.

NASA: October 2026 skywatching · USNO: 2026 Moon phases · Live forecast coverage

November 2026 skywatching planner

Taurids, Leonids, the New Moon and Uranus

Compare the November meteor-shower peak-night labels, the Nov. 9 New Moon and Uranus at opposition on Nov. 25. Source dates may use UTC while the observing night uses your local civil date; check your own chart and current conditions before going out.

Open the November 2026 stargazing planner

December 2026 skywatching planner

Geminids, Ursids, Moonlight and the January Quadrantids

Compare the December meteor-shower peak-night labels with the Moon phase, then prepare for the Quadrantids' short January maximum. Convert UTC dates to your local civil date and recheck sky and weather conditions close to the night.

Open the December 2026 stargazing planner

January 2027 meteor-shower planning

Quadrantids: short peak, favorable Moon

AMS predicts the maximum near Jan. 4 at 03:30 UTC and says the timing favors Europe and western Asia. In the contiguous U.S. that instant falls on Jan. 3 evening; convert UTC carefully and check local radiant height. AMS describes a thin waning crescent, while USNO lists New Moon Jan. 7 at 20:24 UTC. Weather and local visibility remain unknown this far ahead.

Open the 2027 Quadrantids guide

February 2027 planet observing

Jupiter near opposition: approximate February 10–11 date

AstroPixels gives nominal GMT and EST table labels but states outer-planet opposition times are accurate only to ±3 hours. Treat the date as approximate, then check Jupiter's local path, Moon position and current conditions for your location.

Open the 2027 Jupiter opposition guide

February 2027 planet observing

Mars opposition: February 19 date marker

AstroPixels lists February 19 and cautions that outer-planet opposition times are accurate only to ±3 hours. Nearby Full Moon context and telescope expectations are in the guide; check local sky geometry and conditions for your site.

Open the 2027 Mars opposition guide

Neptune near opposition: approximate September 28 date

AstroPixels lists Neptune at opposition on September 28, 2027, with ±3-hour accuracy for outer-planet oppositions. Use it as an approximate date marker, then check a current chart for your location, horizon, Moon and twilight.

Open the 2027 Neptune guide

Mercury elongations, February–September 2027

Compare the five east/west markers in the almanac horizon; this is not a full-calendar-year list or a local visibility forecast. Use a current chart for your location and follow the Sun-safety guidance before planning a session.

Open the February–September 2027 Mercury guide

Use this calendar to find the next listed meteor shower, eclipse, or source-backed sky-event window. The final decision still depends on your local clouds, moonlight, darkness, and best viewing time. To match an event window to twilight, read when the sky is dark enough to stargaze.

Check tonight's stargazing forecast Open event hub View stargazing map Compare meteor shower guides

Forecast freshness: 2026-10-22

How this calendar stays current

Each listed date and event status comes from that event's cited source. Unsupported dates, local timing, and visibility are left unavailable rather than estimated. Event guides own event-specific planning; local forecasts or geometry appear only when the relevant data supports them.

Updated: Forecast dataset 2026-10-22; page generated from current date logic.

Check local conditions before you plan around an event

Event dates do not guarantee clear skies where you are

An astronomy event date tells you when something can happen. It does not tell you whether your sky will cooperate. Before you leave, check cloud cover, moonlight interference, darkness, transparency, and the best local viewing window.

Check tonight's stargazing forecast Open the stargazing map Check Milky Way timing tonight Find the next meteor shower