Sky events 2026: solstices, equinoxes and eclipses
Dates and times of the 2026 solstices and equinoxes, solar and lunar eclipses, Earth’s perihelion and aphelion, and meteor shower peaks.
Times are shown for your time zone (America/New_York).
Sky events 2026: solstices, equinoxes and eclipses
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Quadrantids meteor shower peak
Best seen after midnight from a dark place, a night or two around the date.
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Earth closest to the Sun (perihelion)
147,099,894 km
Earth’s orbit brings it nearest to the Sun.
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Annular solar eclipse
Visible from: Antarctica (partial: S Africa, S South America)
The Moon passes between Earth and the Sun. Never look at the Sun without eclipse glasses.
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Total lunar eclipse
Visible from: E Asia, Australia, Pacific, Americas
Earth’s shadow falls on the full Moon. Safe to watch with the naked eye.
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March equinox
Day and night are about equal everywhere; spring begins in the Northern Hemisphere, autumn in the Southern.
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Lyrids meteor shower peak
Best seen after midnight from a dark place, a night or two around the date.
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Eta Aquariids meteor shower peak
Best seen after midnight from a dark place, a night or two around the date.
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June solstice
Longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere (summer solstice), shortest in the Southern.
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Earth farthest from the Sun (aphelion)
152,087,778 km
Earth is at its greatest distance from the Sun.
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Delta Aquariids meteor shower peak
Best seen after midnight from a dark place, a night or two around the date.
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Perseids meteor shower peak
Best seen after midnight from a dark place, a night or two around the date.
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Total solar eclipse
Visible from: Greenland, Iceland, Spain (partial: Europe, N Africa, N America)
The Moon passes between Earth and the Sun. Never look at the Sun without eclipse glasses.
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Partial lunar eclipse
Visible from: Americas, Europe, Africa, W Asia
Earth’s shadow falls on the full Moon. Safe to watch with the naked eye.
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September equinox
Day and night are about equal; autumn begins in the Northern Hemisphere, spring in the Southern.
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Draconids meteor shower peak
Best seen after midnight from a dark place, a night or two around the date.
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Orionids meteor shower peak
Best seen after midnight from a dark place, a night or two around the date.
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Leonids meteor shower peak
Best seen after midnight from a dark place, a night or two around the date.
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Geminids meteor shower peak
Best seen after midnight from a dark place, a night or two around the date.
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December solstice
Shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere (winter solstice), longest in the Southern.
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Ursids meteor shower peak
Best seen after midnight from a dark place, a night or two around the date.