Astronomical Events 2026

The Lyrids are one of the oldest recorded meteor showers, with observations dating back 2,700 years. They produce bright, fast meteors that occasionally leave persistent trains.

The Eta Aquariids are produced by debris from Halley's Comet. They are best viewed from the Southern Hemisphere and tropical latitudes, producing fast meteors with persistent trains.

The June solstice marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the shortest in the Southern Hemisphere. The Sun reaches its highest point in the sky.

The Southern Delta Aquariids produce steady rates of faint meteors over several weeks. Best viewed from southern latitudes where the radiant climbs higher in the sky.

A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon completely blocks the Sun, revealing the solar corona. The path of totality is a narrow band across Earth's surface.

The Perseids are the most popular meteor shower of the year, producing up to 100 bright meteors per hour including many fireballs. Best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere during warm summer nights.

A partial lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes between the Sun and Moon, casting a shadow on the Moon. Part of the Moon enters Earth's umbral shadow.

The September (autumnal) equinox marks the moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator moving southward. Day and night are approximately equal in length worldwide.

The Draconids are unusual because they are best viewed in the early evening rather than after midnight. They are typically modest but can produce rare outbursts of hundreds of meteors per hour.

The Orionids are the second meteor shower caused by debris from Halley's Comet. They produce fast, bright meteors that often leave persistent trains visible for several seconds.

The Leonids are known for producing spectacular meteor storms approximately every 33 years. In typical years they produce fast, bright meteors with a modest hourly rate.

The Geminids are the strongest and most reliable annual meteor shower, producing up to 150 multicoloured meteors per hour. Unusually, they originate from an asteroid rather than a comet.

The December solstice marks the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the longest in the Southern Hemisphere. The Sun reaches its lowest point in the sky.

The Ursids are a modest shower best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere. They peak near the December solstice and occasionally produce short bursts of 25+ meteors per hour.