A Year of Celestial Spectacles
The Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (IAC) has detailed all the events that will unfold in the archipelago’s skies throughout 2026. It promises to be a year of astronomical observation featuring an eclipse, several comets, eagerly awaited meteor showers, plus lunar and planetary phenomena.
Meteor Showers and a Solar Eclipse
According to the research centre, the astronomical year begins soon: the Quadrantid meteor shower is expected on 3rd January, though observations will be limited by the coincidence with a full moon. It is one of the most intense showers each year, with up to 100 meteors per hour, though it is less well-known than the Perseids as its winter occurrence often makes viewing more challenging. Precisely, the next 12th August is expected to be one of the best days to see the summer’s famous Perseid meteor shower, known as the Tears of Saint Lawrence.
Furthermore, this year coincides with the most striking astronomical phenomenon of the next twelve months: a solar eclipse. Although it is a total occultation, in the Canary Islands it will only be visible as a partial eclipse, approximately between 66% and 74%, as explained by the IAC.
Lunar Phenomena and Earth’s Orbit
The calendar also includes singular phenomena related to our planet’s only satellite, such as the so-called “Blue Moon” on 31st May, occurring when there are two full moons in the same month; the “Black Moon” on 15th June, which will be the smallest moon of the year; and a Supermoon on 24th December, which will be the largest apparent full moon of 2026.
Regarding Earth’s dynamics, perihelion—the point of closest approach to the Sun—will be reached on 4th January, at about 147 million kilometres, while aphelion will occur on 6th July, when the planet will be about 152 million kilometres away. The changing seasons will be marked by the spring and autumn equinoxes on 20th March and 23rd September, and by the summer and winter solstices on 21st June and 21st December, respectively.
Planetary Alignments and Cometary Visitors
The planets will also offer numerous spectacles. Jupiter will be at opposition on 10th January, Saturn on 4th October and Uranus on 25th November. Throughout the year, various notable alignments and conjunctions will occur, including the conjunction of Saturn and Neptune on 20th February, as well as visible encounters of Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn at different times in March, May, August and November.
The observation of minor bodies will be another highlight of 2026, with special attention on the closest approach to Earth of comet C/2025 R31-053, forecast for 27th April, just days after its perihelion passage. The classic meteor showers will keep their appointments, with the Perseids peaking on 12th August and the Geminids on 13th December, both under good viewing conditions.
An Invitation to Look Up
Overall, 2026 is shaping up to be an especially attractive year for astronomical observation, with an agenda packed with events designed for both the scientific community and amateur enthusiasts. From the privileged skies of the Canaries, the IAC encourages everyone to continue exploring the Universe and to protect the quality and darkness of our nights.
The Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (IAC), through its Communication and Scientific Culture Unit (UC3) and in collaboration with the Museum of Science and the Cosmos (MCC) of Museos de Tenerife, has published its traditional calendar of astronomical ephemerides for 2026. The coming year will be marked by a total solar eclipse on 12th August which, although it cannot be seen in its entirety from the Canaries, will be observable as a partial eclipse.
The IAC’s 2026 Calendar is illustrated with an image of comet C/2025 AB (Lemmon), captured from the Teide Observatory by astrophotographer Daniel López of ‘Cielos de Canarias’, together with IAC astrophysicist and science communicator Alfred Rosenberg. This cosmic visitor, composed of ice and dust and barely a kilometre in diameter, developed a tail more than 30 million kilometres long—about 20 times the size of the Sun. The image, however, also reveals a striking contrast: more than a thousand bright streaks corresponding to artificial satellites—of the more than 13,000 currently orbiting Earth—cross the field of view and are superimposed on the comet.
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