Eclipses, meteor showers and supermoons: dates and where to see them
Every lunar and solar eclipse, meteor shower peak, supermoon and planet opposition in the coming year, with countdowns, times and which cities can see them.
Coming up
October 21, 2026
Orionids meteor shower 2026: peak date and best time to watchShooting stars streak across the sky: up to about 20 an hour from a dark place, fewer this year in bright moonlight.
Naked eyeBest from a dark place
November 17, 2026
Leonids meteor shower 2026: peak date and best time to watchShooting stars streak across the sky: up to about 15 an hour from a dark place.
Naked eyeBest from a dark place
December 14, 2026
Geminids meteor shower 2026: peak date and best time to watchShooting stars streak across the sky: up to about 150 an hour from a dark place.
Naked eyeBest from a dark place
December 24, 2026
Supermoon on December 24, 2026: when and where to see itA full Moon a little closer than usual, so slightly bigger and brighter.
Naked eye
January 4, 2027
Quadrantids meteor shower 2027: peak date and best time to watchShooting stars streak across the sky: up to about 110 an hour from a dark place.
Naked eyeBest from a dark place
January 22, 2027
Supermoon on January 22, 2027: when and where to see itA full Moon a little closer than usual, so slightly bigger and brighter.
Naked eye
February 6, 2027
Annular solar eclipse on February 6, 2027: path, times and where to see itThe Moon covers the middle of the Sun, leaving a bright “ring of fire”.
Eclipse glasses needed
February 11, 2027
Jupiter at opposition 2027: best time to see itJupiter rises at sunset, stays up all night and is at its brightest of the year.
Naked eyeBetter with a small telescope
February 19, 2027
Mars at opposition 2027: best time to see itMars rises at sunset, stays up all night and is at its brightest of the year.
Naked eyeBetter with a small telescope
February 20, 2027
Penumbral lunar eclipse on February 20, 2027: times and where to see itThe Moon dims slightly in Earth's outer shadow: easy to miss.
Naked eye
April 22, 2027
Lyrids meteor shower 2027: peak date and best time to watchShooting stars streak across the sky: up to about 18 an hour from a dark place, fewer this year in bright moonlight.
Naked eyeBest from a dark place
May 6, 2027
Eta Aquariids meteor shower 2027: peak date and best time to watchShooting stars streak across the sky: up to about 50 an hour from a dark place.
Naked eyeBest from a dark place
July 18, 2027
Penumbral lunar eclipse on July 18, 2027: times and where to see itThe Moon dims slightly in Earth's outer shadow: easy to miss.
Naked eye
August 2, 2027
Total solar eclipse on August 2, 2027: path, times and where to see itThe Moon covers the whole Sun: day turns to dusk and the corona appears around a black disc.
Eclipse glasses needed
August 13, 2027
Perseids meteor shower 2027: peak date and best time to watchShooting stars streak across the sky: up to about 100 an hour from a dark place, fewer this year in bright moonlight.
Naked eyeBest from a dark place
August 17, 2027
Penumbral lunar eclipse on August 17, 2027: times and where to see itThe Moon dims slightly in Earth's outer shadow: easy to miss.
Naked eye
October 9, 2027
Draconids meteor shower 2027: peak date and best time to watchShooting stars streak across the sky: up to about 10 an hour from a dark place, fewer this year in bright moonlight.
Naked eyeBest from a dark place
October 18, 2027
Saturn at opposition 2027: best time to see itSaturn rises at sunset, stays up all night and is at its brightest of the year.
Naked eyeBetter with a small telescope
October 21, 2027
Orionids meteor shower 2027: peak date and best time to watchShooting stars streak across the sky: up to about 20 an hour from a dark place, fewer this year in bright moonlight.
Naked eyeBest from a dark place
November 17, 2027
Leonids meteor shower 2027: peak date and best time to watchShooting stars streak across the sky: up to about 15 an hour from a dark place, fewer this year in bright moonlight.
Naked eyeBest from a dark place
Earlier this year
October 9, 2026
Draconids meteor shower 2026: peak date and best time to watchShooting stars streak across the sky: up to about 10 an hour from a dark place.
Naked eyeBest from a dark place
October 4, 2026
Saturn at opposition 2026: best time to see itSaturn rises at sunset, stays up all night and is at its brightest of the year.
Naked eyeBetter with a small telescope
August 28, 2026
Partial lunar eclipse on August 28, 2026: times and where to see itPart of the Moon goes dark as Earth's shadow takes a bite out of it.
Naked eye
August 13, 2026
Perseids meteor shower 2026: peak date and best time to watchShooting stars streak across the sky: up to about 100 an hour from a dark place.
Naked eyeBest from a dark place
August 12, 2026
Total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026: path, times and where to see itThe Moon covers the whole Sun: day turns to dusk and the corona appears around a black disc.
Eclipse glasses needed
May 6, 2026
Eta Aquariids meteor shower 2026: peak date and best time to watchShooting stars streak across the sky: up to about 50 an hour from a dark place, fewer this year in bright moonlight.
Naked eyeBest from a dark place
April 22, 2026
Lyrids meteor shower 2026: peak date and best time to watchShooting stars streak across the sky: up to about 18 an hour from a dark place.
Naked eyeBest from a dark place
March 3, 2026
Total lunar eclipse on March 3, 2026: times and where to see itThe Moon slips fully into Earth's shadow and turns a coppery red.
Naked eye
February 17, 2026
Annular solar eclipse on February 17, 2026: path, times and where to see itThe Moon covers the middle of the Sun, leaving a bright “ring of fire”.
Eclipse glasses needed
January 10, 2026
Jupiter at opposition 2026: best time to see itJupiter rises at sunset, stays up all night and is at its brightest of the year.
Naked eyeBetter with a small telescope
January 4, 2026
Quadrantids meteor shower 2026: peak date and best time to watchShooting stars streak across the sky: up to about 110 an hour from a dark place, fewer this year in bright moonlight.
Naked eyeBest from a dark place
December 14, 2025
Geminids meteor shower 2025: peak date and best time to watchShooting stars streak across the sky: up to about 150 an hour from a dark place.
Naked eyeBest from a dark place
December 4, 2025
Supermoon on December 4, 2025: when and where to see itA full Moon a little closer than usual, so slightly bigger and brighter.
Naked eye
November 17, 2025
Leonids meteor shower 2025: peak date and best time to watchShooting stars streak across the sky: up to about 15 an hour from a dark place.
Naked eyeBest from a dark place
November 5, 2025
Supermoon on November 5, 2025: when and where to see itA full Moon a little closer than usual, so slightly bigger and brighter.
Naked eye
October 21, 2025
Orionids meteor shower 2025: peak date and best time to watchShooting stars streak across the sky: up to about 20 an hour from a dark place.
Naked eyeBest from a dark place