SkyEye

Welcome to SkyEye, your guide to this year's celestial events!

All dates are in UT. Planetary positions are geocentric apparent places, referred to the true equator and equinox of date.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

January

The light of the Full Moon will wash out the peak of the Quadrantid meteor shower early this month. Mercury begins the year in the morning sky but is already heading back towards the eastern horizon, undergoing superior conjunction in the latter part of January. Its next appearance will be in the west in what will be the best evening apparition of the year for observers in northern temperate latitudes. Venus is absent from the sky as it undergoes superior conjunction this month, but it will appear as the evening star very low in the west by the beginning of February. The red planet Mars is also at conjunction this month and not on view. Jupiter, on the other hand, is at opposition and is visible all night in the constellation of Gemini. The rings of Saturn are at their most closed at the beginning of 2026, but they will eventually widen out to an opening angle of 9° later this year. Saturn sets before midnight; it is found in the constellation of Aquarius as the month commences but moves into the constellation of Pisces mid-month. Uranus is located in the constellation of Taurus, moving back and forth between the Hyades and Pleiades open clusters. This sixth-magnitude planet is best seen from the northern hemisphere where it does not set until after midnight. Neptune is in Pisces and like Saturn, sets before midnight. A telescope is needed to view this eighth-magnitude object.

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February

Viewing of the minor meteor shower known as the α-Centaurids is somewhat hampered by the waning gibbous Moon. The first eclipse of the year, an annular solar eclipse, occurs on 17 February. The best evening apparition of Mercury for astronomers in northern temperate latitudes takes place this month but look for this elusive planet early in the month as it is dimming throughout, ending February at second magnitude. Venus is the evening star after having undergone superior conjunction last month. It is extremely low in the west at sunset and is at its minimum magnitude of −3.9. Mars was missing last month due to its close proximity to the Sun and it is now only barely visible low in the east at dawn. It is found in the constellation of Capricornus for most of the month, moving into the adjacent constellation of Aquarius just before the end of February. Jupiter is prominent as it retrogrades through the constellation of Gemini. It was at opposition last month and is visible as soon as darkness falls. Saturn and Neptune are less than a degree apart in the constellation of Pisces. This month they will complete their triple conjunction in right ascension which began last year and also undergo a single conjunction in ecliptic longitude. Both planets are beginning to disappear in evening twilight as conjunction with the Sun beckons next month. Sixth-magnitude Uranus return to direct motion early in the month in the constellation of Taurus, reversing course away from the Pleiades open cluster and heading back in the general direction of the Hyades. It sets after midnight for northern hemisphere observers.

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March

On 3 March, the Full Moon takes part in the only total lunar eclipse this year. Mercury vanishes from the evening sky, undergoing inferior conjunction early in March, and then reappearing in the east at dawn in what will be its best morning apparition of 2026 for planet watchers south of the equator. Venus, in its guise as the evening star, is slowly gaining altitude in the west at sunset and is current best seen from northern latitudes. Mars, moving through the constellation of Aquarius, remains mired in morning twilight but is getting easier to see from the southern hemisphere as it rises ever higher above the eastern horizon. Jupiter continues to dominate the constellation of Gemini and sets after midnight for favoured northern hemisphere observers. It dims slightly as it gets further from Earth, ending the month at a still-brilliant magnitude −2.2. Both Saturn and Neptune are at conjunction with the Sun this month and are lost to view. Uranus continues to creep through the constellation of Taurus but but look for it as soon as skies darken as it is an evening sky object only.

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April

The April Lyrid meteor shower late in the month are well-served by dark skies with the light from the waxing crescent Moon unlikely to provide any interference. Unfortunately, the radiant of the π-Puppid shower is aloft primarily before midnight so there will be some lunar light issues. Barely visible from northern temperate latitudes, Mercury appears high above the eastern horizon at dawn for early risers in the southern hemisphere. It brightens throughout the month. Venus is the evening star and is best viewed from the northern hemisphere this month and next. Mars moves from the constellation Aquarius to the constellation Pisces early in April, dipping into the non-zodiacal constellation of Cetus for three days later in the month. It remains hidden in morning twilight for observers in the north but is well above the eastern horizon from southern hemisphere vantage points. Jupiter is still the brightest star-like object in the constellation of Gemini and is well aloft by the time darkness falls. It is best seen from the northern hemisphere where it sets on or after midnight. Saturn was at conjunction last month and is just appearing low in the east at dawn. It begins the month in Pisces but soon moves into neighbouring Cetus where it will stay for two months. Uranus is in the constellation of Taurus but it sets by mid-evening so seek it out as soon as skies turn dark. Like Saturn, Neptune was at conjunction last month and now appears in the east before sunrise. Located in Pisces, the eighth-magnitude planet may be just visible to southern hemisphere observers armed with telescopes by the end of the month. Two dwarf planets 136108 Haumea and 136472 Makemake both come to opposition this month but at seventeenth magnitude, are probably out of reach for most amateur astronomers.

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May

The peak of the annual η-Aquariid meteor shower early in the month is ruined by the light of the waning gibbous Moon. The Full Moon makes two appearances in May, with the second one popularly known as a Blue Moon. Mercury vanishes from the morning sky early in the month. After undergoing superior conjunction in mid-May, it reappears in the west after sunset and is 10° or more above the horizon by the beginning of June. The best views of the evening star still belong to the northern hemisphere but this will change next month when southern observers will see Venus rise ever higher above the horizon. Mars is finally beginning to distance itself from the rising Sun as seen from northern temperate latitudes but it is still best viewed from the southern hemisphere. The red planet is strictly a morning sky object and passes from the constellation Pisces to the constellation Aries mid-month. At magnitude −2.0, Jupiter looks like the brightest "star" in the constellation of Gemini. It is already above the horizon at nightfall and sets by midnight. Saturn resides in the non-zodical constellation of Cetus and rises during the early morning hours. It is best viewed from the southern hemisphere. Uranus is at conjunction and is lost to view in the Sun's glare. It actually travels behind the Sun's disk rather than passing north or south of our star. Faint Neptune is located in Pisces, not far from Saturn, and is also a morning sky object.

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June

Moonlight does not affect radio observations of the Daytime Arietid meteor shower but the waxing gibbous Moon at the end of the month will likely affect visual observations of the minor shower known as the June Boötids. The evening apparition of Mercury continues with the tiny planet ascending above the western horizon until around mid-month when it reaches its greatest elongation east. It begins the month brighter than zero magnitude but dims to second magnitude by July. The evening star is no longer climbing away from the setting Sun for planet watchers in northern temperate latitudes but it does continue to get higher every night for southern hemisphere observers. The two brightest planets in the sky, Venus and Jupiter, are less than 2° apart early in the month. The proximity of Venus to Jupiter in the west after sunset is a sure sign that conjunction with the Sun is not far off for the gas giant. Look for the largest planet in the solar system in the constellation Cancer. Mars is slowly becoming easier to spot above the eastern horizon for early birds in the northern hemisphere but it is best viewed from southern vantage points. The red planet moves from the constellation Aries to the constellation Taurus during June. Saturn leaves the constellation Cetus to return to the zodiac, namely, the constellation Pisces, early in June. It rises around or just after midnight for most locations. Sixth-magnitude Uranus is in Taurus and will be difficult to see low in the east before sunrise. A telescope will be necessary to see Neptune in Pisces. It rises around or just before midnight by the end of the month.

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July

The Full Moon ruins any opportunity to view the various meteor showers which peak at the end of the month. Mercury has already vanished from the west for northern observers but those in the southern hemisphere may catch a glimpse of the tiny planet early in the month before it undergoes inferior conjunction in mid-July. Afterwards, it rises quickly above the eastern horizon as dawn brightens the sky. Venus continues its reign as the evening star. It is descending back towards the western horizon for those seeking it from northern temperate latitudes but continues to gain altitude as seen from the southern hemisphere. Mars, found in the constellation of Taurus this month, has a very close encounter with sixth-magnitude Uranus, with the two planets appearing 0.1° apart in the morning sky. Early risers in northern temperate latitudes now have the best views of the red planet as well as the green ice giant. The largest planet in the solar system may be visible low in the west after sunset but Jupiter is soon lost to view as it undergoes conjunction with the Sun near the end of the month. Saturn, on the other hand, reaches west quadrature early in July and begins rising during evening hours. The rings have been opening wider all year and reach a maximum opening angle of −9.2° this month, before closing up again. Look for Saturn in the constellation of Pisces where it begins retrograde motion late in the month. Like its neighbour Saturn, Neptune is located in Pisces and goes into retrograde motion this month, albeit about three weeks earlier than the ringed planet. The eighth-magnitude ice giant now rises before midnight for all observers. Ninth-magnitude asteroid 3 Juno and fifteenth-magnitude dwarf planet 134340 Pluto both come to opposition this month.

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August

The nearly New Moon provides perfect conditions for enjoying the famous Perseid meteor shower which peaks this month. This same New Moon will also totally eclipse the Sun so it is just possible that a Perseid or two might be seen during totality! A partial lunar eclipse at the end of the month concludes this year's eclipse season. Mercury is visible in the morning hours and is at its maximum altitude in the first few days of the month. It spends the rest of this dawn apparition descending towards the eastern horizon, disappearing before superior conjunction at the end of August. Venus soars high above the western horizon for southern hemisphere viewers, not starting its descent back towards the Sun until late in the month. However, the evening star is already quite low in the sky at sunset for observers living further north. However, those same northern astronomers are getting the best views of Mars. It is still strictly a morning sky object but is now rising well ahead of the Sun when seen from northern temperate latitudes. It leaves the constellation Taurus for the constellation Gemini mid-month, passing by the open cluster M35 shortly afterwards. Jupiter was at conjunction late last month and only reluctantly appears in the east before sunrise late in August. It is found in the constellation of Cancer. First-magnitude Saturn is rises during evening hours in the constellation of Pisces. Faint Uranus slowly moves through Taurus, arriving at west quadrature in the closing days of August. It is primarily a morning sky object although it is starting to rise before midnight for observers in northern temperate latitudes. Neptune, the most distant planet in the solar system, is found in Pisces and rises during the early evening hours as it edges closer to opposition next month.

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September

The waning gibbous Moon obliterates the peak of the minor Aurigid meteor shower at the beginning of the month. However, the September ε-Perseids have their maximum activity just before New Moon so conditions should be very good for watching this shower. Mercury returns to the west from now until November, in what is the best evening apparition for southern hemisphere observers. Those in northern temperate latitudes will be hard-pressed to see the tiny planet close to the western horizon after sunset. The evening star continues to impress in southern hemisphere skies but is slowly making its way back towards the western horizon. However, the bright planet disappears from view before the end of the month for those pursuing Venus from the north. Mars atones for the lack of an evening star by appearing around midnight for those in the northern hemisphere but remains confined to the morning sky for astronomers inhabiting southern latitudes. The red planet leaves the constellation of Gemini for the constellation of Cancer late in the month. Jupiter, the brightest of the superior planets, is already in Cancer at the beginning of the month but it moves into the constellation of Leo before October. Saturn has been in retrograde since late July and moves from the constellation of Pisces into the non-zodiacal constellation of Cetus early in August. It is rising closer and closer to sunset as it approaches opposition next month. Uranus entered the year in retrograde and returns to that direction this month, reversing course across the constellation of Taurus. It rises before midnight for all observers but is best seen from the northern hemisphere. Found in Pisces this year, Neptune finally reaches opposition late in September, meaning the planet is visible for most of the night this month and next. However, a telescope and a dark, moonless night will be necessary to spot this eighth-magnitude world. Unfortunately, Full Moon coincides with the exact day of opposition.

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October

The Taurid meteor shower complex is already active but does not come to maximum activity until next month. The October Camelopardalid and Draconid meteor showers peak just ahead of New Moon which leads to excellent observing conditions for these minor showers. However, the Orionids may be adversely affected by light from the waxing gibbous Moon later in October. Obviously, the phase of the moon on the first of the month is irrelevant to observations of the Daytime Sextanids, detectable at radio wavelengths. Mercury continues to dazzle southern hemisphere planet watchers as it continues its ascent above the western horizon for the first half of the month. It then plummets back towards the Sun but may be visible for much of the month. However, this is an almost non-existent evening apparition for observers situated in northern latitudes. Venus is already below the western horizon for those in the northern hemisphere and it plunges towards the Sun as seen from the southern hemisphere, disappearing late in October. It reappears as the morning star in the last days of the month. Mars appears in the sky around or just before midnight for astronomers in northern temperate latitudes but remains firmly ensconced in the morning sky when sought from positions further south. It dives right through the middle of the Beehive open cluster on 11 October, leading to some interesting astrophotograpical opportunities. The red planet departs the constellation of Cancer for the neighbouring constellation of Leo near the end of the month. Jupiter is also in Leo; the red planet will catch up with the gas giant next month. Saturn is at opposition early in October, rising as the Sun sets and visible all night. At magnitude +0.3, it is easily the brightest star-like object in the constellation of Cetus. Located in the constellation of Taurus, Uranus is an evening sky object, rising earlier for those in northern latitudes than those in the south. Just past opposition, Neptune is visible for most of the night in the constellation of Pisces. However, it cannot be seen with the naked eye as it is only eighth magnitude. Two asteroids, 2 Pallas and 4 Vesta, reach opposition, with sixth-magnitude 4 Vesta just on the cusp of naked-eye visibility under perfect seeing conditions. The trans-Neptunian dwarf planet 136199 Eris is also at opposition in October but at eigthteenth magnitude, is out of reach for most amateurs.

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November

Observations of the peak of the Southern Taurids may be slightly affected by moonlight in the first week of the month. The Northern Taurids fare better, with maximum activity taking place shortly after New Moon. The famous Leonids peak just after the First Quarter Moon but the minor α-Monocerotid meteor shower may be washed out a few days later. After undergoing its final inferior conjunction of the year, Mercury appears in the east before sunrise in a morning apparition that favours the northern temperate latitudes. It will reach its maximum altitude at sunrise around the time of greatest elongation west. Venus is now the morning star, well-placed for viewing from either hemisphere later in the month. It reaches a maximum magnitude of −4.7 in the final week of November. Located in the constellation of Leo, both Mars and Jupiter reach west quadrature this month, but only the red planet takes on a distinctly gibbous appearance in the telescope. Mars closes in on the vastly brighter Jupiter mid-month, with the two naked-eye planets appearing just over a degree apart. Both planets rise before midnight for all observers. Saturn continues its journey through the constellation of Cetus this month. Now past opposition, the ringed planet is already aloft as night falls and it sets after midnight. Uranus is at its brightest this month, arriving at opposition in late November. It is found in the constellation of Taurus and is dimly visible (it is only sixth magnitude after all) throughout the night. Neptune is primarly an evening sky object, setting after midnight, and found in the constellation of Pisces.

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December

The variable Phoenicid meteor shower peaks early in the month but observations will be affected by the light of the Last Quarter Moon. Better conditions await the Puppid-Velids and the σ-Hydrids which reach maximum activity around the time of the New Moon. This is also a good year to observe the major Geminid meteor shower mid-month but light from the waxing gibbous Moon will seriously impact viewing opportunities for the Ursids a week later. Mercury is already heading back towards the eastern horizon and will vanish from the morning sky before the end of the year. The southern hemisphere is again favoured during this morning apparition of Venus as the bright planet continues to ascend above the eastern horizon. However, those in northern temperate latitudes are already watching the morning star lose altitude. Mars, still located in the constellation of Leo and rising in late evening, passes by the spiral galaxies M95 and M96 in the latter part of the month. Jupiter now trails Mars in Leo but it also rises before midnight. The rings of Saturn have been closing up since their maximum opening in July, reaching a minimum of −6.1° this month before opening up again. The first-magnitude planet is located in the constellation of Cetus and reaches east quadrature just before the end of the year, meaning it is already above the horizon at sunset and sets around midnight. It returns to direct motion mid-December. Still found retrograding in the constellation of Taurus, sixth-magnitude Uranus is visible as soon as skies darken and does not set until well after midnight. Like Saturn, the ice giant Neptune ends its retrogression mid-month and returns to direct motion across the sky. It reaches east quadrature about ten days later and sets around midnight in the constellation of Pisces.

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