In the sky
Sky calendar
What happens in the sky over the next twelve months: eclipses, supermoons, meteor showers, the changing of the seasons and the behaviour of the planets. Everything is calculated, not estimated.
Dates and times are shown in your time zone once the page has loaded; without JavaScript they are in Europe/London.
October 2026
Meteor shower: Draconids
Expected peak around this time (margin 24 hours); varies from year to year, sometimes an outburst; moonlight: favourable (little moonlight).
Pluto turns direct again
Meteor shower: Orionids
Peak around this time (a margin of 24 hours); up to about 20 meteors per hour under ideal conditions; moonlight: poor (a lot of moonlight).
Mercury turns retrograde
In Scorpio, at 21°.
November 2026
Mercury turns direct again
In Scorpio, at 5°.
Venus turns direct again
In Libra, at 23°.
Conjunction of Mars and Jupiter
1.2° apart.
Meteor shower: Leonids
Peak around this time (a margin of 12 hours); up to about 20 meteors per hour under ideal conditions; moonlight: fair.
Supermoon
The full Moon is 360,754 km from Earth.
Uranus at opposition
Brightness 5.6, in Gemini.
December 2026
Saturn turns direct again
In Aries, at 8°.
Neptune turns direct again
Jupiter turns retrograde
In Leo, at 27°.
Meteor shower: Geminids
Peak around this time (a margin of 12 hours); up to about 120 meteors per hour under ideal conditions; moonlight: fair.
December solstice
Start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and of summer in the Southern Hemisphere.
Meteor shower: Ursids
Peak around this time (a margin of 24 hours); up to about 10 meteors per hour under ideal conditions; moonlight: poor (a lot of moonlight).
Supermoon
The full Moon is 356,729 km from Earth.
January 2027
Meteor shower: Quadrantids
Peak around this time (a margin of 12 hours); up to about 120 meteors per hour under ideal conditions; moonlight: favourable (little moonlight).
Mars turns retrograde
In Virgo, at 10°.
Supermoon
The full Moon is 357,635 km from Earth.
February 2027
Annular solar eclipse
In London: not visible.
Uranus turns direct again
Mercury turns retrograde
In Pisces, at 6°.
Jupiter at opposition
Brightness -2.6, in Leo.
Mars at opposition
Brightness -1.2, in Virgo.
Penumbral lunar eclipse
In London: visible throughout.
Supermoon
The full Moon is 363,296 km from Earth.
March 2027
Mercury turns direct again
In Aquarius, at 21°.
March equinox
Start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and of autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.
April 2027
Mars turns direct again
In Leo, at 21°.
Jupiter turns direct again
In Leo, at 17°.
Meteor shower: Lyrids
Peak around this time (a margin of 24 hours); up to about 20 meteors per hour under ideal conditions; moonlight: poor (a lot of moonlight).
May 2027
Meteor shower: Eta Aquariids
Peak around this time (a margin of 24 hours); up to about 60 meteors per hour under ideal conditions; moonlight: favourable (little moonlight).
Conjunction of Venus and Saturn
0.6° apart.
Pluto turns retrograde
June 2027
Mercury turns retrograde
In Cancer, at 6°.
June solstice
Start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and of winter in the Southern Hemisphere.
July 2027
Mercury turns direct again
In Gemini, at 27°.
Neptune turns retrograde
Penumbral lunar eclipse
In London: not visible.
August 2027
Total solar eclipse
In London: partial, 42% of the Sun covered.
Saturn turns retrograde
In Aries, at 28°.
Meteor shower: Perseids
Peak around this time (a margin of 12 hours); up to about 90 meteors per hour under ideal conditions; moonlight: poor (a lot of moonlight).
Penumbral lunar eclipse
In London: not visible.
September 2027
Uranus turns retrograde
September equinox
Start of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and of spring in the Southern Hemisphere.
Neptune at opposition
Brightness 7.8, in Aries.
Calculated with Astronomy Engine and tested against NASA's eclipse catalogue; meteor shower peaks follow the RASC Observer's Handbook (with a margin of half a day to a day) and the IAU Meteor Data Centre. Sources and licenses