Astroblog

The First Quarter Moon is Sunday December 28. Saturn is in the north-western sky and is close to the waxing Moon on the 27th. Jupiter is rising before astronomical twilight but is still best in the morning sky near the bright star Pollux. 

The First Quarter Moon is Sunday December 28.

Labels: weekly sky

The table below shows significant astronomical events that can be seen with the unaided eye or minimal equipment in 2026 in Australia (and to some degree elsewhere in the Southern Hemisphere, ocultations and eclipses are very region specific). 

This year we get a good Total Lunar eclipse visible Australia wide and at a good time in the evening so all can watch. There are good oppositions of Jupiter and Saturn and a daytime occultation of Jupiter.

As well we have some fantastic parings and lineups and good meteor showers.

Close pairings of the Moon and bright planets are given special attention as not only is the Moon a ready guide to locating the planets if you are not familiar with them, these massings are rather beautiful. 

Special events are bolded. T indicates a telescope only event. As well as apogee and perigee moons I have also included times when the Lunar X is visible at First Quarter. 

Date	Event
January
03 January 2026	Full Moon
04 January 2026	Earth at Perihelion.
04 January 2026	Moon close to Jupiter in the morning
07 January 2026	Moon close to Regulus in the morning.
10 January 2026	Jupiter at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth
11 January 2026	Moon close to Spica
15 January 2026	Moon close to Antares in the morning (occultation 4:37 AEDST, 18:00–19:22 UT 14th)
23 January 2026	Saturn near crescent Moon in evening (4° apart)
26 January 2026	First Quarter
28 January 2026	Moon near Pleiades
30 January 2026	Moon at perigee.
31 January 2026	Moon close to Jupiter
February
01 February 2026	Moon near Beehive cluster (1.3° apart)
02 February 2026	Full Moon Moon near Regulus
11 February 2026	Moon near Antares
020 February 2026	Moon near Saturn in evening twilight (5° apart)
24 February 2026	Moon near Pleiades
24 February 2026	waxing Moon near Jupiter in the evening (4° apart)
24 February 2026	"Lunar X" visible in telescopes at twilight (from 07:31 UT on for ~ 4 hours) T (perigee First Quarter)
27 February 2026	Moon close to Jupiter (4° apart)
March
2 March 2026	Moon Near Regulus (0.4° apart)
3 March 2026	Full Moon, Total Luna Eclipse early evening
10 March 2026	Moon near Antares
16 March 2026	Mercury and Mars close in the morning twilight (4° apart)
21 March 2026	Earth at Equinox
26 March 2026	Moon close to Jupiter (4° apart)
29 March 2026	Moon close to Regulus (closest early morning 30th)
April
02 April 2026	Full Moon
07 April 2026	Moon close to Antares (0.7° apart)
15-16 April 2026	Thin crescent Moon forms lineup with Mercury, Mars and Saturn in the Morning twilight. Mars around 4° from thin crescent Moon on the 16th
19 April 2026	Venus near to thin crescent moon in evening twilight (4.7° apart)
19 -22 April 2026	Mercury, Mars and Saturn form a triangle in the morning twilight. Mercury and Saturn closest on the 20th.
23 April 2026	Waxing Moon close to Jupiter (3.6° apart) in the evening
24 April 2026	"Lunar X" visible from  10:50 UT T
26 April 2026	Waxing moon close to Regulus in early evening
May
02 May 2026	Full Moon
02 May 2026	Venus close to the Red star Aldebaran in the evening twilight
04 May 2026	Moon close to Antares in the morning twilight
6-7 May 2026	Eta Aquariid meteor shower
14 May 2026	Crescent Moon near Saturn in the morning twilight (3°)
15 May 2026	Crescent Moon near Mars in the morning twilight (3°)
19 May 2026	Crescent Moon near Venus in the evening twilight (3°)
20 May 2026	Crescent Moon near Jupiter in the evening twilight (3°)
23 May 2026	Moon close to Antares in the evening twilight (0.4°)
31 May 2026	Full Moon (Blue Moon and apogee Moon, apogee June 1 )
June
08 June 2026	Venus near to Pollux in the evening twilight (5°)
10 June 2026	Venus close to Jupiter in the evening twilight (2°) with Mercury below
17 June 2026	Crescent Moon close to Jupiter in the evening twilight, with Mercury below and Venus above forming a kite pattern
18 June 2026	Waxing Moon close to Venus in evening twilight (0.3°)
21 June 2026	Earth at solstice
22 June 2026	First Quarter, Lunar X visible at 0941 UT T
25 June 2026	Mercury and Jupiter close in the evening twilight forming a line with Venus
29 June 2026	Mars near the Pleiades
July
04 July 2026	Mars  close to Uranus (0.5°) between Pleiades and Hyades, Binocular or Telescope.
07 July 2026	Earth at aphelion
10 July	Venus and the bright star Regulus close.
12 July 2026	Mars near bright red star Aldebaran (5° apart)
17 July 2026	Crescent Moon  in between Regulus and Venus  in the evening twilight
21 July 2026	Moon near Spica
25 July	Moon near Antares, closest in morning sky
29-30 July 2026	Southern Delta Aquarids meteor shower in morning
30 July 2026	Full Moon
August
07 August 2026	Moon close to the Pleiades.
09 August 2026	Moon close to Mars: 4.4° S
15 August 2026	Venus, crescent Moon and Spica form a line in evening sky
16 August 2025	Venus near to the crescent Moon (2°) in the evening sky
17 August 2026	Moon  near Spica (3° apart) in the evening sky
20 August 2026	Lunar X visible 06:30 UT T, First Quarter Moon
21 August 2026	Moon close to Antares: 0.7°
28 August 2026	Full Moon, partial Lunar eclipse
September
01 September 2026	Venus close to Spica: 1.4° in the evening sky
07 September 2026	Moon close to Mars: 3°  in the morning sky
09 September 2026	Moon close to Jupiter: 0.8° in the morning twilight.
14 September 2026	Venus close to crescent Moon (0.6° apart) with Spica and Mercury below in the evening.
17 September 2026	Moon close to Antares in the evening sky
19 September 2026	Apogee First Quarter Moon
23 September 2026	Earth at Equinox
26 September 2026	Mercury very close to Spica: 0.9° in the evening twilight. With Venus above.
27 September 2026	Full Moon.
October
04 October 2026	Saturn Opposition
05 October 2026	Moon near Mars: 1.2° in the morning
06 October 2026	Moon close to Jupiter in the morning
07 October 2026	Mercury near Venus: 5° in the evening twilight.
12 October 2026	Mars in the heart of the Beehive cluster
12 October 2026	Moon near Venus 3.3° in the evening twilight with Mercury above
13 October 2026	Moon near Mercury 2.3° in the evening twilight with Venus below
21-22 October 2026	Orionid meteor shower
28 October 2026	Moon close to the Pleiades: 1°
November
2 November 2026	Waning Moon near near Mars (1° apart)  in the late morning sky
3 November 2026	Waning Moon very near Jupiter (0.5° apart)  in the morning sky,  daytime occultation. Visible from most of Australia except NE QLD. T
7 November 2026	Thin crescent moon close to Venus, with Spica nearby, in the morning twilight.
10 November 2026	Venus close to Spica in morning twilight sky
16 November 2026	Mars close to Jupiter in the morning twilight, forming a triangle with Regulus.
18/19 November 2026	Leonid Meteor Shower
25 November 2026	Full Moon (almost perigee Moon), Mars close to Regulus, forming a triangle with Jupiter, in the morning twilight.
26 November 2026	Opposition of Uranus (not far from Pleiades, easy binocular target, possible unaided eye)
28 November 2026	Jupiter, Mars and Regulus form a triangle
December
1 December 2026	Waning Moon close to Mars, forming an attractive grouping with Jupiter and Regulus
13 December 2026	Jupiter closest to Regulus (2° apart) in morning sky, forming a shallow triangle with Mars.
14/15 December 2026	Geminid Meteor shower in the morning
17 December 2026	First Quarter Moon, Luna X visible 09:35 UT T
22 December 2026	Earth at solstice
24 December 2025	Perigee Full Moon (“Super Moon”)
28 December 2025	Jupiter close to the waning Moon in the morning twilight, forming a triangle with Regulus and with Mars nearby.

Labels: Asteroid, Conjunction, eclipse, Jupiter, Mars, Moon, Opposition, Saturn, unaided eye, Venus, Yearly Sky Events

The New Moon is Saturday December 20. The Earth is at Solstice on the 22nd. Saturn is in the north-western sky. Jupiter is rising near astronomical twilight but is still best in the morning sky near the bright star Pollux. Mercury is visible deep in the twilight near the Moon on the 19th.

The New Moon is Saturday December 20.The Earth is at Solstice, when the days are longest, on the 22nd.

Labels: weekly sky

The Last Quarter Moon is Friday December 12. Saturn is high in the north-western sky. Jupiter is visible in the morning sky near the bright star Pollux. Jupiter is rising before midnight. Jupiter is still best in the morning. Geminid meteor shower 14th and 15th. Mercury is visible deep in the twilight near the Moon on the 18th.

The Last Quarter Moon is Friday December 12.  The Moon is at apogee, when it is furthest from the Earth, on the 17th.

Labels: weekly sky

The northern horizon at 3:13 am ACDST as seen from Adelaide on Sunday December 14 when the Geminid radiant is at its highest. The Geminid radiant is marked with a starburst. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at  a similar latitude and the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen).	The northern horizon at 1:46am AEST as seen from Brisbane on on Sunday December 14 when the Geminid radiant is at its highest. The Geminid radiant is marked with a starburst. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at  a similar latitude and the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen).	The northern horizon at 3:17 am AEDST as seen from Melbourne on Sunday December 14 when the Geminid radiant is at its highest. The Geminid radiant is marked with a starburst. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at  a similar latitude and the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen).

This year is a modest year for the Geminid meteor shower. The Geminids are an unusual meteor shower in that their parent body is 3200 Phaethon, an asteroid, rather than a comet. It is speculated though that Phaeton is actually a "gassed out" comet, and so the debris that makes up the Geminids may still be cometary particles, but is more likely broken rock fragments from its close approach to the sun.

The Geminids are usually a fairly reliable meteor shower but this year there will be some  interference from the Moon.

The Geminids have a broad peak and normally show good activity well before and after the peak on the day before and after. The nominal peak is December 14, 08h UT, that means in Australia this year most of the activity is concentrated on the morning of the 14th after sunrise, but there will still be decent rates before twilight, and on the 15th as well.

As the radiant doesn't rise until just before midnight (daylight saving time) in most of Australia and the radiant is highest (with the best meteor rates) in the early hours in a narrow band around 3 am local time, so you are going to lose some sleep for this.  Fortunately this is a Sunday, so you can sleep in after. 

Unfortunately, both Chrome and Firefox have changed their security settings to prevent plugins from running, and the flux estimator only runs under Internet Explorer now OR Edge in Internet Explorer mode (click on the triple dots once the page has loaded ), you have to have the JAVA plug-in loaded.

You can follow the progress of the shower at the IMO Geminids Live page. 

At 3.00 am in the morning AEDST (midnight, AEST) Castor (alpha Geminorum) is about four hand-spans above the horizon and almost due north. Pollux, the other twin, is less than a hand-span to the right again and below Castor. The radiant is just below Pollux. The best rates are when the radiant is highest, when it is due north, the Moon is low to the horizon and before astronomical twilight. This is around 3:30 am ACDST Adelaide ~3:00 ACST Darwin, ~1-1:30 am local time Perth and Brisbane and ~ 2:30-3:00 am AEDST Melbourne, Sydney and Hobart.

City	Time Radiant Highest	Moon Rise	Astronomical Twilight
Adelaide ACDST	3:13	2:09	4:09
Brisbane AEST	1:46	1:43	3:14
Darwin ACST	2:43	2:51	4:57
Hobart AEDST	2:38	1:24	2:39
Melbourne AEDST	3:17	2:08	4:00
Perth AWST	2:13	2:11	3:25
Sydney AEDST	2:52	1:46	3:56

When you get up, allow at least 5 minutes for your eyes to adjust and become dark adapted (even if you have stumbled out of bed in the dark, here's some hints on dark adaption of your eyes so you can see meteors better). 

Labels: geminids, Meteors, unaided eye

The Full Moon is Friday December 5. This is a perigee ("super") Full Moon. Saturn is high in the north-western sky. Jupiter is visible in the morning sky near the bright star Pollux. Jupiter is rising before midnight and is close to the waning moon on the 7th. Jupiter is still best in the morning.

The Full Moon is Friday December 5. This is a perigee ("super") Full Moon. The Moon is at Perigee, when it is closest to the Earth, on the 4th.

Labels: weekly sky

To be read in conjunction with listening to the second half of the Astrophiz November Sky Guide.
https://soundcloud.com/astrophiz/novemberskyguide224 Eastern sky on Sunday, December 7  as seen from Adelaide at 23:52 ACDST.  Jupiter is rising and is close to the waning Moon. 

December
5 December 2025	Perigee Full Moon ("super" Moon)
7 December 2025	Jupiter near waning Moon (4° apart) in morning sky, forming a line with the bright star Pollux.
14/15 December 2025	Geminid Meteor shower in the morning, some Moon interference
19 December 2023	Mercury, the thin Crescent Moon and the bright star Antares from a triangle low in the morning twilight, might need binoculars
22 December 2025	Earth is at Solstice
27 December 2025	Nearly First Quarter Moon near near Saturn (4° apart)  in the early evening sky

Moon:

December 4	Moon at perigee
December 5	Full Moon (perigee full Moon)
December 12	Last Quarter Moon (ideal for star gazing)
December 17	Moon at apogee
December 20	New Moon (also ideal for star gazing)
December 28	First Quarter Moon

 

Meteor Shower:
Geminids December the 14th contends with a last Quarter moon.

Locations on the same latitude as...	December 12	December 13	December 14 (peak)	December 15
Darwin	7 meteors/hr	14 meteors/hr	36 meteors/hr	29 meteors/hr
Brisbane/Perth	5 meteors/hr	9 meteors/hr	23 meteors/hr	23 meteors/hr
Sydney/Adelaide/Canberra	4 meteors/hr	7 meteors/hr	18 meteors/hr	16 meteors/hr

Sky looking south on Saturday December 20 s seen from Adelaide at 22:15 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset). 

Stars:

 In the Southern sky the dwarf galaxies, the Magellanic clouds, are rising. The Large Magellanic cloud will be in an excellent viewing position in the late evening.  The Large Magellanic cloud and the Tarantula nebula are magnificent objects.

If you look due South after astronomical twilight (and hour and a half after sunset) in a dark sky location you will see what looks like two wispy clouds but unlike clouds they don’t move, these are the Magellanic clouds, the dwarf companion galaxies to ours. The largest of the wisps, to the left of due south is the large Magellanic cloud. The Large Magellanic cloud lies at an approximate distance of 163,000 light years from us. The LMC has a prominent bar in its central region, which indicates that it may have previously been a barred spiral galaxy.

A line through Sirius and Canopus carried on will piece the heart of the LMC. Within the hazy disk of the LMC is a fuzzy star, this is the tarantula nebula. While it is not much to the unaided eye, and a mere fuzzy patch in binoculars, in a telescope it is outstanding. It is the most active star-forming region in the 30-odd galaxies including the Milky Way that make up the Local Group In a telescope you can see the spidery appearance for which it is named, a dozen or so incredibly hot massive stars at the centre of long tendrils of hot gas (why not octopus?).

There are also multiple open clusters and nebula and a globular cluster to explore with binoculars, so you can spend quite a bit of time on the LMC alone. In a telescope they are even better. Just south of the Tarantula nebula is a complex of clusters that repays exploration.

As well, the skies feature Orion the Hunter striding across the sky, The distinctive V shape of the Taurus the bull, and the beautiful Pleiades cluster. For us in the southern hemisphere the Pleaides are almost due moth at astronomical twilight. Try counting how many stars you see. Another name for the Pleiades is the seven sisters, can you see seven stars? 

The Southern Pleiades, a group of stars clustered around the star theta carina, is now readily visible two hand-spans above the southern cross. 

The Christmas holiday season will be a fantastic time to explore our skies.

Labels: Monthly sky, unaideed eye