8 months ago
2026's Cosmic Calendar Highlights Moon Missions and Solar Eclipses
In 2026, there are lots of exciting space events happening.
Astronauts will visit the moon for the first time in over 50 years, and there will be many robotic moon landings, including one by Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin.
The sun will put on a show with a ring-of-fire eclipse in February and a total solar eclipse in August.
There will also be supermoons, planetary alignments, and beautiful auroras.
A comet from another star system, called 3I/Atlas, will be visible with telescopes but is fading.
Scientists are excited about these events and expect more interstellar visitors in the future.
Astronauts and robotic landers will visit the moon in 2026, including NASA's Artemis program and Blue Origin's Blue Moon.
The sun will generate buzz with a ring-of-fire eclipse in February and a total solar eclipse in August.
Six planets will align in the sky in February, with Mars joining in August.
Three supermoons will light up the night skies in January, November, and December.
Auroras are expected due to solar activity, with potential geomagnetic storms.
- Who
- NASA, Blue Origin, China, U.S. companies, and astronomers
- What
- Upcoming moon missions, solar eclipses, planetary alignments, supermoons, and auroras
- Where
- Various locations including the moon, Earth, and the solar system
- When
- Throughout 2026
- Why
- To advance space exploration, scientific research, and public interest in astronomy
Key facts
- Moon Missions
- Includes NASA's Artemis program, Blue Origin's Blue Moon, and missions by China and U.S. companies
- Solar Eclipses
- Ring-of-fire eclipse in February and total solar eclipse in August
- Comet 3I/Atlas
- Interstellar comet visible with telescopes, fading after December 2025
- Planetary Alignment
- Six planets visible in February, with Mars joining in August
- Supermoons
- Three supermoons in January, November, and December 2026
- Auroras
- Expected due to solar activity, with potential geomagnetic storms
Quotes
NASA’s Paul Chodas
NASA scientist who has been on the lookout for interstellar visitors since the 1980s
“I can’t believe it’s taken this long to find three.”
indianexpress.com
NASA’s upcoming moonshot commander Reid Wiseman
Commander of NASA's upcoming moonshot mission
“There’s a good chance he and his crew will be the first to lay eyeballs on large swaths of the lunar far side that were missed by the Apollo astronauts a half-century ago.”
indianexpress.com
Rob Steenburgh
Space weather forecaster at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
“2026 will be an exciting year for space weather enthusiasts”
indianexpress.com
