The year 2026 is officially here and is all set to a spectacular one for stargazers. This guide will break down the planetary events, from conjunctions and oppositions to rare planet-star encounters.
Mercury is the smallest part of the planet visible to the naked eye, appearing as an evening star in the western sky or a morning star in the east.
When it rises about an hour before the sun, ensuring a clear and obstructed horizon is crucial for a good view. To the observer, Mercury typically resembles a bright star with a pale, yellowish-white or greyish- brown hue.
Venus, which mainly moves in a nearly circular orbit and a diameter roughly 400 miles smaller than Earth's, shines with a brilliant. Steady light.
Venus will reach a remarkable height in the evening sky on Sept.19 and the morning sky on Nov.29. It is expected to be visible for most of November, during which it will show a striking phase through a telescope.
Mars has long been associated with Ares, the Greek god of war; it shines like a star with a yellowish-orange hue that is often significantly brighter than the stars around it.
Mornings: March 18-Dec.31
The planet 2026 begins lost in the sun’s glare and reaches solar conjunction on Jan.9, when it will be on the distant side of the solar system, roughly 223 million miles from Earth.
The giant planet, which shines with a bright silver luster, has a diameter about 11 times bigger than Earth’s.
Jupiter reaches opposition on Jan.10 and shines brightly from Jan.1-22 at magnitude-2.7 in Gemini. On June 9, Jupiter will pair with Venus in a stunning ‘double planet’ low in the evening twilight.
Saturn gleams as a yellowish-white star of moderate brightness, and is easily invisible to the naked eye.
According to Space.com, Uranus can be seen with the naked eye under very dark sites at magnitude +5.5, and it is easily found with binoculars.
Neptune will remain in Pisces throughout 2026. At magnitude +7.8, it is visible only with binoculars or a telescope, appearing as a bluish-grey disk.
This year will stand out for both causal stargazers and serious astronomers due to a rare series of planetary alignments.