01/01/2026
🚨 Stargazers! January 2026 is packed with spectacular sky events you won’t want to miss 👇🏻
🌕 January 3: Wolf Supermoon
The first Full Moon of 2026 arrives as a striking Supermoon, appearing noticeably larger and brighter than usual. As the Moon reaches its closest point to Earth, it can look up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than a micro-moon.
👀 When & where: Visible worldwide. Watch it rise in the eastern sky shortly after sunset.
🌍 January 3: Earth at Perihelion
On this day, Earth reaches perihelion, its closest distance to the Sun for the entire year. Our planet will be moving at its fastest orbital speed, about 3 million miles closer to the Sun than in July.
👀 When & where: This is a positional event and not visible to the naked eye. It occurs at 15:15 GMT; the Sun will appear nearly the same size as always.
🌠 January 3–4: Quadrantids Meteor Shower
One of the strongest meteor showers of the year, capable of producing up to 120 meteors per hour at its peak. Unfortunately, the bright Supermoon will reduce visibility of fainter meteors this year.
👀 When & where: Best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere during the early morning hours of January 4. Look toward Boötes, near the Big Dipper.
🌌 January 10: Jupiter at Opposition
Jupiter shines at its brightest and largest of the year as Earth passes directly between the Sun and the gas giant. This alignment fully illuminates Jupiter’s disk, making it ideal for observing.
👀 When & where: Visible all night long. Rises in the east at sunset, reaches its highest point around midnight, and sets in the west at sunrise.
🌘 January 23: Moon Meets Saturn & Neptune
A graceful celestial gathering. The waxing crescent Moon appears close to Saturn, with the distant ice giant Neptune nearby for those with optical aid.
👀 When & where: Look toward the western horizon just after sunset. The Moon and Saturn are visible to the naked eye; binoculars or a telescope are needed to spot Neptune.
Happy Skygazing folks!
