The year 2026 has officially arrived and is all set to be a spectacular year for stargazers. This guide will outline planetary events, from conjunctions and oppositions to rare encounters between planet and star.
Mercury
Mercury is the smallest part of the planet visible to the naked eye, appearing as an evening star in the western sky or as a morning star in the east.
When the sun rises about an hour before sunrise, ensuring a clear and obstructed horizon is crucial for good visibility. To the observer, Mercury generally appears as a bright star with a pale, yellowish-white or gray-brown hue.
Viewing windows in 2026
- Evenings: February 5-26; June 1-22; September 28 – October 19
- Mornings: March 27 – April 17; July 26 – August 16; November 13 – December 4
When will Mercury be in its best position?
- Evening: February 5-26
- Morning: November 13 – December 4
Venus
Venus, which moves mainly in a nearly circular orbit and has a diameter about 400 miles smaller than Earth’s, shines with a brilliant brilliance. Stable light.
Viewing windows in 2026
- Evenings: March 8 – October 14
- Mornings: November 3 – December 31
When will it be at its best?
- Evenings: March 8 – October 14
- Mornings: November 3 – December 31
Venus will reach a remarkable height in the evening sky on September 19 and in the morning sky on November 29. It is expected to be visible through most of November, during which time it will show a distinctive phase through a telescope.
Mars
Mars has long been associated with Ares, the Greek god of war; it shines as a star with a yellow-orange hue that is often significantly brighter than the stars around it.
Visibility in 2026
Mornings: March 18 – December 31
When will it be at its best?
Planet 2026 begins to get lost in the sun’s glare and reaches its solar conjunction on January 9, when it will be on the far side of the solar system, about 220 million miles from Earth.
Jupiter
The giant planet, which shines with a bright silver sheen, has a diameter about 11 times that of Earth.
Viewing windows in 2026
- Mornings: January 1-9; August 19-December 31
- Evenings: January 10 – July 7
Jupiter reaches opposition on January 10 and shines brightly from January 1 to 22 at magnitude 2.7 in Gemini. On June 9, Jupiter pairs with Venus on a stunning ‘double planet’ low in the evening twilight.
Saturn
Saturn shines as a yellow-white star of medium brightness and is easily invisible to the naked eye.
Take a look at the zodiac sign path through 2026
- Stars in Aquarius (until January 14)
- Enters Pisces (January 14 – April 8)
- Moved by Cetus (April 9 – June 2)
- Back in Pisces (June 3 – September 4)
- Back to Cetis (from September 5)
Viewing windows in 2026
- Evenings: January 1 – March 8; October 4 – December 31
- Mornings: April 12 – October 3
Uranus
According to Space.com, Uranus can be seen with the naked eye in very dark locations at a magnitude of +5.5, and is easily found with binoculars.
Viewing windows in 2026
- Evenings: January 1 – May 5; November 25 – December 31
- Mornings: June 9 – November 24
Neptune
Neptune will remain in Pisces throughout 2026. At magnitude +7.8, it is only visible with binoculars or a telescope, and looks like a blue-gray disk.
Viewing windows in 2026
- Evenings: January 1 – March 6; September 25 – December 31
- Mornings: April. September 8-24
This year will stand out for both causal stargazers and serious astronomers for a rare series of planetary alignments.
