Mark your calendars! Here are the most spectacular celestial events to watch through 2027. For shower-by-shower viewing advice, see our meteor showers guide.
The moment when the Sun crosses the celestial equator, marking the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Day and night are approximately equal in length. Check what's in the night sky this week as the seasons turn.
NASA has officially confirmed April 1 as the launch date for Artemis II — the first crewed mission to fly around the Moon since Apollo 17 in December 1972. The SLS rocket rolled out to Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center on 19 March 2026. Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen will fly a 10-day free-return trajectory around the Moon before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.
📖 Read: Artemis II Launch Confirmed for April 1 | 📖 Complete Artemis Mission Timeline
Launch from Kennedy Space Center, Florida — watch live on NASA TV
One of the oldest known meteor showers, producing around 10-20 meteors per hour at its peak. Best viewing after midnight when the radiant point is high in the sky. Our Lyrid viewing guide covers where to look and when.
Best viewed: After midnight in dark skies
Debris from Halley's Comet creates this meteor shower, producing up to 50 meteors per hour. Fast, bright meteors often leave persistent trails. Best viewing in the Southern Hemisphere. Our Eta Aquariid watching guide has the full UK viewing plan.
Best viewed: Pre-dawn hours
The longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The Sun reaches its highest point in the sky, marking the official start of summer. Read about the longest day of the year and what it means for stargazers.
A moderate meteor shower producing about 20 meteors per hour. Often overlaps with the more famous Perseids, providing excellent meteor viewing opportunities. Dates, rates and viewing advice for every shower are in our meteor showers guide.
Best viewed: After midnight
A spectacular total solar eclipse visible from Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and northern Russia. The path of totality offers viewers up to 2 minutes 18 seconds of complete darkness as the Moon blocks the Sun. From the UK it's a deep partial — up to 96% covered — so read our safe solar observing guide before you watch.
Path of totality: Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia
The most popular meteor shower of the year! The Perseids can produce 50-100 meteors per hour at peak, with bright, fast meteors and occasional fireballs. And the timing is a gift: the peak falls on the same evening as the solar eclipse, with a new moon giving properly dark skies once the Sun is down — the best skywatching night of 2026. Our eclipse guide covers the double event.
Best viewed: After midnight in dark skies
Another meteor shower from Halley's Comet debris, producing around 20 meteors per hour. Known for fast, bright meteors with fine trains. Orionid meteors are dust from Halley's Comet, burning up at 66 km/s.
Best viewed: After midnight
Known for periodic meteor storms every 33 years. While 2026 won't be a storm year, the Leonids still produce 10-15 meteors per hour with very fast, bright meteors. Viewing advice for every shower is in our meteor showers guide.
Best viewed: After midnight
Often the best meteor shower of the year! The Geminids can produce 120+ meteors per hour at peak, with bright, colorful meteors visible all night long. Unique because it originates from an asteroid (3200 Phaethon) rather than a comet. The year's best shower deserves a dark sky — our UK dark sky sites guide will find you one.
Best viewed: All night, peak around 2 AM
The shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The Sun reaches its lowest point in the sky, marking the official start of winter and the longest night. The longest night of the year is a gift for stargazers — our beginners guide shows you how to use it.
The first major meteor shower of the year, capable of producing 40-100 meteors per hour. Has a very short, sharp peak lasting only a few hours, making timing critical for best viewing. Wrap up warm and check our meteor showers guide for the full viewing plan.
Best viewed: Pre-dawn hours, narrow peak window
Spring returns to the Northern Hemisphere as the Sun crosses the celestial equator northward. Check what's in the night sky this week as the seasons turn.
The annual return of the Lyrids, with 10-20 meteors per hour and occasional bright fireballs. Our Lyrid viewing guide covers where to look and when.
Best viewed: After midnight
Halley's Comet debris returns for its annual show, with fast, bright meteors streaking across the pre-dawn sky. These meteors are debris from Halley's Comet — the same comet feeds October's Orionids.
Best viewed: Pre-dawn hours
The longest day of 2027 in the Northern Hemisphere, marking the peak of summer. Short nights, but not empty ones — see what's visible this week.
A reliable summer meteor shower producing around 20 meteors per hour. Dates, rates and viewing advice for every shower are in our meteor showers guide.
Best viewed: After midnight
An extraordinary total solar eclipse with the longest duration of totality of the 21st century—up to 6 minutes 23 seconds! The path crosses North Africa, through Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. This is one of the most significant solar eclipses in modern history. Watching any partial phase needs proper eye protection — our safe solar observing guide explains what works.
Path of totality: Morocco, Spain, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Somalia
The beloved Perseids return with their spectacular show of 50-100 meteors per hour. See our meteor showers guide for viewing advice, and find a dark spot with our UK dark sky sites guide.
Best viewed: After midnight in dark skies
The Sun crosses the celestial equator southward, marking the beginning of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. Darker evenings return — see what's in the night sky this week.
Halley's Comet debris provides another meteor show with fast, bright meteors. Orionid meteors are dust from Halley's Comet, burning up at 66 km/s.
Best viewed: After midnight
The Leonids return with their characteristic fast, bright meteors. Viewing advice for every shower is in our meteor showers guide.
Best viewed: After midnight
The year's best meteor shower returns with its reliable show of 120+ meteors per hour. The year's best shower deserves a dark sky — our UK dark sky sites guide will find you one.
Best viewed: All night, peak around 2 AM
The shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere marks the beginning of winter and the longest night. The longest night of the year is a gift for stargazers — our beginners guide shows you how to use it.
Bookmark this page and check back regularly for updates, viewing tips, and new celestial events. For detailed guides on specific events, visit our blog — and for the practical technique behind them, from eclipse safety to spotting the ISS, see our how-to guides.
Note: All dates and times are approximate. Check closer to each event for exact timing and optimal viewing conditions for your location.