ORLANDO, Fla. – 2026 will feature several noteworthy astronomical events worthy of staying up late or getting up early in Central Florida.
From conjunctions to the last blood moon eclipse in years, there will be many reasons to find a clear patch of sky.
The First Supermoon of The Year
The full Wolf Moon will reach peak illumination just after 5 a.m. Jan. 3. The moon will appear full the night before and the evening after.
This continues the supermoon trend to close out 2025 as the last four were considered super.
A supermoon occurs when the moon is at its closest point to Earth within its elliptical orbit. The moon appears bigger and brighter in the sky.
Total Lunar Eclipse
Mark your calendars for this one! This will be the last Blood Moon eclipse visible from Central Orlando until 2029.
You’ll also have to set your alarm as this one takes place in the morning on March 3. Central Florida will see totality, when the moon turns blood red, but will set before the entire eclipse ends.
Venus-Jupiter Conjunction
The brightest planet in our sky, Venus, will get up close and personal with the biggest planet in our solar system. This will take place during the evenings of June 8 and June 9.
The twins, Castor and Pollux of Gemini, will be hanging out nearby. Mercury will be a fifth wheel low on the horizon.
A conjunction is when two objects get close together from a certain vantage point, but in reality are far away from one another.
Jupiter And The Moon
Jupiter and the crescent will make for a cool sight on the morning of Oct. 6.
The ‘sickle’ and Planets
Another conjunction takes place on the morning of Nov. 16. Mars and Jupiter will be close together in the southeast sky.
The ‘sickle’ asterism, part of Leo, will also be nearby.