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Infographic: Astronomical highlights in autumn 2026

September 1 2026, Isabella Predehl

The nights are getting longer, and the Moon, planets and star clusters meet in the sky. The new infographic shows you the most beautiful celestial events of autumn 2026.

Saturn, Neptune and Uranus are particularly easy to observe. Mars passes through the Praesepe star cluster and later meets Jupiter. This time, there is also a rare occultation of Venus in the daytime sky.

This infographic gives you a quick overview. You can find out more about the individual events in the accompanying text.

Enjoy observing!

You are welcome to use this graphic on your own website. Please include a link to www.astroshop.eu.

September

08./09.09.2026 Moon meets Jupiter and Praesepe

In the early morning hours of 8 September, the slender crescent Moon passes through the open star cluster Praesepe, also known as the Beehive Cluster or M44. The star cluster is especially beautiful when viewed through binoculars. The following morning, the crescent is positioned below Jupiter. This creates two particularly beautiful configurations low above the eastern horizon. An unobstructed view to the east is important.

14.09.2026 Moon occults Venus

This is one of the most exciting events of the autumn: in the daytime sky, the slender crescent Moon passes in front of Venus. Depending on the observing location, the planet disappears behind the Moon between approximately 11:29 and 11:35 and reappears at around 12:40.

Because the celestial event takes place during the day and the Moon is only low above the horizon, you will need a telescope and an unobstructed view. Important: the Sun is also in the sky (of course, it is daytime). Never search for the Moon and Venus without a precise plan. It is best to observe using an automatically aligned mount and make sure that it cannot accidentally point towards the Sun.

After sunset, the pair appears once again in the evening sky. The slender crescent Moon and bright Venus are then low in the west. Here too, you will need an unobstructed horizon.

21.09.2026 Golden Handle

Today, the Golden Handle appears on the Moon. The Sun is already illuminating the peaks of the Montes Jura, while the plain of Sinus Iridum is still in shadow. This creates a bright, curved handle at the edge of the Moon.

The play of light begins in the early evening and remains visible for several hours. The Golden Handle is particularly well displayed at around 20:00. Binoculars are sufficient, but through a telescope the seemingly floating arc of mountains looks even more impressive.

23.09.2026 Beginning of autumn

On this day, the Sun crosses the celestial equator heading south. This marks the beginning of astronomical autumn for us in the Northern Hemisphere: day and night are now approximately equal in length. Over the coming weeks, it will get dark progressively earlier. For us stargazers, this marks the beginning of a particularly pleasant observing season, and we can even look at the stars during the week without having to struggle with tired eyes the following day.

26.09.2026 Neptune at opposition

Today, Neptune is opposite the Sun and visible throughout the night. The distant planet is located in the constellation Pisces and reaches a brightness of approximately magnitude 7.8. It therefore remains invisible to the naked eye.

Even with a smaller telescope, you can spot Neptune as a star-like point of light. With an aperture of around 100mm or more and steady air, it can be identified as a tiny bluish disc. A precise finder chart or GoTo control makes it easier to locate.

October

04.10.2026 Saturn at opposition

Now is an especially good time to observe Saturn. It is opposite the Sun, rises in the evening and remains visible throughout the night. After midnight, it reaches its highest position above the horizon.

Through a telescope, Saturn appears with a planetary disc measuring around 19.7 arcseconds. Its rings are also slightly more open than in the previous year, at 9 degrees. Even a small telescope clearly separates the ring from the planet. With a larger aperture, fine details and several of its moons become visible.

05.10.2026 Moon meets Mars

For almost the entire second half of the night, the Moon is only slightly more than one degree away from Mars. Both are located near the Praesepe star cluster. Through binoculars, you can observe the reddish planet, the crescent Moon and several stars of the cluster together.

06.10.2026 Moon meets Jupiter

The very next morning, the Moon meets Jupiter. The two are positioned very close together. During the day—something we are unable to observe—their separation temporarily shrinks to around 15 arcminutes.

You can spot the Moon and Jupiter above the eastern horizon. The slender crescent and the bright planet create a beautiful subject for a landscape photograph.

08.10.2026 Draconids

The Draconids originate from the constellation Draco. The point from which they appear to radiate is already high in the sky in the evening. You can therefore begin observing as soon as darkness falls.

It is difficult to predict how many meteors will appear from this shower. In some years it remains inconspicuous, while in others unexpectedly elevated rates occur. Conditions are particularly good in 2026: the Moon is only about one percent illuminated and hardly interferes with observations.

11./12.10.2026 Mars in the Praesepe star cluster

For night owls or early risers, this is a worthy celestial event: during the second half of the night, Mars moves directly through the open Praesepe star cluster in the constellation Cancer. The red planet stands out clearly from the cluster’s many fainter stars.

The encounter is best observed through binoculars. It is also very interesting for astrophotography: because Mars is located in the midst of the star cluster, this rare sight is well worth photographing.

22.10.2026 Orionids

The Orionids reach their maximum during the night of 21 to 22 October. The meteors originate from dust particles left by Halley’s Comet and strike the Earth’s atmosphere at particularly high speed. Under good conditions, around 20 shooting stars per hour are possible.

During the first half of the night, the bright Moon still causes interference. It sets at around 3:00. After that, the sky becomes darker and conditions improve. The best observing period is therefore between approximately 3:00 and the beginning of morning twilight.

November

02./03.11.2026 Moon meets Mars and Jupiter

During the night of 2 November, in the second half of the night, the Moon, Mars and Jupiter form a trio. Jupiter stands out because of its great brightness, while Mars can be identified by its reddish light.

By the following morning, the Moon has already passed both planets. This significantly changes their arrangement. It is therefore worth looking at the sky on both days.

12.–18.11.2026 Mars meets Jupiter

For several days, Mars and Jupiter move progressively closer together in the morning sky before passing one another. Between 15 and 17 November, their separation is only around 1.2 degrees. Both planets therefore fit together within the field of view of many telescopes and binoculars.

Their brightness and colour make the pair particularly striking: Jupiter shines considerably brighter, while Mars adds an orange-red accent beside it. The encounter can be followed over several nights.

17.11.2026 Leonids

The Leonids reach their maximum during the night of 17 to 18 November. Their radiant lies in the constellation Leo. At around 10–20 meteors per hour, the shower is generally rather quiet, although occasional outbursts occur. The shooting stars are very fast and sometimes leave bright trails.

The Moon sets during the first half of the night. Conditions are therefore good during the second half of the night. At that time, Leo is also higher above the horizon.

19.11.2026 Golden Handle

The Golden Handle appears on the Moon for the second time this autumn. The peaks of the Montes Jura are already glowing in sunlight, while Sinus Iridum remains in darkness. Binoculars are sufficient for observing it. Through a telescope, the rugged mountain landscape can be seen especially clearly.

21.11.2026 Mercury visible in the morning

Mercury reaches its greatest western elongation from the Sun. This provides the best morning visibility of the year. The planet rises around one hour and 45 minutes before the Sun and appears low above the eastern horizon.

Begin searching approximately 1.5 hours before sunrise. Binoculars will help you locate Mercury in the twilight. As soon as the Sun rises, you should stop observing.

25.11.2026 Uranus at opposition

Today, Uranus is opposite the Sun and visible throughout the night. The planet is located in the constellation Taurus and reaches a brightness of approximately magnitude 5.6. Under a very dark sky, this theoretically places it at the limit of naked-eye visibility. Binoculars make it significantly easier to locate.

Through a telescope, Uranus appears as a small greenish-blue disc. Since the full Moon occurred only one day earlier, its light strongly brightens the sky. Observing conditions are better a few days before or after opposition. Uranus will still remain visible for almost the entire night.

30.11.2026 Moon meets Mars, Jupiter and Regulus

At the end of the month, the Moon, Mars and Jupiter gather in the morning sky. Regulus, the principal star of Leo, is also part of this busy scene of celestial objects. Jupiter and the Moon are the most conspicuous. Mars is somewhat farther away and can be recognised by its reddish colour. From the second half of the night onwards, you will find the group above the eastern horizon.

Tags: Infographic, Astronomical highlights
Posted in Observations|Observations »

Infographic: Astronomy Highlights Winter 2025/26

November 27 2025, Marcus Schenk

The winter draws near and with it the darkest time of the year. Already in the early evening the Winter Hexagon sparkles in the sky and invites you to observe. In the coming three months there is much to discover in the heavens: from the Geminids without disturbing moon‑light to the bright Jupiter and even a small planetary parade in February. Our new astro‑highlights guide you through this time: month by month, star by star.

If you like, you are welcome to embed the graphic on your own website. Please link it then to www.astroshop.eu

December

4 Dec. Moon meets the Pleiades
In the early morning hours the nearly full Moon passes through the constellation Taurus and encounters the Pleiades, one of the most beautiful open star clusters of the winter sky. In binoculars the close encounter appears particularly impressive. Even with the bare eye you recognize the group as a small, sparkling star‑nest next to the Moon. Around 4 a.m. the constellation stands high in the sky and offers a mood‑filled start to the winter observations.

7 Dec. Mercury at greatest western elongation
Shortly before sunrise the otherwise shy Mercury shows itself. At the beginning of December it reaches its greatest western elongation, i.e., the largest separation from the Sun, and thus stands particularly favorably in the morning sky. From about 6:30 a.m. you spot it deep above the south‑eastern horizon, as a small, bright point in the first light of dawn. A clear horizon view is essential, because the time window is short before the Sun outshines it. For early risers the view pays off: Mercury appears as distinctly as hardly any other time of the year.

14 Dec. Maximum of the Geminids
On the night from 13 to 14 December you have, with a bit of weather luck, the chance to admire the most famous winter meteors. This active meteor stream reaches its maximum, and the conditions this year are almost perfect: the Moon hardly disturbs, the sky remains deep dark for most of the time. From midnight the radiant rises high in the sky, and the activity increases once again. Under good conditions you could theoretically count up to 80 meteors per hour. In practice there will be fewer, yet every bright meteor is a moment, right?

21 Dec. Start of winter
Here it is: Winter begins, and at 16:00 the Sun descends as deeply as it never does all year. The day bids farewell early and the night stretches across the remaining hours. For many stargazers this is the finest time of the year: Long nights invite you to set up the telescope after work. From now on the light also returns slowly – barely noticeable, yet a little more each day.

22 Dec. Ursids
Hardly are the Geminids over, the next meteor stream is already on deck. On the night from 22 to 23 December the Ursids reach their maximum. This is a small but fine meteor stream, appearing to come from the constellation Ursa Minor. With about ten meteors per hour it offers no spectacle, but rather a modest finale. In this year no moonlight disturbs, and in the long winter nights you can take your time.

31 Dec. Moon meets the Pleiades
Late in the afternoon dusk sets in, and you discover the bright Moon exactly above the eastern horizon. If the sky is clear, the two bright stars Aldebaran and Capella appear close by. Next to the Moon, at about 1.5 degrees distance, you recognise the Pleiades. In comparison to the Moon they appear almost delicate. By the way: If you raise a glass at midnight, above you shines the bright Jupiter, which reaches opposition in January.

January

3 Jan. Quadrantids
Hardly has the new year begun, meteors again streak across the sky. On the night from 3 to 4 January the Quadrantids reach their maximum. Their radiant lies in the modest constellation Boötes, near the star Arcturus, and only rises higher after midnight.

3 Jan. Moon meets Jupiter
Right after the meteor shower another spectacle shows: On the night from 3 to 4 January the Moon passes near the planet Jupiter. Around 10 p.m. the two celestial bodies stand about three degrees apart. You notice that with the bare eye.

6 Jan. Moon meets Regulus
Late in the evening the waning Moon traverses the constellation Leo and encounters Regulus, the constellation’s brightest star. A star‑occultation by the Moon even takes place, which you cannot follow because Regulus still lies below the horizon at that moment. In binoculars the two bodies later appear splendidly.

10 Jan. Jupiter at opposition
Today Jupiter stands in opposition to the Sun. Now it lies closest to Earth and is visible all night long. Once the Sun sets, Jupiter ascends in the east and reaches its highest point in the south around midnight. With a brightness of about −2.7 mag it outshines every constellation and dominates the winter sky. Even in binoculars you recognise its four Galilean moons as tiny points of light shifting night by night. In a telescope you see its cloud‑covered atmosphere with its typical belts – and perhaps the “Great Red Spot” if it happens to be visible.

23 Jan. Moon meets Saturn
In the early evening the crescent Moon passes by Saturn – a beautiful sight during dusk. Around 6 p.m. the two stand in the southwest, about five degrees apart. The ring planet shines as a yellowish point, while the Moon hovers directly above. With binoculars you see both comfortably in the same field of view, and in a telescope the fine rings of Saturn already show at modest magnification. For many this is the last good chance to observe the planet before it sinks deeper into the dusk in February.

27 Jan. Moon meets the Pleiades
On this night the Moon again passes the Pleiades and comes especially close to the cluster. Around 10 p.m. both stand in the constellation Taurus, only a few arc‑minutes apart. At about 10:35 CET the Moon even occults the 4.3 mag bright star 19 Tau with its dark side. Tip: Times and whether an occultation occurs depend on location in Europe. Even with the bare eye you easily notice the Moon–Pleiades approach if the sky is clear. A familiar sight for many amateur astronomers – yet still fascinating.

30 Jan. Moon meets Jupiter
At month’s end two of the most noticeable objects in the sky meet: the bright Moon and Jupiter. Late in the evening they stand together in the constellation Gemini and catch the eye effortlessly. Not far away the stars Castor and Pollux glitter and frame the scene.

February

3 Feb. Moon meets Regulus
On this evening the Moon again traverses the constellation Leo and passes Regulus at exceptionally close distance. Only at about 5 a.m. the closest approach at approximately ten arc‑minutes occurs. That is extremely close and thus definitely worth looking.

7 Feb. Moon meets Spica
In the second half of the night (i.e., the night of 6/7 February) the waning Moon meets the bright main star of the constellation Virgo: Spica. Shortly before sunrise both stand deep above the south‑eastern horizon, only somewhat more than two degrees apart.

11 Feb. Moon meets Antares
Before dawn the Moon crosses the constellation Scorpius and approaches the reddish glowing Antares. Around four a.m. both appear above the south‑eastern horizon. Antares – a red super‑giant and the heart of the Scorpion.

18 Feb. Moon meets Mercury and Venus
On 18 February the Moon approaches the two planets Mercury and Venus, which stand in the evening dusk directly above the western horizon. This evening proves special, because the already delicate young lunar crescent is only 1.5 % illuminated, for the new Moon occurred just yesterday. That creates a beautiful mood‑portrait.

19 Feb. Moon meets Mercury and Saturn
A lovely trio shows up in the early evening deep above the western horizon. The young Moon stands in the dusk snugly between Mercury and Saturn. Both planets remain hard to catch, because the dusk dominates. Yet if you start observing early you also discover Venus right over the horizon.

27 Feb. Moon meets Jupiter
Toward month’s end the Moon and Jupiter meet again, this time high in the constellation Gemini. Already in the early evening both are unmistakable: the two brightest objects of the sky close together.

28 Feb. Small planetary parade
As a finale you face a rare spectacle. Shortly after sunset several planets line up along the ecliptic. Mercury and Venus very low in the west, a little higher Saturn and invisible beside it Neptune. High in Gemini shines Jupiter and in Taurus the faint Uranus. You see: everything present here, yet the parade demands effort: Some planets stand low and fade quickly in the dusk. If you bring patience and pick a spot with perfect horizon view, then you may discover several planets with binoculars.

Tags: Infographic
Posted in Observations|Observations »

Infographic: Astro Highlights in Autumn 2025

August 29 2025, Marcus Schenk

The nights are getting longer and the air is often clear: a good time to observe the sky. In autumn 2025, there will be special celestial events. Experience a total lunar eclipse, rare planetary conjunctions, or an occultation of the Pleiades.In the current infographic “Astro Highlights in Autumn 2025,” we have clearly compiled the most beautiful celestial events.Feel free to use the graphic on your website (with a link to www.astroshop.eu) and inform your visitors about the exciting upcoming events.

1.9. Venus meets the star cluster M44

On the morning of September 1, it is worth a look at the eastern sky: Venus is very close to the open star cluster M44, also known as Praesepe or the Beehive. The sight is already recognizable to the naked eye as a faint light spot right next to the prominent Venus. With binoculars, the stars of the cluster become clearly visible.

7.9. Total Lunar Eclipse

On the evening of September 7, a real highlight awaits you: a total lunar eclipse. For Central Europe, the timing is particularly favorable, as the moon rises already eclipsed. This means you will see the moon directly on the eastern horizon in the evening.

Times for Germany:

The eclipse begins even before moonrise, which occurs in Germany around 7:38 PM, depending on the location. At this point, the moon is in the midst of totality and appears noticeably reddish. It reaches maximum darkness around 7:30 PM, and the total phase ends at 8:53 PM.

For an unobstructed view, you should find a spot with a clear view to the east. Binoculars will show the lunar eclipse beautifully, but a telescope with a smartphone adapter is also great equipment for quickly capturing a photo.

8.9. Moon Meets Saturn

On the night of September 8th to 9th, the nearly full moon is near Saturn. Both objects are easy to find in the sky with the naked eye: the bright moon as a distinctive point and Saturn a little further away as a “star” that shines steadily.

This duo can be observed particularly beautifully through binoculars. You can recognize the planet as a small, yellowish disc – its rings appear as a thickening at low magnification. For many, this is a good opportunity to take out the telescope and examine the rings more clearly.

12.9. Moon covers Pleiades

On this night, our satellite covers the Seven Sisters, including all the bright main stars of the star cluster. It begins around 10 PM: The moon approaches from the eastern direction and first covers the star Electra. Then it continues to move – from its bright side – in front of the remaining companion stars. It’s best to observe all of this from an unobstructed location with a good horizon view. In addition to the interesting and quite rare occultation, it is the first harbinger of the winter sky, as the Pleiades officially belong to the constellation Taurus.

19.9. Venus meets Regulus

On the morning of September 19, it’s worth taking a look at the dawn sky. Venus is still the morning star and on this day is very close to the bright star Regulus in the constellation Leo. Nearby, you can also see the delicate crescent moon. Together, they create a beautiful trio in the sky.

If you are an early riser, this is your opportunity to capture the moment with your camera.

21.9. Saturn in Opposition

On September 21, Saturn is in opposition to the Sun. This means: Earth is positioned directly between the Sun and Saturn, and the ringed planet is visible all night long, reaching its greatest brightness. The special feature of the 2025 opposition: The rings are almost seen edge-on, making them hard to see and only about 2 degrees open. Even during twilight, the ringed planet rises above the eastern horizon and follows its apparent arc across the sky until dawn.

23.9. Neptune in Opposition

On September 23, Neptune reaches its opposition and stands favorably in the sky. This distant ice giant can be seen all night and appears in the telescope as a small, bluish disk.

Neptune is about magnitude 7.8, making it invisible to the naked eye. Binoculars show it as a faint point of light, but a telescope is needed for reliable identification. A star chart or app can help locate it in the constellation Aquarius.

2.10. Ceres in Opposition

On October 2, the dwarf planet Ceres reaches its opposition to the Sun. It is visible throughout the night and is particularly close to Earth. Ceres, with a brightness of 7.6 magnitude, can easily be found with binoculars or a small telescope. Ceres moves as an inconspicuous point of light through the constellation Cetus, but it is not visible to the naked eye. However, a simple pair of binoculars separates it from the fainter stars in its vicinity. Those who track its movement from night to night will recognize the typical motion of a planet against the backdrop of fixed stars.

5.10. Moon meets Saturn

On the evening of October 5th, the almost full moon passes by the ringed planet Saturn. Both are high in the sky and easily found with the naked eye. In a telescope, Saturn appears as a yellowish glowing disc. The narrow edge of the rings is only visible with a small aperture. Although the bright moon brightens the sky, it doesn’t matter for observing Saturn.

8.10. Draconids

The Draconids are a rather unknown meteor shower and reach their peak every year at the beginning of October. The name already reveals it: The meteors seem to come from the constellation Draco. This constellation is visible in the sky all night. The number of meteors varies greatly and always brings surprises. Normally, about ten meteors fall per hour, but in 2012, there were suddenly 400. What does that mean? It’s always worth taking a look at the sky, because perhaps a surprise is waiting. However, this year the moon will cause a brighter sky.

14.10. Moon meets Jupiter

In the second half of the night from October 13 to 14, the waning half moon meets the giant planet Jupiter. Both are in the constellation Gemini and are already conspicuous to the naked eye. You will see the moon as a bright half-circle and Jupiter as a shining point of light beside it.

19.10. Moon meets Venus

Early in the morning on October 19, the thin crescent moon is close to the bright Venus. Both can be seen well in the eastern sky. Together, they create a beautiful photographic motif.

22.10. Orionids

Meteor showers are a beautiful event for any enthusiastic stargazer, and the Orionids are no exception. Peaking from October 21 to 22, they promise about 25 to 30 meteors per hour. However, the number of shooting stars can vary from year to year. To catch the best view, set your alarm and look outside in the early morning hours. A must for all shooting star lovers.

2.11. Moon meets Saturn

On the evening of November 2, the Moon is near the planet Saturn. Both shine in the southeastern horizon already at dusk. The Moon is a prominent point of orientation, and Saturn is slightly to the west of it.

November: Saturn in Edge Position

In November 2025, Saturn’s rings will still be in edge position as seen from Earth. They will appear so narrow that they are hardly visible. This is a unique opportunity to observe Saturn without its ring system, even though the sight will be very unusual. Additionally, there will be two Titan transits in November. On November 6 and November 22, the moon Titan will pass across the gas giant.

9.11. Moon Meets Jupiter

On the night of November 9 to 10, the Moon moves past the planet Jupiter. The Moon appears as a large bright spot, and Jupiter looks like a very bright star.

A pair of binoculars or a telescope reveals even more details. On Jupiter, you can see two dark bands of clouds. Next to it are its four largest moons, arranged as small bright spots evenly spaced. The Moon also shows many craters, which are particularly visible along the terminator.

17.11. Leonid Meteor Shower

On the night of November 16 to 17, the Leonids reach their maximum, offering an impressive celestial event with up to 20 meteors per hour. This celestial event is a must for meteor fans.

The Leonids get their name from the constellation Leo, from which they appear to originate. The origin of this meteor shower lies in the comet Tempel-Tuttle, whose particles cause the meteor showers annually. Particularly noteworthy: every 33 years, the meteor stream condenses into a real meteor shower, producing far more than 20 meteors per hour – sometimes even up to several hundred per hour.

21.11. Uranus in Opposition

Uranus reaches its opposition. It shines with a brightness of 5.6 mag. Theoretically, you can see Uranus with the naked eye. In practice, however, it is better to use binoculars or a telescope. This way, you can clearly identify it.

To find Uranus, it is best to use a star map. Through a telescope, Uranus appears as a small, clear disc. It has a slightly greenish color.

25.11. Venus meets Mercury

On the morning of November 25th, Venus and Mercury will be close together at the southeast horizon. Both planets will be visible shortly before sunrise. Venus shines much brighter and thus helps with orientation. The observation is not easy, as it takes place very close to the horizon during dawn.

Tags: Infographic
Posted in Observations|Observations »