WHAT’S UP(COMING)! – Observation Calendar Mar-May 2026
Source for events and links below are In-The-Sky.org, Dominic Ford, Editor. The links provide details for each event including a scale on how difficult they are to observe.
Additionally, here’s a link to a printable PDF for “Navigating the mid March Night Sky” from our friends at the Astronomical League!
Mar 3 – Total lunar eclipse
– Full Moon
Mar 18 – New Moon
Mar 20 – Conjunction of the Moon and Venus
Mar 21 – Asteroid 20 Massalia at opposition
Mar 22 – Mercury at highest altitude in morning sky
Mar 23 – Close approach of the Moon and M45
Mar 26 – Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter
Mar 27 – Close approach of the Moon and M44
Apr 1 – 136472 Makemake at opposition
– Full Moon
Apr 2 – The Sombrero Galaxy is well placed
Apr 3 – Mercury at greatest elongation west
Apr 5 – Messier 94 is well placed
Apr 15 – The Whirlpool Galaxy is well placed
Apr 17 – New Moon
Apr 18 – Messier 3 is well placed
Apr 15 – Close approach of the Moon and M45
Apr 22 – Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter
– Lyrid meteor shower 2026 peak
Apr 23 – 136108 Haumea at opposition
Apr 24 – Messier 101 is well placed
– Close approach of the Moon and M44
May 1 – Full Moon
May 6 – η-Aquariid meteor shower 2026 peak
May 9 – η-Lyrid meteor shower 2026
May 13 – Messier 5 is well placed
May 16 – New Moon
May 18 – Conjunction of the Moon and Venus
May 20 – Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter
May 21 – Close approach of the Moon and M44
May 22 – Venus at highest altitude in evening sky
May 31 – Blue Moon (Second full moon in May)
