Hipcamp’s 2026 Stargazing Guide and Astronomical Calendar

From meteor showers and supermoons to eclipses and planet sightings, 2026 stargazing conditions offer plenty of reasons to spend the night outside on a camping trip. Whether you’re big into astrophotography or just like to take the time to feel small in our big universe, use this month-by-month 2026 stargazing calendar and our dark skies map to plan camping trips under the stars around the year’s most memorable celestial events.

Emoji Key
🌑: New moon | 🌕: Full moon | ☄️: Meteor shower | 🪐: Planet sighting | 🔴: Solar or lunar eclipse

Your stargazing calendar 2026

• January
• February
• March
• April
• May
• June
• July
• August
• September
• October
• November
• December

January

☄️ Sat.–Sun. January 3–4 | Quadrantid meteor shower: What is typically an above-average meteor shower showcasing up to ~80 meteors per hour will unfortunately be washed out in 2026 due to the year’s first Supermoon happening at the same time. Bundle up and look up after midnight for your best chance at spotting a few shooting stars—winter skies can be crystal clear, but clouds are always a wildcard.

🌕 Sat. January 3 | Full moon (aka the Wolf Moon), Supermoon: A bright start to the year—and a great excuse for a moonlit hike. Full moons occur when Earth is located between the sun and moon, making the moon appear fully illuminated from our point of view. It might be more difficult to see constellations with a bright moon, but it does make for great family camping trips.

🌑 Sun. January 18 | New moon: Dark skies, minimal moonlight—prime time for camping trips out to observe constellations, see star clusters, and go Milky Way hunting. ​​The first phase of the lunar calendar, new moons occur when the sun and moon are aligned. The moon is therefore invisible from Earth, creating the darkest sky of the month. Read our guide to stargazing and find Hipcamps under dark skies.

• Northern Hemisphere constellations to see: Orion, Taurus and Pleiades, Lepus
• Southern Hemisphere constellations to see: Dorado, Pictor, Reticulum

February

🌕 Sun. February 1 | Full moon (aka the Snow Moon): Bright nights and winter air can make stars sparkle—just expect fewer faint objects under the full moon.

🔴 Tues. February 17 | Annular solar eclipse (Southern Hemisphere): An annular “ring of fire” eclipse traces a path across remote southern latitudes across the southern tips of South America and Africa, sadly not within range of any Hipcamps. Even if you’re not in the path, it’s a good reminder: never look at the sun without proper eye protection.

🌑 Tues. February 17 | New moon: One of the darkest nights of the month—perfect for planning a stargazing campout. The first phase of the lunar calendar, new moons occur when the sun and moon are aligned. The moon is therefore invisible from Earth, creating the darkest sky of the month—perfect for camping trips out to observe stars and see the Milky Way.

• Northern Hemisphere constellations to see: Gemini, Auriga, Monoceros
• Southern Hemisphere constellations to see: Orion, Sirius within Canis Major, Puppis

March

🔴 Tues. March 3 | Total lunar eclipse: A true “blood moon” moment—when Earth’s shadow fully covers the moon for nearly an hour. Even better? It’s the night of a full moon as well. Visibility depends on where you are: Take a peek around 3:30am Pacific, 6:30am Eastern, or 9pm in AEDT.

🌕 Tues. March 3 | Full moon (aka the Worm Moon): Same night as the eclipse—worth setting an alarm.

🌑 Wed. March 18 | New moon: A dark-sky sweet spot for spotting brighter galaxies and spring constellations.

• Northern Hemisphere constellations to see: Ursa Major and the Big Dipper, Cancer
• Southern Hemisphere constellations to see: Volans, Carina, Vela

🌷🍂 Fri. March 20 | March Equinox: In the Northern Hemisphere, it’s the first day of spring, and in the Southern Hemisphere, it’s the first day of fall.

April

April is Global Astronomy Month, and April 13–20 is International Dark Sky Week!

🌕 Wed. April 1 | Full moon (aka the Pink Moon): A classic spring full moon—beautiful for evening walks and late-night campfire hangs.

🪐 Fri. April 3 | Best time to view Mercury (morning): Mercury hits a strong morning showing—look low in the east just before sunrise.

🌑 Fri. April 17 | New moon: Your best April window for deep stargazing—especially away from city glow. New moons occur when the sun and moon are aligned. The moon is therefore invisible from Earth, creating the darkest sky of the month—perfect for camping trips out to observe bright stars and see the Milky Way.

• Northern Hemisphere constellations to see: Ursa Major, Leo, Leo’s Minor
• Southern Hemisphere constellations to see: Chameleon, Hydra, Sextans

☄️ Tues.–Wed. April 21–22 | Lyrid meteor shower: Producing ~20 shooting stars per hour, the Lyrids are known for brighter meteors and occasional dusty trails that linger for a few seconds. Head out after midnight in a dark-sky location for the best chance at spotting some shooting stars.

May

🌕 Fri. May 1 | Full moon (aka the Flower Moon): Full moons occur when Earth is located between the sun and moon, making the moon appear fully illuminated from Earth. It can be more difficult to see constellations with a bright full moon, but it does make for great moonlit hikes and family camping trips.

☄️ Tues.–Wed. May 5–6 | Eta Aquarid meteor shower: One of the year’s best pre-dawn shows, with up to ~50 meteors per hour at peak. These shooting stars come from Halley’s Comet debris, but the stars will be dimmed a bit by the recent full moon.

🌑 Sat. May 16 | New moon (Super New Moon): Dark skies + a slightly “stronger” new moon alignment—great for planning a Milky Way mission.

• Northern Hemisphere constellations to see: Virgo
• Southern Hemisphere constellations to see: Virgo, Musca, Centaurus

🌕 Sun. May 31 | Full moon, Blue Moon: A second full moon in May—rare, fun, and definitely worth a night outside to see it.

June

🌑 Sun. June 14 | New moon (Super New Moon): Another top-tier dark-sky window! The first phase of the lunar calendar, new moons occur when the sun and moon are aligned. The moon is therefore invisible from Earth, creating the darkest sky of the month—perfect for camping trips out to observe stars and see the Milky Way.

• Northern Hemisphere constellations to see: Sagittarius, Hercules, Draco
• Southern Hemisphere constellations to see: Scorpius, Ara, Ophiuchus

🪐 Mon. June 15 | Best time to view Mercury (evening): If you missed the spring morning showing, Mercury gets an evening encore—look low in the west just after sunset.

☀️❄️ Sun. June 21 | June Solstice: In the Northern Hemisphere, it’s the longest day of the year and the start of summer.

🌕 Mon. June 29 | Full moon (aka the Strawberry Moon): Bright nights for late dinners and campsite storytelling. Full moons occur when Earth is located between the sun and moon, making the moon appear fully illuminated from Earth.

July

🌑 Tues. July 14 | New moon: Ideal for catching the Milky Way arc on warm nights. The first phase of the lunar calendar, new moons occur when the sun and moon are aligned. The moon is therefore invisible from Earth, creating the darkest sky of the month—perfect for a camping trip out to observe stars and see the Milky Way.

• Northern Hemisphere constellations to see: Lyra, Sagitta, Aquila
• Southern Hemisphere constellations to see: Sagittarius, Corona Australis, Pavo

☄️ Tues.–Wed. July 28–29 | Delta Aquarid meteor shower: A steadier, subtler shower. Head out after midnight and give your eyes time to adjust—dark skies make the difference.

🌕 Wed. July 29 | Full moon (aka the Buck Moon): Peak summer moonlight! Full moons occur when Earth is located between the sun and moon, making the moon appear fully illuminated from Earth. It can be more difficult to see constellations with a bright full moon, but it does make for great moonlit hikes and family camping trips.

August

🔴 Wed. August 12 | Total solar eclipse (Europe/Atlantic regions): A major eclipse day for parts of the North Atlantic and Europe, during which Great Britain will see a partial eclipse! Plan early—and always use eclipse glasses or a proper solar filter.

🌑 Wed. August 12 | New moon: Even if you’re not chasing the eclipse, this new moon is a gift for stargazing trips.

• Northern Hemisphere constellations to see: Delphinus, Vulpecula, Cygnus
• Southern Hemisphere constellations to see: Capricornus, Indus, Microscopium

☄️ Wed.–Thurs. Aug 12–13 | Perseid meteor shower: A top-tier Northern Hemisphere shower, the Perseids are famous for bright, frequent meteors—and the show will be at its best in 2026 thanks to the new moon. Amateur astronomers should wait until the moon sets around midnight for the best shot at spotting up to 100 shooting stars per hour (that’s multiple per minute!) during this show. Check out some of our favorite places to camp for the Perseids.

🪐 Sat. August 15 | Best time to view Venus: Venus reaches a strong evening peak this weekend, so look west after sunset for that unmistakable bright “evening star.”

🔴 Thurs.–Fri. August 27–28 | Partial lunar eclipse: The moon slips nearly entirely into Earth’s darker shadow, during which you can expect a noticeable “bite” and some coppery-red tones where the shadow falls. At its peak, about 96% of the moon will be covered. The West Coast will see the show right at moonrise, while the East Coast will need careful timing to see this. Timing will also vary for the UK and Australia.

🌕 Thurs. August 27 | Full moon (aka the Sturgeon Moon): A full moon falls on the same night as the eclipse—and it’s worth staying up for.

September

🌑 Thurs. September 10 | New moon: Dark skies return, meaning it’s great timing for early fall camping. The first phase of the lunar calendar, new moons occur when the sun and moon are aligned. The moon is therefore invisible from Earth, creating the darkest sky of the month—perfect for camping trips out to observe stars and see the Milky Way. Read our guide to stargazing and find Hipcamps under dark skies.

• Northern Hemisphere constellations to see: Pegasus, Lacerta
• Southern Hemisphere constellations to see: Aquarius, Grus, Piscis Austrinus

🍂🌷 Wed. September 23 | September Equinox: In the Northern Hemisphere, it’s the first day of fall, and in the Southern Hemisphere, it’s the first day of spring.

🌕 Sat. September 26 | Full moon (aka the Harvest Moon): Head out for classic fall moonlight that sets the scene for crisp evenings. Full moons occur when Earth is located between the sun and moon, making the moon appear fully illuminated from Earth.

October

🪐 Sun. October 4 | Best time to view Saturn: Saturn hits opposition season, meaning it’s brighter, closer, and visible for much of the night. Binoculars help to see it, though a telescope is even better for rings.

☄️ Thurs. October 8 | Draconid meteor shower: October sees two meteor showers, the first being the Draconids. Head out in the early evening, and hope for a cloudless sky to see this minor shower. You’ll have a good shot thanks to the upcoming new moon, but expect only up to 10 meteors per hour, if that. It’s a fun “bonus round” if skies are clear.

🌑 Sat. October 10 | New moon: This is when you’ll get your darkest October skies—perfect for long looks at autumn constellations.

• Northern Hemisphere constellations to see: Pisces, Cassiopeia, Cepheus
• Southern Hemisphere constellations to see: Phoenix, Tucana, Sculptor

☄️ Wed.–Thurs. October 21–22 | Orionid meteor shower: The second meteor shower in October and the better of the two (though still just average at 20 meteors an hour), the Orionids appear due to debris left by Halley’s Comet, just as is the case with the Eta Aquarids in May. It’s said that the Orionids are best seen near the Orion constellation—head out after midnight for your best shot.

🌕 Sun. October 25 | Full moon (aka the Hunter’s Moon): Moonlit fall camping at its best. Full moons occur when Earth is located between the sun and moon, making the moon appear fully illuminated from Earth.

November

☄️ Thurs. November 5 | Taurid meteor shower: A slower, lower-rate shower (~5–10 meteors/hour), but Taurids are known for occasional bright fireballs—keep watching.

Producing only 5 to 10 meteors per hour, this is only a minor, slower-rate shower but still a great reason to find yourself outside under the stars. The Taurids are known for occasional bright fireballs—keep watching.

🌑 Sun. November 8 | New moon: Use this as a great dark-sky window before winter weather fully settles in.

• Northern Hemisphere constellations to see: Aries, Perseus
• Southern Hemisphere constellations to see: Horologium, Eridanus

☄️ Tues.–Wed. November 17–18 | Leonid meteor shower: The Leonids typically produce up to 20 meteors per hour. Those in the Southern Hemisphere have the best shot at clear weather. Be patient!

🌕 Tues. November 24 | Full moon (aka the Beaver Moon), Supermoon: One of the biggest-looking full moons of the year. This supermoon will appear slightly larger in the sky.

December

🌑 Tues. December 8 | New moon: The darkest skies of the month—layer up and bring a thermos.

• Northern Hemisphere constellations to see: Ursa Minor, Ursa Major
• Southern Hemisphere constellations to see: Taurus, Orion

☄️ Sun.–Mon. December 13–14 | Geminid meteor shower: Producing up to 120 meteors per hour at its peak, the Geminids are one of the strongest meteor showers to see all year. You’ll have a shot at spotting some shooting stars with a bit of patience after midnight so long as you don’t get clouded out in your region.

❄️☀️ Mon. December 21 | December Solstice: In the Northern Hemisphere, it’s the shortest day of the year and the start of winter, and in the Southern Hemisphere, it’s the longest day of the year and the kickoff to summer. This is due to the North Pole tilting away from the sun, and the South Pole tilting toward it.

☄️ Tues.–Wed. December 22–23 | Ursid meteor shower: Producing 5 to 10 meteors per hour, the Ursids are a fairly minor showing but a nice year-end sendoff if skies cooperate. Looking up just after midnight will give you the best chance of seeing the last shower of the year, but the ill-timed full moon may wash out your show.

🌕 Wed. December 23 | Full moon (aka the Cold Moon), Supermoon: The biggest-looking full moon of 2026 and the last of the year—bright enough to light your campsite path.

Start planning your next adventure

Book one of the best campsites for stargazing in time for a celestial event. Even better? Study up on our night photo tips from an astrophotographer and bring your photo gear.