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Guide
UK Stargazing Calendar 2026–27: Meteor Showers, Eclipses and Moons
From November 2026 to October 2027, the UK sky's highlights are the Geminid meteors in December, a penumbral lunar eclipse on 20–21 February 2027, the Perseids in August and a partial solar eclipse on 2 August 2027. That eclipse is total along a track through southern Spain and North Africa. Below is a month-by-month calendar with new and full moon dates, so you can pick the darkest nights, plus practical tips for UK stargazing.
Eclipses visible from the UK
Penumbral lunar eclipse, 20–21 February 2027
The moon passes through Earth's outer shadow. The dimming is subtle, a grey shading on one side of the moon, so watch closely or compare photos.
Partial solar eclipse, 2 August 2027
Visible across the UK as a partial eclipse, weather permitting. The track of totality crosses southern Spain, North Africa and the Middle East. Use certified ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses or a pinhole projector; never look at the sun directly or through binoculars.
Looking further ahead
timeanddate lists a partial lunar eclipse (12 January 2028) and a partial solar eclipse (26 January 2028) visible from London. The next total solar eclipse visible from London is not until 2151.
Month by month
November 2026
Leonids mid-month; Orion rising in the late evening; Taurus and the Pleiades well placed. New moon: 9 November 2026. Full moon: 24 November 2026.
December 2026
Geminids on 13–14 December; the longest nights around the solstice; Orion high by midnight. New moon: 9 December 2026. Full moon: 24 December 2026.
January 2027
Quadrantids on 3–4 January; the Winter Hexagon of bright stars at its best. New moon: 7 January 2027. Full moon: 22 January 2027.
February 2027
Penumbral lunar eclipse on 20–21 February; the zodiacal light can sometimes be seen in the west after dusk from dark sites. New moon: 6 February 2027. Full moon: 20 February 2027.
March 2027
Spring equinox on 20 March; clocks go forward on the last Sunday; Leo in the south. New moon: 8 March 2027. Full moon: 22 March 2027.
April 2027
Lyrids on 22–23 April; the Plough overhead; follow its handle to Arcturus. New moon: 7 April 2027. Full moon: 20 April 2027.
May 2027
Eta Aquariids low before dawn; nights shorten fast; astronomical darkness ends for most of the UK. New moon: 6 May 2027. Full moon: 20 May 2027.
June 2027
Summer solstice on 21 June; noctilucent cloud season in the north; no true darkness. New moon: 4 June 2027. Full moon: 19 June 2027.
July 2027
Darkness returns late in the month; the Summer Triangle overhead. New moon: 4 July 2027. Full moon: 18 July 2027.
August 2027
Partial solar eclipse on 2 August; Perseids on 12–13 August; the Milky Way at its best from dark sites. New moon: 2 August 2027, 31 August 2027. Full moon: 17 August 2027.
September 2027
Autumn equinox; Harvest Moon; the Andromeda Galaxy climbing in the east. New moon: 30 September 2027. Full moon: 16 September 2027.
October 2027
Orionids on 21–22 October; clocks go back on the last Sunday; Pegasus high in the south. New moon: 29 October 2027. Full moon: 15 October 2027.
Meteor showers
Quadrantids: peak 3–4 January 2027
Rates: up to around 80 per hour at the peak under ideal conditions, but the peak is short. Best after midnight, radiant in northern Boötes. It never sets from the UK. In 2027 the peak falls close to the new moon (7 January 2027), giving dark skies.
Lyrids: peak 22–23 April 2027
Rates: around 18 per hour. One of the oldest recorded showers, seen for some 2,700 years. In 2027 the peak falls close to the full moon (20 April 2027), so moonlight will drown out fainter meteors.
Eta Aquariids: peak 5–6 May 2027
Rates: low from the UK, as the radiant rises shortly before dawn. Debris from Halley's Comet. In 2027 the peak falls close to the new moon (6 May 2027), giving dark skies.
Perseids: peak 12–13 August 2027
Rates: up to around 100 per hour. The UK favourite, on warm summer nights. Debris from comet Swift–Tuttle. In 2027 the peak falls with the moon partly in the sky. Check moonrise times for your town.
Orionids: peak 21–22 October 2027
Rates: around 20 per hour. Also debris from Halley's Comet. In 2027 the peak falls with the moon partly in the sky. Check moonrise times for your town.
Leonids: peak 17–18 November 2026
Rates: around 10–15 per hour in normal years. Famous for storms in 1833, 1966 and 1999–2002. In 2026 the peak falls with the moon partly in the sky. Check moonrise times for your town.
Geminids: peak 13–14 December 2026
Rates: up to around 120–150 per hour. Often the year's best shower, with bright, slow meteors from asteroid 3200 Phaethon. In 2026 the peak falls close to the new moon (9 December 2026), giving dark skies.
Tips for UK stargazing
Check cloud forecasts, wrap up warmer than you think, give your eyes 20 minutes to adjust and use a red torch. The few nights either side of a new moon are best for faint stars and the Milky Way. Our town guides list the nearest certified dark-sky places to over 100 UK towns and cities. UK delivery is £3.95, free on orders over £40, and usually takes 2–5 working days.
Planning with the moon
The darkest skies come in the week around each new moon. Our moon phase calendar for each month lists exact dates.
Planets to look for
Venus shines brilliantly in the west after sunset or in the east before dawn for months at a time. Jupiter is the bright, steady 'star' that doesn't twinkle. Saturn's rings show in even a small telescope. A planetarium app helps you find which planets are up on any night.
The Milky Way from the UK
The summer Milky Way runs from Cassiopeia down through Cygnus to Sagittarius on the southern horizon. Look for it on moonless nights from late July to September, away from lights, after full darkness falls. Our local guides show when full darkness returns at your latitude.
Words worth knowing
- Dark Sky Reserve: a large area certified by DarkSky International for its dark night skies.
- Opposition: when a planet is opposite the sun, at its brightest.
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Questions answered
Is there a solar eclipse in the UK in 2027?
Yes. A partial solar eclipse on 2 August 2027 is visible across the UK, weather permitting.
When is the next lunar eclipse visible in the UK?
A penumbral lunar eclipse on 20–21 February 2027, then a partial lunar eclipse on 12 January 2028.
Which meteor shower is the highlight of 2026–27?
Usually the Perseids in August or the Geminids in December.
Do I need a telescope?
No. Meteors and eclipses are best with the naked eye, and binoculars help with the moon. Always use proper solar filters for the sun.
Where can I find dark skies in the UK?
International Dark Sky Places include Exmoor, the South Downs, the North York Moors, Galloway Forest and Bannau Brycheiniog.
Do I need a telescope to start stargazing?
No. Binoculars and a star chart show a great deal.
When are the darkest nights each month?
The week around each new moon. Our month-by-month moon calendar lists the exact dates for 2026 and 2027.
Key facts (summary)
- From November 2026 to October 2027, the UK sky's highlights are the Geminid meteors in December, a penumbral lunar eclipse on 20–21 February 2027, the Perseids in August and a partial solar eclipse on 2 August 2027.
- Yes.
- A penumbral lunar eclipse on 20–21 February 2027, then a partial lunar eclipse on 12 January 2028.
- Usually the Perseids in August or the Geminids in December.
- No.
- International Dark Sky Places include Exmoor, the South Downs, the North York Moors, Galloway Forest and Bannau Brycheiniog.
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