A crowd watches the 2024 Niagara Falls solar eclipse. File photo. Photo: Matt Rourke/AP/TT
Jupiter’s moons, lots of auroras and some supermoons. 2026 offers several interesting celestial phenomena.
But by far the biggest event will be the solar eclipse in August.
– It is an absolutely fantastic natural experience, says astronomer Peter Linde.
The total solar eclipse that occurs on August 12 will be the highlight of the year for many astronomically interested.
In Sweden, however, it is a partial solar eclipse where up to 85 percent of the sun’s diameter is covered.
The eclipse occurs in the evening when the sun is going down, so it is important to have a reasonably clear view to the west.
– It can be extra spectacular if you want. You will be able to see this happening on the horizon, says Peter Linde, chairman of the Swedish Astronomical Society and docent in astronomy at Lund University.
Travel to Spain
Those who want to get the one hundred percent experience can travel – to Iceland, Greenland or perhaps preferably to Spain where the solar eclipse is total in a narrow belt all the way from the Basque Country in the northwest to the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean.
– There are probably many people who travel to Spain to be able to see the whole part, myself included. I’ve only seen one proper solar eclipse and that was last April 8th in Mexico. It is an absolutely fantastic nature experience, says Peter Linde.
The year also offers some other good space experiences, says Linde.
Among other things, the recurring meteor shower the Perseids with up to 100 meteors per hour. The meteor shower reaches its peak on August 12, the same day as the solar eclipse. Set up for an astronomical all-nighter, in other words.
– Then it won’t get dark until ten o’clock, but I think you can absolutely stay in the same recliner and watch shooting stars when it starts to get dark. It is quite special that it happens to coincide, says Peter Linde.
The ISS party trick
There will be no total lunar eclipse, or blood moon, this year. But on the other hand, some supermoons, i.e. a full moon at the same time as the moon is closest to the earth in its orbit. Since the sun is still at its most active in its cycle, there are also good chances for aurora borealis, even south of Norrland.
Peter Linde also wants to advise on scouting the International Space Station ISS now in January when it is sunlit and it is dark enough for it to be visible in the evening sky.
– I’ve used it as a party trick among friends, when I say “okay now we’ll go out and check because in five minutes the space station will come over us”, and it always does.
Björn Berglund/TT
There will be good chances for the northern lights this year as well. Archive image. Photo: Joakim Goksör/TT
Total solar eclipse in Texas 2024. Stock image. Photo: Eric Gay/AP/TT
Fact
Winter
January 3: Supermoon.
February 26: Jupiter and the Moon are quite close together in the sky.
The International Space Station ISS is visible in the evening from Sweden at least once per evening.
The planet Jupiter is a dominant and bright object. With ordinary binoculars you can see the four largest moons (the Galilean moons).
Good chances of seeing the Northern Lights, as the sun is in an active period and the evenings are dark.
Our
April 22: The Lyrid meteor shower reaches its maximum with about 10 meteors per hour.
Summer
June 17: Venus is near a thin new moon, with Jupiter nearby. Seen in the west shortly after sunset.
August 11–13: The Perseid meteor shower reaches its maximum with about 100 meteors per hour.
August 12: Total solar eclipse can be seen in, among other places, Spain. In Sweden, it becomes partial and occurs in the evening.
Autumn
November 17: The Leonids meteor shower is at its maximum with about 10-20 meteors per hour.
November 24: Supermoon.
Winter
December 14: The Geminid meteor shower reaches its maximum with about 100 meteors per hour.
December 24: Supermoon.
All observations assume clear weather.
For those who want to keep track of the positions of stars and planets, Peter Linde recommends the free Stellarium service.
Satellites and the ISS can be found via the Heavens-Above website and app.
Source: Peter Linde
