Ahab's Sextant
【2026 Starry Sky Guide】
Happy New Year!
The night sky of 2026 is also full of exciting drama throughout the year.
First of all, did you try watching the Quadrantid meteor shower on Saturday, January 4th? Since it was the day after the full moon, the conditions were the worst, but if you were able to see even one shooting star, you might be able to expect good luck this year. It seems many people look up at the sky to test their luck for the year.
Just past 1:00 AM on Wednesday, the 7th of this month, there will be an occultation of Regulus, where the first-magnitude star Regulus in Leo is hidden by the Moon. (Also on Monday, March 2nd at 8:30 PM) Since the moonlight is dazzling, observation with binoculars or a telescope is recommended over the naked eye. Also, on
Saturday, January 10th, Jupiter will reach opposition, being on the opposite side of the Sun, so it will have a brightness of -2.7.
In early spring, on Tuesday, March 3rd, there will be a total lunar eclipse visible throughout Japan, where you can see the mysterious sight of the Moon sinking deep into the Earth's shadow. It is in the early evening, which is the best time for observation, so please be sure to mark it in your schedule book. It is still a chilly time of year, so dress warmly. If you fix your smartphone to a stand and shoot a time-lapse, you might be able to capture some wonderful footage.
On Tuesday, June 9th at 9:30 PM, don't miss the spectacular planetary show of the conjunction between Venus and Jupiter. Be sure to check out the meeting of the two top stars, Venus and Jupiter.
Speaking of the main event of a summer night, it is the Perseids meteor shower on Thursday, August 13th. Since this year it falls on the night of the new moon, conditions will be favorable.
At the end of November, in the eastern sky before dawn, a chance arrives to see four planets at once: Mars, Jupiter, Venus at its maximum brightness, and Mercury. It is a sight I am looking forward to. Exciting, so exciting.
On Monday, December 14th at 11:00 PM, the reliable Geminids meteor shower will reach its peak, coloring the end of the year.
In addition to this, continuing from last year, there is a possibility that intense auroras known as breakups or red low-latitude auroras may appear in places like Hokkaido. Also, we might even encounter an unexpected visitor, a comet. What kind of encounters await us? I would be happy if you could look up at the sky and enjoy it again this year.
Now, as for the constellations, Jupiter is visiting the bright winter constellations, making for a lively night sky just like last year.
When you face your body southand look up at the sky, the back is north. Furthest to the north is Auriga's Capella. Below that is Taurus's Aldebaran. Orion's Rigel and Canis Major's Sirius. Furthermore, Canis Minor's Procyon and Gemini's Pollux. Now, have you connected the Winter Diamond? This great, great star jewel, which belongs to no one but the person who looks up at it, will teach you the vastness of the sky. When the yellow glow of Jupiter, and sometimes the pearl-like Moon, are added to that Winter Diamond, it becomes even more brilliant.
If you draw the Winter Triangle with Orion's Betelgeuse, Canis Major's Sirius, and Canis Minor's Procyon, you have captured the phantom horse, the unicorn, within it. It is Monoceros. Although it is an imaginary animal, it is said that people in medieval Europe thought it actually existed in the East. There is also a theory that they might have seen a rhinoceros and confused it with a unicorn. Why not let your thoughts wander to the constellation of the horse, which is also this year's zodiac animal?
By the way, this year, humanity is finally scheduled to aim for the Moon again through NASA's Artemis program. Artemis is the
Goddess of the Moon. In Greek mythology, she and the hunter Orion were lovers who shared a common hobby: hunting. However, her twin brother, Apollo, the Sun god, did not approve and tore them apart. One day, he challenged Orion, who was walking on the sea, by shining sunlight on him, saying, "Even you couldn't hit that light on the sea." The spirited Artemis shot through the light with ease, only to realize it was her beloved. When poor Orion became a star, Artemis begged her father, Zeus, to let her pass right by him. The Moon's path is called the
lunar orbit, and it passes just above the constellation Orion, so it is said that Artemis and Orion still enjoy secret meetings in the night sky from time to time.Moon path is called the lunar orbit, and it passes just above the constellation Orion, so it is said that Artemis and Orion still enjoy secret meetings in the night sky from time to time.
(By the way, one of the dogs depicted is Canis Minor.
It is a constellation of a dog like Hachiko, who waits longingly for its master Actaeon, who was turned into a deer by Artemis's wrath and killed by his own hunting dogs.)
Heading to the Moon on the Artemis II mission is the "Orion spacecraft." I am always impressed by the clever naming sense that layers mythological romance onto space exploration. By the way, the previous one was the Apollo program, so it seems the jealous brother got the glory first. It remains to be seen if it will launch as scheduled, but I look forward to watching over it.
Thank you for reading again this time.
This is a seasonal greeting, but I look forward to your continued support this year as well!
May everyone enjoy their star-gazing activities with a peaceful heart in 2026...🌟
Kaori Nishi
Cosmo Planetarium Shibuya "Soothing Commentator Who Reads the Stars"
Has been visiting planetariums since childhood. In charge of the monthly starry sky guide for the space newsletter THE VOYAGE "Ahab's Sextant." A bit scatterbrained, she spends her days enjoying the views that can only be appreciated on Earth, even while causing a ruckus by falling into holes she dug herself (and dragging those around her into them too) both in public and private life.
Cosmo Planetarium Shibuya https://shibu-cul.jp/planetarium