by Donna Vanzetti, and Carol Redford
The spectacular Western Australian night sky will be on show in 2026. We’ve put together your ‘Cosmic Diary’, so you won’t miss a moment of the spectacular stars.
February: planet bucket list
Here’s a great chance of ticking off multiple planets from your bucket list in the one night. The Sun will have just set, but you should still see a glimpse of Venus and Mercury low on the western horizon before they disappear from view. As the sky darkens, Saturn and Jupiter will be visible to the naked eye. To see Neptune and Uranus, you’ll need a pair of high magnification binoculars or a medium sized telescope. Put February 19 in your diary for this one.
March: total eclipse of the moon
This impressive sight will be an early evening delight on March 3. Watch as the Earth’s shadow crosses the surface of the Moon and turns it a stunning coppery/red colour. At moon rise (6.43pm AWST), observers will see the partial eclipse underway. The total lunar eclipse starts at 7.04pm (AWST) and ends at 8.02pm (AWST).
April: planet parade on Anzac day dawn
Dawn on Anzac Day this year is extra special. This year, there are three naked-eye-visible planets in a celestial line up – Saturn, Mars and Mercury. The view will add to the poignancy of this very special morning.
May: dance of the planets
From mid-May and into June, stargazers are in for stunning evening night sky views. It’s the best stargazing all year. The planets of Venus, Jupiter and Mercury will put on a show that will change every night. It’s the motion of our Solar System in action.
June: finding the emu in the night sky
The Southern Cross is Australia’s most iconic constellation. Did you know it can only be seen from the Southern Hemisphere? Track it over time as it graces the southern skies. It’s also the best time to see one of the best-known Aboriginal constellations, the Emu in the Sky.
July: it’s Milky Way season
Milky Way Season is in full swing. If you’ve never seen the Milky Way on a moonless night August is perfect time to experience it. The Milky Way is simply stunning and is sought after by astrophotographers near and far.
August: Jupiter and Mercury pair up
In the early morning of August 15, stargazers are treated to a close approach of the planets Jupiter and Mercury in the pre-dawn sky. The proximity to sunrise will make it difficult and a straight view to the eastern horizon will be essential.
September: what is that bright star?
That bright evening star you see this spring is actually Venus. Our neighbouring planet will reach its greatest brilliance—its maximum brightness for the year—on two key dates: September 23, visible in the western sky during the evening and November 28, visible in the eastern sky during the early morning.
October: Mercury meets Venus
On October 12, Mercury and Venus are the “stars” of the show! The pair of naked-eye planets appear on either side of a thin crescent Moon after sunset. Mercury is the planet above the Moon and Venus is below.
November: supermoon time
The Moon’s orbit around Earth is slightly oval shaped or elliptical and every month there’s a time when the Moon is at its closest distance to Earth (at perigee). If the Moon is full at this time, it’s called a supermoon. Look for the supermoon on November 24.
December: catch a falling meteor shower
This year’s Geminids Meteor Shower is the best for the year. It coincides with a new Moon, so the sky will be wonderfully dark. The meteor shower peaks on the night of December 14 and into the early hours of the morning of the 15th.
There you have it. Our top tips to WA’s world-class dark night sky for 2026. Now all you need to do is plan your astro getaway and put yourself amongst the stars.
For more on these stargazing opportunities and the best stargazing under a dark night sky, visit one of WA’s Astrotourism Towns, www.astrotourismwa.com.au.
For stargazing events to attend, visit www.startracksastroevents.com.au.
