Amazing space stuff you won’t want to miss in 2026, including a Canadian man going to the moon

happy new year!

As we enter 2026, we can look back at all the great things that have happened in space over the past 12 months, from receiving our third known interstellar visitor – 3i/atlas – To view the beautiful display of the Northern Lights, for the opening of Vera C. Rubin Observatory It could change our ideas about the universe in ways we don’t yet understand.

And now, we’d like to take a look at some really cool things that skywatchers will want to keep an eye on in the coming year.

Meteors, meteors, meteors!

First, let’s start with meteorites, as they are the most accessible to all.

the year begins quadrilateralA shower that lasts from December 28 to January 12. Its peak occurs at night 2nd January, running till the early hours of 3rd January,

Under ideal conditions this shower can produce more than 120 meteors per hour – but it is also kind of tricky compared to other meteor showers, as the peak only lasts a few hours.

“You know, it’s one of those showers where, if you get it at the right time and the conditions are right, you really see an increase in activity, because it’s such a fast-moving and intense shower,” said Peter Brown, Canada Research Chair in Meteor Astronomy and professor at Western University in London, Ontario.

But this year’s spectacle will be even more difficult to catch.

“The sad part about the Quadrantids this year is that it’s on a full moon,” Brown said, “which makes it harder to see meteors because of the bright sky.”

He also said the generally cloudy winter weather could make it even more difficult.

Now, if you have the patience, and are willing to wait eight months for the chance to see an amazing meteor shower, buckle up. Because there can be a lot of drama there.

2026 perseid meteor shower Runs from July 17 to August 24, but peak night August 12-13With about 150 meteors per hour under ideal conditions.

But there is something else that makes this rain one of the most awaited rains of the year.

“For the Perseids, it’s all about the moon, and we have a nice moon for next year. In fact, it’s literally a new moon,” Brown said.

So, no moonlight means that even lighter meteors will be visible, especially if you are in a dark location.

Eventually, have to come back geminid meteor shower In December. It runs from 4 to 17 December and peaks on the night of 13-14 DecemberThis shower also produces more than 150 meteors per hour under ideal conditions, And for peak night, the Moon will be a waxing crescent, meaning it won’t interfere with viewing,

a canadian goes to the moon

It’s been a long time coming, but finally, NASA’s Artemis II mission is ready to fly to the Moon.

Unlike the unmanned mission in 2022, where the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket took off from Cape Canaveral, Florida on its inaugural mission, and the Orion capsule orbited the Moon and returned safely to Earth, this time the astronauts on board are: NASA’s Reed Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover and Canadian Space Agency’s own Jeremy Hansen,

The exact launch date is unknown, but at the time of publication, the launch window opens february 5 For about a 10 day mission. The astronauts will circle Earth a few times before heading to the Moon, where they will orbit the Moon while testing systems and conducting lunar research from orbit, after which they will return home.

This mission’s orbit will carry four astronauts to the farthest distance flown by any human to date, surpassing even Apollo 13 in 1970.

eclipses

For Canadians, there wasn’t much in the way of eclipses in 2025, but that changes in 2026.

But March 3there will be a total lunar eclipse Which will be visible in the entire country. The best places will be the west coast and north-western regions where the entire eclipse will be visible. To its east, the eclipse will be visible at moonset, the moment the Moon disappears above Earth’s horizon.

Remember the Perseids as discussed above and how this is the new moon? Well, what else do we get sometimes during Amavasya? That’s right: solar eclipse.

Now, this does not mean that every month when there is a new moon there is a solar eclipse somewhere around the world. The mechanics of the Earth and Moon’s orbits must be perfect. And, it so happens that in August, those mechanics work in our favor.

But 12 AugustA total solar eclipse will occur in the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland and Spain. But for Canada, we’ll get one partial solar eclipseThe best places to see will be in the central and eastern parts of the country, where it will look as if something has taken a small slice from the sun,

Then, two weeks later, there’s a partial lunar eclipse,

But 28 August, Most of the Moon will pass through Earth’s shadow. All but a small portion of the Moon will turn orange-red, depending on what is in the atmosphere. The eclipse will be visible across the country.

space mission

In addition to Artemis II going to the Moon, some other space missions are also expected in 2026.

Rocket Lab has ambitious plans scheduled for summer 2026 mission to venusOne of several planets planned for Earth’s sister planet.

Following a 2020 study where the authors found phosphine – a chemical signature produced by organisms on Earth – in the clouds of Venus, several missions have been proposed as follow-ups.

For this mission, a probe will be released into the planet’s atmosphere to search for the presence of organic materials.

Life in the clouds of Venus? We may know soon.

then there is japan Discovery of Mars’ MoonThe mission is scheduled to launch sometime in 2026, where it will study Mars’ two moons, Phobos and Deimos, What makes this mission especially exciting is that it will collect a sample from Phobos and bring it to Earth,

Finally, there’s a big one: Nancy Grace Roman Space TelescopeBut, like all planned missions, the launch date is subject to change,

Its launch could take place as early as 2026, although this could slide to 2027.

This space telescope was awaited for a long time. Its goal? to find the elusive dark matter and dark energyBoth of these are invisible to the human eye but are believed to make up about 75 percent of the universe.

These are some of the things to look forward to in 2026, but who knows what surprises await? Perhaps another interstellar visitor or comet that lights up the night?

You just have to keep your eyes on the sky.