Dark Skies & Stargazing

What's new in the sky this year (2026)

Every year has a few can't-miss nights, and they move around the calendar. Here's what's worth driving for this year — and a reminder to confirm dates against a live source before you go.

This page is dated

The sky calendar is the one thing on this site that's rewritten every year — these are the 2026 dates. Meteor peaks, moon phases, eclipses, and aurora odds all shift, so confirm against an astronomy club, an almanac, or NOAA before you plan a trip.

Every year has a few can't-miss nights. 2026's headline is a rare moonless Perseid shower in August — the darkest Perseid skies in years.

The Perseids

Peaks the night of August 12–13, 2026

The moon: The moon is essentially absent (a new moon on Aug 11–12, about 0–1% lit, setting before true dark), so the sky stays dark all night — a rare treat, since most years the Perseids have to fight some moonlight.
How many you'll see: The ZHR of about 100 is the ideal, theoretical rate under perfect dark skies with the radiant overhead. Real counts are lower — roughly 60–100 an hour under truly dark Ozark skies, and 15–30 in the suburbs.
Best viewing: Best after midnight into the pre-dawn hours (the radiant is highest around 3–4 a.m.), with the summer Milky Way as a backdrop. Famous for fireballs. Parent comet: 109P/Swift-Tuttle.

The Geminids

Peaks the night of December 13–14, 2026

The moon: A thin, early-setting crescent (roughly a quarter lit or less) leaves dark skies for most of the night.
How many you'll see: The ideal rate is around 120–150 an hour under perfect conditions.
Best viewing: The radiant rises in mid-evening, so activity starts earlier — good for kids and families. The meteors are often bright, slow, and colorful, with lots of fireballs. Dress for December cold. Parent: the asteroid 3200 Phaethon.

Also this year

The Orionids peak around October 21–22, 2026 — a modest shower (about 20 an hour), and a bright moon (~72–80% lit) will wash out the fainter ones this year.
The Leonids peak around November 16–18 (with roughly a 45%-lit moon).

The darkest skies each month come around the new moon — plan around it.

The festival

The Missouri DarkSky Festival at Big Spring (Ozark National Scenic Riverways), held with the NPS. DarkSky Missouri lists a 2026 festival on October 9–10, but the dates change every year — check before you plan.

Aurora

The aurora is rare this far south and storm-driven — you can't schedule it. Watch NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, find a dark northern horizon, and treat any sighting as a bonus, not a plan.

Eclipses

The August 12, 2026 total solar eclipse is NOT a Missouri event — totality crosses Greenland, Iceland, and Spain. The next total solar eclipses over the contiguous U.S. aren't until the 2040s (Alaska has one in 2033), so the next one will mean a road trip. Check the path closer to the time.

Eclipse safety

Never look at the sun unprotected

Never look at the sun without certified ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses — ordinary sunglasses are NOT safe. And never look through binoculars, a telescope, or a camera while wearing eclipse glasses unless the optics have proper solar filters; the concentrated light injures your eyes instantly.

Before you head out

Missouri Porch explains; the sky and the season decide.

Last checked: 2026-06-18. The sky calendar changes every year — meteor dates, moon phases, planet positions, eclipses, and aurora odds all move. Check a live source (an astronomy club, an almanac, or NOAA) for the current detail.

Heads up: These are this year's dates. Before you drive out for a meteor shower or an eclipse, confirm the date and the moon against a current sky calendar — this page is rebuilt each year, but the sky keeps moving.

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