(NewsNation) — The 2026 lunar cycle will include an annular solar eclipse and both full and partial lunar eclipses.
The first new moon of 2026 occurs on Jan. 18 in Capricorn at 2:52 p.m. EST.
New moons happen when the moon is between the Earth and the sun, with its shadow side toward the Earth. Because of the Earth’s tilt, the moon doesn’t block out the sun on every orbit.
On Feb. 17, however, the new moon in Aquarius will be positioned to cause an annular eclipse, when the moon blocks out the majority of the sun, leaving only a small ring visible.
The eclipse will only be fully visible from remote parts of Antarctica and some areas of the Southern Ocean.
The next new moons will be Mar. 18, in Pisces, Apr. 17 in Aries, May 16 in Taurus, June 14 in Gemini and July 14 in Cancer.
On Aug. 12, the new moon in Leo will cause a total solar eclipse, with the moon completely blocking out the sun.
That eclipse will cross part of Siberia, eastern Greenland, western Iceland and northern Spain. The totality, when the sun is completely blocked, will last just over two minutes.
The year will close out with new moons on Sept. 10 in Virgo, Oct. 10 in Libra, Nov. 9 in Scorpio and Dec. 8 in Sagittarius.
Skywatchers should pay attention to the days immediately before and after the new moon, when a thin crescent is present, and it’s sometimes possible to observe Earthshine.
Earthshine happens when it appears as if you can see the entire moon illuminated with a bluish-gray glow, produced by light from the illuminated Earth reflecting off the moon’s surface.