Russia’s 2026 Sky Guide: Two Visible Eclipses and Two Early‑Year Comets

Overview

• A total lunar eclipse on March 3 will be visible from Russia’s Far East, including Primorye and Kamchatka, while the Moon will be below the horizon in Moscow.
• On August 12, northern and northwestern regions of Russia will see partial phases of a total solar eclipse, with about 1% coverage in Moscow during sunset hours.
• The August 12 eclipse coincides with the Perseid meteor shower’s peak and a new moon, creating darker skies for evening observing.
• The year’s other eclipses will largely miss Russia, with an annular solar eclipse on February 17 and a partial lunar eclipse on August 28 favoring Antarctica and other regions.
• Two comets are expected to be observable with amateur telescopes: 24P/Schaumasse passes about 88.7 million km from Earth on January 4 with no threat, and C/2024 E1 could reach magnitude 6–7 in February if it survives its January perihelion.