| THE COLONY NEWS | JANUARY 2026 | 15
By Mike Vergara, 951-473-5806
Happy New Year!
Astronomy is a funny science. There are a lot of things that
happen in the sky that are predictable, and things that are not.
We often make plans for observing things – like the planets or
a particular galaxy or nebula – but can get sidetracked by the
unexpected.
That happened in 2025 with a series of comets that were a
surprise. It makes me wonder what unexpected phenomena
await us in the new year!
Here are some of the predictable things that will happen in
2026. I will have more details in the coming months.
Jupiter and Saturn will both have oppositions this year. When
a planet is at opposition it's the best time to observe the planet
through a telescope or binoculars. Jupiter is Jan. 10, and Saturn
is Oct. 4.
In May we'll have a Blue Moon. A Blue Moon occurs when there
is a second full moon in a calendar month. In May the Flower
Moon is on the 1st, and the Blue Moon is on the 31st.
And we get two lunar eclipses this year! A full eclipse of the
moon will happen in March, and a partial eclipse in August.
If you're looking for a fun evening this year, I'd like to invite you
to come visit the Palomar College Planetarium. Our planetarium
show – called The Sky Tonight – occurs every Friday at 7:00pm.
Admission for seniors is $4.00. We set up telescopes for visual
viewing, too! Weather permitting. I recommend getting tickets
online at https://www.palomar.edu/planetarium/public-shows/.
Clear skies!
January Sky January Sky
