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Find the model you’re looking for now and head out into the spring skies with your new equipment.
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Temperatures are rising and the first rays of sunshine are drawing even couch astronomers back outside. Now is the perfect moment to look up at the sky once again. In the west, the familiar stars of winter are slowly setting. At the same time, the first stars of spring are already rising above the eastern horizon. It’s almost like a cosmic relay handover. The next three months offer rare moments in the sky.
Particularly fascinating: The Moon moves directly in front of the bright star Regulus. Our “Astro Highlights Spring 2026” show you all the important dates: The graphic presents the key dates at a glance, followed by a detailed description of the celestial events in the text below.
If you like, you can share the graphic on your own website. In that case, please include a link to www.astroshop.eu. Enjoy discovering!
March
08/03/2026 Venus meets Saturn
Just above the western horizon, the planets Venus and Saturn meet on March 8. While Venus shines brightly at -3.9 mag, Saturn appears much more subdued and almost delicate beside it. This contrast makes the encounter especially picturesque.
Nearby, the distant planet Neptune is also present. However, due to the bright twilight sky, it remains invisible and usually eludes observation even through a telescope.
10/03/2026 Moon meets Antares
In the early morning hours of March 10, the waning Moon approaches the main star of Scorpius: Antares. It is a red supergiant that shines brightly with a reddish glow in the night sky. With a diameter 700 times larger than our Sun, it would swallow several planets, including Earth, if it were in the place of our home star.
20/03/2026 Moon meets Venus
At dusk, they make a beautiful pair: the Moon and Venus. Both can be seen shortly after sunset just above the western horizon. The waxing crescent Moon is illuminated by only 3.5% and is just two days old. Both celestial bodies appear delicate against the blue twilight sky.
23/03/2026 Moon meets the Pleiades and Aldebaran
Even before it gets completely dark, we spot the crescent Moon above the western horizon. As darkness falls, the two bright stars Aldebaran and Capella appear nearby. About 5 degrees from the Moon, you can recognize the Seven Sisters, the Pleiades. Compared to the Moon, they appear almost filigree.
28/03/2026 Golden Handle on the Moon
At the end of March, the Moon once again shows one of its most beautiful sights: the Golden Handle becomes visible. This is a light phenomenon and offers something different from simply observing craters.
The shallow illumination near the lunar terminator creates a beautiful interplay of light and shadow. Over several hours, the peaks of the Montes Jura are illuminated by the Sun’s rays while the small plain of Sinus Iridum still lies in shadow. In the darkness, a delicate arc of light appears, resembling a golden handle.
29/03/2026 Moon occults Regulus
The waxing Moon occults the bright star Regulus in the constellation Leo. It is a striking event because Regulus, at magnitude 1.3, is one of the brightest stars in the sky. Astronomically speaking, this event occurs relatively often, as Regulus lies close to the Moon’s ecliptic path. When the Moon happens to be at exactly the same height along its orbit, an occultation occurs.
Binoculars or a small telescope are sufficient to follow the event. It begins at 20:20, when the star disappears behind the still unilluminated side of the Moon. About 1 hour and 20 minutes later, Regulus reappears shining from the other side of the Moon.
April
02/04/2026 Moon meets Spica
Spica is a massive blue star, a variable star and also a binary system. At a distance of 262 light-years, with 13,000 times the Sun’s luminosity and 7.5 times the Sun’s radius, it ranks sixteenth among the brightest stars in the sky.
At Spica’s position, Virgo holds an ear of wheat in her left hand—hence the star’s Latin name. On April 2, the Moon is nearby.
07/04/2026 Moon meets Antares
In the middle of the second half of the night, the constellation Scorpius rises above the horizon. We are currently enjoying spring—but in the early morning hours, we get a taste of the next season: summer. Scorpius lies within the summer Milky Way and neighbors Sagittarius. In Central Europe, Scorpius is known as a “horizon crawler,” as only part of the constellation rises above the horizon. The famous stinger of the Scorpion, which brought about Orion’s downfall, remains below our horizon. Tonight, the Moon is very close to the main star Antares.
19/04/2026 Moon meets Venus and the Pleiades
Clear skies and an unobstructed horizon? Then use the evening twilight for a quick observation or an atmospheric photo. Tonight in the west, the extremely thin crescent Moon appears near the Pleiades and the planet Venus. The distant Uranus also glimmers between the two celestial highlights.
22/04/2026 Lyrids
The Lyrids are a meteor shower that produces only 10 to 20 meteors per hour at its peak on April 22. During the optimal observing time between 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m., we can observe them this year without Moon interference only in the second half of the night. The Moon sets at 2:46 a.m. and is positioned on the opposite side of the sky from the radiant in Lyra. Even before that, it is low enough on the horizon to cause minimal disturbance.
22/04/2026 Moon meets Jupiter
Right after the meteor shower, another spectacle appears: During the night of April 22–23, the Moon passes above the king of the planets. Until they set, they approach each other to within about 2.5 degrees.
23/04/2026 Venus meets the Pleiades & Uranus
Venus and Uranus in a single field of view? Few have probably tried this—but it is indeed possible on April 23. On this night, they approach each other to within 42 arcminutes—close enough to observe them together in a 2″ wide-angle eyepiece.
May
04/05/2026 Moon meets Antares
On the morning of May 4, the Moon once again approaches the star Antares in Scorpius. If you missed it in March, you now have another chance. The event is ideal for early risers. What else is interesting about Scorpius? You can find that a little further up in the text.
05/05/2026 Eta Aquariids
In the second half of the night, we once again see a meteor shower. The Eta Aquariids appear to originate from the constellation Aquarius and leave long, bright trails across the sky. However, Aquarius rises only around 3:00 a.m. and barely climbs above the horizon in Central Europe. Nevertheless, we can still catch some bright meteors. Average rates range between 20 and 60 per hour.
14/05/2026 Moon meets Saturn
The Moon frequently pays our planets a visit. On May 14, the slender crescent visits Saturn. Such encounters are truly beautiful sights—and a wonderful opportunity for an atmospheric photo with a stationary camera and lens. Early in the morning, a clear view of the eastern horizon is required.
19/05/2026 Moon meets Venus & Jupiter
As twilight falls on May 19, an inviting celestial gathering awaits us. Low above the western horizon around 10:00 p.m., three striking celestial bodies assemble in the constellation Gemini: the Moon, Venus and Jupiter.
The Moon appears as a delicate waxing crescent, illuminated by about 13 percent. To its right shines Venus, the brightest planet in the night sky. On the other side, Jupiter glows with a slightly yellowish light. With a brightness of -3.9 mag, Venus clearly outshines the gas giant, which still reaches -1.9 mag. A direct comparison of these two planets is rarely this easy. The spectacle is especially beautiful during evening twilight—a perfect backdrop for a photo.
26/05/2026 Golden Handle
On the evening of May 26, we can observe the Golden Handle on the Moon. It appears when the waxing Moon is illuminated to exactly 83 percent—about 10 days after new Moon. The light phenomenon takes place, and on the dark side of the Moon’s light-shadow boundary, a handle-shaped arc emerges.
The sky is putting on a show. Between February 24 and March 2, six planets will gather in the sky at the same time. It’s a cosmic parade that rarely occurs: Venus shines like a spotlight, Jupiter reigns in the south, and even swift Mercury dares to emerge from hiding. But the best thing you can do is look up yourself.
When and where can you see the planets?
The observation window is clear: it lies between sunset and about 9:30 PM (CET). If the sky is clear, you’ll be able to spot Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn with the naked eye. Mercury is a bit more challenging, as it hugs the horizon. For Uranus and Neptune, you’ll need binoculars or a telescope.
Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn shine brightly enough to be seen without any aids. Mercury is also visible, but it’s a challenge near the horizon. For Uranus and Neptune, binoculars or a telescope are a must.
These planets are lined up
Mercury: Mercury had its evening visibility peak in February and still skims low along the western horizon. It appears nearly at the same height as Venus, just about 5 degrees apart. Simply grab a pair of binoculars and pan slightly to the right. And bingo! There it is, glowing in your field of view. Very important: choose a location with a completely unobstructed view of the horizon. But don’t wait too long—both planets dip below the horizon around 7 PM.
Venus: Venus beams like a cosmic spotlight low in the southwest and naturally draws the eye. It will remain our loyal companion until mid-March.
Jupiter: After dusk, our largest planet appears prominently in the southern sky and is the brightest object after Venus and the Moon.
Saturn: Saturn is still visible but is leaning heavily toward the western horizon. In just a few days, it will fade into the twilight.
Uranus & Neptune: Uranus (between Taurus and Aries) remains visible until mid-April. Neptune is less than a degree to the right of Saturn—a perfect opportunity to catch both planets through a telescope.
It’s best to grab your favorite stargazing app to pinpoint the exact positions in the sky.
You’ll find telescopes, a pair of binoculars, or astronomical glasses and other suitable accessories for your observations right here in our shop—feel free to browse our product range. Thanks to our fast shipping, in-stock items will arrive at your doorstep within just a few days.
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The Holidays are coming…
Christmas has snuck up on us again this year. Still looking for a Christmas gift? You don’t want to spend hours with saint-like patience searching for telescopes and accessories, however?
Especially during the “peaceful” Advent season most people hardly have time for that. In order to facilitate some of this stressful Holiday time for you we have the perfect solution!
With our telescope gift sets you’ll find the right present for your loved ones. Eyepieces, filters and star charts are already included – ready to take the recipients into the sky , as if they were riding on one of Santa’s reindeers.
Take a look at our telescope sets!
We wish you a joyful Advent season!
Still searching for the perfect gift? It’s not that easy, is it? Yet, every year this question sneaks back into our minds.
What if you didn’t have to worry about this at all this time? Just take a look at our gift page. You will find countless ideas for big and small astronomers there – and for those who want to become one.
Gifts for Astronomy Beginners: Useful gifts for getting started in Astronomy
Gifts for Hobby Astronomers: Even expert stargazers love to receive gifts!
Gifts for Nature Enthusiasts: Binoculars for observing birds and other animals
Gifts for Children and Teens: Ideas for young nature enthusiasts
Special Gifts: Looking for something extraordinary or particularly elegant?
Gifts for Hobby Microscopists: For everyone who loves discovering the world in miniature!
Get inspired and discover the most beautiful gift ideas!
The winter draws near and with it the darkest time of the year. Already in the early evening the Winter Hexagon sparkles in the sky and invites you to observe. In the coming three months there is much to discover in the heavens: from the Geminids without disturbing moon‑light to the bright Jupiter and even a small planetary parade in February. Our new astro‑highlights guide you through this time: month by month, star by star.
If you like, you are welcome to embed the graphic on your own website. Please link it then to www.astroshop.eu
December
4 Dec. Moon meets the Pleiades
In the early morning hours the nearly full Moon passes through the constellation Taurus and encounters the Pleiades, one of the most beautiful open star clusters of the winter sky. In binoculars the close encounter appears particularly impressive. Even with the bare eye you recognize the group as a small, sparkling star‑nest next to the Moon. Around 4 a.m. the constellation stands high in the sky and offers a mood‑filled start to the winter observations.
7 Dec. Mercury at greatest western elongation
Shortly before sunrise the otherwise shy Mercury shows itself. At the beginning of December it reaches its greatest western elongation, i.e., the largest separation from the Sun, and thus stands particularly favorably in the morning sky. From about 6:30 a.m. you spot it deep above the south‑eastern horizon, as a small, bright point in the first light of dawn. A clear horizon view is essential, because the time window is short before the Sun outshines it. For early risers the view pays off: Mercury appears as distinctly as hardly any other time of the year.
14 Dec. Maximum of the Geminids
On the night from 13 to 14 December you have, with a bit of weather luck, the chance to admire the most famous winter meteors. This active meteor stream reaches its maximum, and the conditions this year are almost perfect: the Moon hardly disturbs, the sky remains deep dark for most of the time. From midnight the radiant rises high in the sky, and the activity increases once again. Under good conditions you could theoretically count up to 80 meteors per hour. In practice there will be fewer, yet every bright meteor is a moment, right?
21 Dec. Start of winter
Here it is: Winter begins, and at 16:00 the Sun descends as deeply as it never does all year. The day bids farewell early and the night stretches across the remaining hours. For many stargazers this is the finest time of the year: Long nights invite you to set up the telescope after work. From now on the light also returns slowly – barely noticeable, yet a little more each day.
22 Dec. Ursids
Hardly are the Geminids over, the next meteor stream is already on deck. On the night from 22 to 23 December the Ursids reach their maximum. This is a small but fine meteor stream, appearing to come from the constellation Ursa Minor. With about ten meteors per hour it offers no spectacle, but rather a modest finale. In this year no moonlight disturbs, and in the long winter nights you can take your time.
31 Dec. Moon meets the Pleiades
Late in the afternoon dusk sets in, and you discover the bright Moon exactly above the eastern horizon. If the sky is clear, the two bright stars Aldebaran and Capella appear close by. Next to the Moon, at about 1.5 degrees distance, you recognise the Pleiades. In comparison to the Moon they appear almost delicate. By the way: If you raise a glass at midnight, above you shines the bright Jupiter, which reaches opposition in January.
January
3 Jan. Quadrantids
Hardly has the new year begun, meteors again streak across the sky. On the night from 3 to 4 January the Quadrantids reach their maximum. Their radiant lies in the modest constellation Boötes, near the star Arcturus, and only rises higher after midnight.
3 Jan. Moon meets Jupiter
Right after the meteor shower another spectacle shows: On the night from 3 to 4 January the Moon passes near the planet Jupiter. Around 10 p.m. the two celestial bodies stand about three degrees apart. You notice that with the bare eye.
6 Jan. Moon meets Regulus
Late in the evening the waning Moon traverses the constellation Leo and encounters Regulus, the constellation’s brightest star. A star‑occultation by the Moon even takes place, which you cannot follow because Regulus still lies below the horizon at that moment. In binoculars the two bodies later appear splendidly.
10 Jan. Jupiter at opposition
Today Jupiter stands in opposition to the Sun. Now it lies closest to Earth and is visible all night long. Once the Sun sets, Jupiter ascends in the east and reaches its highest point in the south around midnight. With a brightness of about −2.7 mag it outshines every constellation and dominates the winter sky. Even in binoculars you recognise its four Galilean moons as tiny points of light shifting night by night. In a telescope you see its cloud‑covered atmosphere with its typical belts – and perhaps the “Great Red Spot” if it happens to be visible.
23 Jan. Moon meets Saturn
In the early evening the crescent Moon passes by Saturn – a beautiful sight during dusk. Around 6 p.m. the two stand in the southwest, about five degrees apart. The ring planet shines as a yellowish point, while the Moon hovers directly above. With binoculars you see both comfortably in the same field of view, and in a telescope the fine rings of Saturn already show at modest magnification. For many this is the last good chance to observe the planet before it sinks deeper into the dusk in February.
27 Jan. Moon meets the Pleiades
On this night the Moon again passes the Pleiades and comes especially close to the cluster. Around 10 p.m. both stand in the constellation Taurus, only a few arc‑minutes apart. At about 10:35 CET the Moon even occults the 4.3 mag bright star 19 Tau with its dark side. Tip: Times and whether an occultation occurs depend on location in Europe. Even with the bare eye you easily notice the Moon–Pleiades approach if the sky is clear. A familiar sight for many amateur astronomers – yet still fascinating.
30 Jan. Moon meets Jupiter
At month’s end two of the most noticeable objects in the sky meet: the bright Moon and Jupiter. Late in the evening they stand together in the constellation Gemini and catch the eye effortlessly. Not far away the stars Castor and Pollux glitter and frame the scene.
February
3 Feb. Moon meets Regulus
On this evening the Moon again traverses the constellation Leo and passes Regulus at exceptionally close distance. Only at about 5 a.m. the closest approach at approximately ten arc‑minutes occurs. That is extremely close and thus definitely worth looking.
7 Feb. Moon meets Spica
In the second half of the night (i.e., the night of 6/7 February) the waning Moon meets the bright main star of the constellation Virgo: Spica. Shortly before sunrise both stand deep above the south‑eastern horizon, only somewhat more than two degrees apart.
11 Feb. Moon meets Antares
Before dawn the Moon crosses the constellation Scorpius and approaches the reddish glowing Antares. Around four a.m. both appear above the south‑eastern horizon. Antares – a red super‑giant and the heart of the Scorpion.
18 Feb. Moon meets Mercury and Venus
On 18 February the Moon approaches the two planets Mercury and Venus, which stand in the evening dusk directly above the western horizon. This evening proves special, because the already delicate young lunar crescent is only 1.5 % illuminated, for the new Moon occurred just yesterday. That creates a beautiful mood‑portrait.
19 Feb. Moon meets Mercury and Saturn
A lovely trio shows up in the early evening deep above the western horizon. The young Moon stands in the dusk snugly between Mercury and Saturn. Both planets remain hard to catch, because the dusk dominates. Yet if you start observing early you also discover Venus right over the horizon.
27 Feb. Moon meets Jupiter
Toward month’s end the Moon and Jupiter meet again, this time high in the constellation Gemini. Already in the early evening both are unmistakable: the two brightest objects of the sky close together.
28 Feb. Small planetary parade
As a finale you face a rare spectacle. Shortly after sunset several planets line up along the ecliptic. Mercury and Venus very low in the west, a little higher Saturn and invisible beside it Neptune. High in Gemini shines Jupiter and in Taurus the faint Uranus. You see: everything present here, yet the parade demands effort: Some planets stand low and fade quickly in the dusk. If you bring patience and pick a spot with perfect horizon view, then you may discover several planets with binoculars.
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The offer is valid from September 30rd to November 23th, 2025 and only while supplies last!
