Thailand’s 2026 Sky Calendar: Blood Moons, Supermoons & Planets

The night – and sometimes the afternoon – will give Thai sky-watchers plenty of excuses to look up in 2026. From a brick-red lunar eclipse that coincides with a major Buddhist holiday to a Christmas Eve supermoon, the calendar is loaded with rare alignments, bright planets and even a moment when the Sun stands directly overhead.

Snapshot of the celestial calendar

• Total lunar eclipse visible nationwide on Makha Bucha Day (3 Mar)

• Jupiter and Saturn at opposition, at their brightest and biggest

• The year’s smallest full moon – a so-called micro blue moon – on Visakha Bucha Day (31 May)

• Christmas Eve supermoon to end the year in style

• Two peaks of Venusian brilliance, evening and morning

• A brief Moon–Venus hide-and-seek above the western horizon (14 Sep)

• Perseid and Geminid meteor showers under tropical skies

• Twice-a-year zenith Sun roasting Bangkok in April and August

Why Thailand has front-row seats

Thailand sits just north of the Equator, giving residents a clear view of both the northern and southern celestial hemispheres. The low seasonal cloud cover in the cool months of January and December means crisper night skies, while rural provinces from Nakhon Ratchasima to Nan still offer dark-sky pockets beyond Bangkok’s light pollution. For beach dwellers, the Andaman coast receives drier skies in March, perfect for the coming eclipse.

Jupiter rules January nights

On 10 Jan the King of Planets swings to opposition, placing Jupiter only 633 M km from Earth – about as close as it gets this year. A modest 30× telescope resolves four Galilean moons; double that power and the Great Red Spot – a storm 1.3 times wider than Earth – pops into view. The gas giant remains above the horizon from dusk till dawn, making it an easy target even from balcony railings in Bangkok’s suburbs.

A blood-red Makha Bucha Moon

Devotees leaving candlelit processions on 3 Mar will step outside to find the full Moon already in total eclipse. The umbral phase begins while the Moon is still below the horizon, so Thai viewers will first see a coppery disc rising in the east at 18:23. The totality fades into a partial phase at 19:02 before the spectacle ends around 21:23. No equipment is needed, though photographers might try a 200 mm lens to frame temple spires against the crimson orb.

Micro and supermoons bookend the year

Five lunar cycles later – 31 May – a micro blue moon hovers high during Visakha Bucha rituals. Sitting near apogee, it appears about 14 % smaller than December’s counterpart. Fast-forward to 24 Dec when the supermoon arrives just in time for holiday travel, its diameter roughly 14 % larger and 30 % brighter than May’s. Coastal resorts from Koh Samui to Phuket will enjoy mirror-like reflections across the sea.

Venus steals the twilight

The Solar System’s brightest planet hits two peaks: 22 Sep in the evening sky and 27 Nov before dawn. Through a small telescope the planet shows a delicate crescent, a reminder that Venus, like the Moon, has phases. Astro-photographers favour short exposures; any longer and the planet’s dazzling brilliance will over-expose the frame.

A brief lunar curtain over Venus

On 14 Sep, early evening observers have a narrow window – barely an hour – to witness the Moon occulting Venus. Look low in the west from 19:28 while there is still twilight to help locate the pair; the Moon sets by 20:24, ending the show. Binoculars are handy, but the naked eye can still catch Venus winking out as the lunar limb creeps across.

Saturn’s rings on October display

Saturn’s turn comes on 4 Oct. At 1,261 M km distant, its apparent size is smaller than Jupiter’s yet the iconic rings span 42 arc-seconds, large enough for a 60 mm backyard refractor. Because opposition places the planet opposite the Sun, the rings are illuminated face-on – a treat seldom matched in brightness.

Hidden dazzles: meteors and the zenith Sun

Perseid meteors peak on 12–13 Aug, with up to 80 streaks per hour dark-sky conditions. The Geminids follow on 13–14 Dec, reliably bright thanks to slow entry speeds. Meanwhile, residents in provinces sitting between 13°N and 18°N latitude will twice experience the Sun at the zenith – Bangkok around 27 Apr and again near 16 Aug. At midday shadows vanish, a handy reminder to top up sunscreen.

How to beat the light dome

Catching faint meteors or delicate lunar colours means escaping urban glare. Consider these spots:– Doi Inthanon National Park, Chiang Mai – highest altitude, often crystal skies– Sirindhorn Observatory, Nakhon Ratchasima – public telescopes and staff guidance– Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park, Kanchanaburi – minimal light pollution within 2 h of BangkokPack a red-light torch, insect repellent and, for telescope users, a phone adapter if you plan on quick astrophotography.

Bottom line

Whether you follow Buddhist feast days or western holidays, 2026 offers sky shows that align perfectly with Thailand’s cultural calendar. Jot the dates now – you will not want to miss the next time a blood Moon rises over a candlelit temple or a supermoon glows above Christmas lights.