The Pakistan Meteorological Department has released the full schedule of solar and lunar eclipses expected in 2026. Helping sky-watchers and astronomy lovers prepare for these celestial events.
According to officials, four eclipses will take place next year — two solar and two lunar. The first solar eclipse will occur on February 17, starting around 3:00 PM, reaching its peak near 5:00 PM, and ending by 7:30 PM Pakistan Standard Time. However, experts confirmed that this eclipse will not be visible from Pakistan and can only be observed from parts of the Atlantic Ocean and Western Africa.
The first lunar eclipse of the year will follow on March 3. It will be partially visible from Pakistan, giving local viewers a chance to witness the event for a short duration. Depending on weather conditions. Later in the year, another solar eclipse will occur between August 12 and 13, but it too will not be visible in Pakistan. The year’s final eclipse — a lunar eclipse on August 28 — will also remain invisible from the country. Dawn
Astronomy enthusiasts say these phenomena offer valuable opportunities to study the movement of celestial bodies and their alignment with Earth. Eclipses occur when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align perfectly, temporarily blocking sunlight or casting shadows on one another. BBC
In related news, NASA has announced the discovery of a second moon-like object orbiting alongside Earth. The object, detected by researchers from the University of Hawaii. Measures between 18 and 36 meters wide and has been traveling with Earth since the 1960s.
Unlike the Moon, this quasi-moon does not orbit Earth directly. Instead, it circles the Sun while moving in sync with Earth’s orbit, staying about 4 million kilometers away. Scientists believe this small celestial body will continue its journey near Earth until around 2083, making it a long-term cosmic companion.
Experts describe the discovery as a reminder of the fascinating and ever-changing dynamics of our solar system. Whether visible or not, the 2026 eclipses and the second moon continue to inspire curiosity about the vast universe surrounding our planet. NASA
[…] joint astronaut training and collaborative space research under China’s expanding international space […]