by Peggy Robin
Lots of drama in the sky this year!
The first supermoon of the year occurred in the wee hours of this morning, January 3. It's called the Wolf Moon. Here's what I found out about it from a Facebook poster quoting The Old Farmer's Almanac. Full Moon for January 2026: The Wolf Moon.:
The first full moon of the year, known as the Super Wolf Moon, is set to peak on January 3, providing a spectacular start to the lunar calendar. This event occurs when the moon reaches perigee, the point in its orbit where it is closest to Earth. As a result, the lunar surface will appear approximately 14% larger and 30% more radiant than a typical micromoon, offering an exceptional opportunity for photographers and skywatchers alike to witness its brilliance against the winter sky.
While the name 'Wolf Moon' evokes images of starving animals in the dead of winter, its origins are rooted in complex biological behaviors observed by ancient cultures. Wolves were often heard howling more frequently during this period, but modern science reveals these calls are more about social structure than hunger. These nocturnal predators utilize the increased visibility and crisp winter air to communicate across long distances, helping them coordinate hunting packs and define territorial boundaries during the most challenging months of the year.
If you missed it, your next chance to see the moon so large and bright in the sky won't be until November 24, 2026 - called the Beaver Moon.
In May we will have the extra treat of two full moons within the same calendar month. The second one is called a Blue Moon -- which makes 2026 a rare year with 13 instead of 12 full moons.
2026 is an eclipse lover’s dream. 
....but you will need to travel far, far from here.
....but you will need to travel far, far from here.Four powerful eclipses will unfold across the year—two solar and two lunar—turning 2026 into one of the most dramatic skywatching years of this decade.
1. Annular Solar Eclipse — February 17, 2026
The famous “Ring of Fire”
Where:Annular (Ring of Fire): Antarctica.
Partial: Southern South America (Chile, Argentina), Southern Africa, and parts of the Indian/Atlantic Oceans.
Timings (UTC):• Eclipse begins: ~09:57
• Eclipse ends: ~14:27
During this event, the Moon will be slightly too far from Earth to fully cover the Sun, leaving behind a glowing ring of sunlight—one of the most beautiful solar sights possible 
2. Total Lunar Eclipse — March 3, 2026 A deep Blood Moon Where: North & South America, the Pacific Ocean, Australia, and Eastern Asia. Timings:Partial Eclipse Begins: 09:50
Totality Begins: 11:04
Maximum Eclipse: 11:33
Totality Ends: 12:02
Partial Eclipse Ends: 13:17
The Moon will pass entirely into Earth’s shadow, turning a dramatic copper-red as sunlight filters through our atmosphere
3. Total Solar Eclipse — August 12, 2026 The crown jewel of the year Where: Totality: Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, Northern Spain, Portugal (small sliver).Partial: Most of Europe, North Africa, North America, and the Atlantic.
Timings (UTC):Partial Eclipse Begins: 15:34
Totality Begins: 16:58
Maximum Eclipse: 17:46
Totality Ends: 18:34
Partial Eclipse Ends: 19:58
Day will briefly turn into night as the Sun is completely hidden, revealing the solar corona—an awe-inspiring sight few ever forget 
4. Deep Partial Lunar Eclipse — August 28, 2026 How deep? About 93% of the Moon will be covered by the dark umbral shadow! Where: North & South America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Timings (UTC):Penumbral Eclipse Begins: 01:23
Partial Eclipse Begins: 02:33
Maximum Eclipse: 04:12
Partial Eclipse Ends: 05:52
Penumbral Eclipse Ends: 07:01
A subtle but elegant shadow will glide across the Moon, closing the eclipse season softly 
2026 Maxes Out on Fridays the 13th
Hope you're not a Paraskevidekatriaphobe! That's someone with a superstitious fear of Friday the 13th. 2026 will have three of them - the maximum number possible in a calendar year.
Watch out for these dates:
Friday, February 13, 2026
Friday, March 13, 2026
Friday, November 13, 2026
Palindrome dates read the same forwards and backward. Here are the 10 palindrome dates in June 2026 (using the one-digit month/two digit date/two-digit year format) -- or 11 dates if you add in June 2, 2026, using a one digit month/one digit date/two digit year format. Using the four digit year format, there's only one: 6-20-2026.
M/DD/YY
- June 20, 2026 (6-20-26)
- June 21, 2026 (6-21-26)
- June 22, 2026 (6-22-26)
- June 23, 2026 (6-23-26)
- June 24, 2026 (6-24-26)
- June 25, 2026 (6-25-26)
- June 26, 2026 (6-26-26)
- June 27, 2026 (6-27-26)
- June 28, 2026 (6-28-26)
- June 29, 2026 (6-29-26)
M/D/YY
- June 2, 2026 (6-2-26)
M/DD/YYYY
- June 20, 2026 (6-20-2026)
Big Anniversaries.
The biggest of the big ones is of course America's 250 birthday, happening this 4th of July. There will be so much hoopla and razzle-dazzle around this event, I don't need to tell you about it; it will be inescapable. So let's move on to some notable anniversaries you might otherwise have missed:
March 10, 2026 - It's the sesquicentennial (150 years) of the first telephone call. Alexander Graham Bell said, “Mr Watson, come here. I want you.” Now when you tell this story to your kids, they wonder why he didn't just text-message instead of calling. [https://commongoodmag.com/looking-back-anniversaries-in-2026/]
May 24, 2026 - It's the 400th year anniversary of the sale of Manhattan island. Buyer: Dutch trader Peter Minuet. Sellers: Lenape/Shinnecock leaders. Price: trade goods valued at 60 guilders. We were taught in elementary school that the bartered trinkets were worth approximately $24. Wikipedia tells us that in 2020 dollars, the value was $1,143.
June 1, 2026. Marilyn Monroe's 100th birthday. Have a lollipop in her honor -- and be sure you don't get the fuzzy end. [Scene from "Some Like It Hot"]
And now skipping back some 1,100 years... at some point in 926, Anglo-Saxon King Æthelstan significantly expanded his control by annexing Northumbria after the death of Viking ruler Sihtric, forcing submission from Welsh, Scottish, and Strathclyde leaders, solidifying his position as overlord of Britain. This pivotal year marked Æthelstan's consolidation of power in England before his later great victories, establishing him as the first effective ruler of a united England.
...And they're not even putting on a fireworks show in his honor in the England he forged out of many smaller kingdoms!
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Still Life with Robin is published on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life is Local on Saturdays.
