Astronomical Events Visible from the Canary Islands Until 2040 Announced by MCC
The Museum of Science and the Cosmos (MCC) in Tenerife has unveiled a calendar of significant astronomical events observable from the islands until 2040, compiled by astrophysicist Oswaldo González. This new guide is part of the MCC’s ‘Cosmocrónicas’ series.
José Carlos Acha, the island’s Culture, Museums and Sports Councillor, remarked that the guide “allows us to view the sky with perspective and anticipate unique events that we can enjoy from the islands.” He noted that the MCC’s work helps make scientific knowledge accessible while sparking curiosity about the universe beyond our planet.
Highlighted events include several eclipses. On 2 August 2027, a total solar eclipse will occur, visible as a partial eclipse from the Canary Islands, covering 79% of the sun’s disk. A similar percentage will be seen during the annular eclipse on 26 January 2028. The most significant solar event for the islands will be on 2 July 2038, when 87% of the sun will be obscured, the highest percentage for upcoming solar eclipses.
The lunar calendar will also feature 24 eclipses, six of which will be total. A notable event is the total lunar eclipse on 26 June 2029, lasting an impressive 1 hour and 42 minutes—the longest total lunar eclipse of the century.
Additionally, on 13 April 2029, the asteroid Apophis, measuring around 375 metres in diameter, will pass within 32,000 kilometres of Earth, visible to the naked eye across the Canaries.
Meteor showers will light up the skies as well. The Perseids of 2028 are expected to yield between 200 and 300 meteors per hour, while the Geminids in 2033 are anticipated to produce a significant increase in fireballs. A highlight will be on 17 November 2033, when the Leonids may reach 300 to 400 meteors per hour; previous displays in 1998-99 recorded over 5,000 meteors per hour in Tenerife.
The calendar will also note several planetary occultations involving Venus, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune, along with Mercury transiting across the sun in 2032 and 2039, requiring appropriate solar filters for observation.
Another major event will occur on 11 September 2035, when Mars will be at its closest point to Earth, just 56.9 million kilometres away, surpassing Jupiter in brightness that month.
On 8 September 2040, after sunset, observers in the islands will be treated to a rare sight—Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn clustered around the Moon.
Oswaldo González cautioned that while many of these events can be predicted, “the cosmos always holds surprises,” referencing the potential for an unknown comet to add excitement to the astronomical calendar.
For more details on upcoming astronomical events for 2026, visit the Museos de Tenerife website.
