Life moves fast. It’s easy to get lost in to-do lists, work schedules and everyday obligations. But just like the joy of skiing fresh powder or exploring a new ski resort, there’s something soul-stirring about looking up at the night sky. It reminds us that the universe is bigger than our own little bubble. And somehow, when you’re standing beneath a canopy of stars, contemplating the vastness of it all, the problems that once felt overwhelming fade into the background.
This year brings a stacked calendar of can’t-miss astronomical events, and many of them are within easy reach of some of our favorite ski resorts. If witnessing a solar eclipse, catching a meteor shower or spotting the aurora borealis is on your bucket list, you’re in the right place. We’ve rounded up the must-see celestial events of 2026 that pair perfectly with a ski vacation. Grab your skis, bundle up and don’t forget the binoculars.
Best Nearby Ski Resort: Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyoming
On most clear nights, you can spot at least one (sometimes two) planets shining in the sky as bright, non-twinkling points of light. While groupings of two to five planets aren’t uncommon, a six-planet parade is a rare event, occurring only a handful of times per decade. According to NASA, on February 28, 2026, skywatchers will be able to see Mercury, Venus, Neptune, Saturn, Uranus and Jupiter aligned along the same stretch of sky. Four of these planets will be visible to the naked eye under clear conditions, but Uranus and Neptune require binoculars or a telescope to see. (Mercury can also be a bit elusive, depending on timing and horizon visibility.)
This year’s planet parade is visible from much of the world, but Jackson Hole offers the perfect viewpoint. We recommend heading to the nearby Snow King Observatory & Planetarium, where powerful telescopes, an unobstructed view due west and a high chance of clear skies will bring the full six-planet lineup into focus. Located just a 10-minute drive from the quaint town of Jackson (and about 20 minutes from Jackson Hole Mountain Resort), Snow King Observatory makes an ideal post-ski adventure before winding down in one of Jackson’s authentic Western saloons.
The Ski Vibe: Jackson Hole features world-class terrain for all levels, but it’s best known for its steep, challenging lines, including famous descents like Corbet’s Couloir. And honestly, a trip here is worth it for the legendary “Cowboy Powder” alone.
Pro Tip: The best viewing window to catch the six-planet parade is shortly after sunset, when the planets begin to emerge against the darkening sky.
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Best Nearby Ski Resort: Sun Valley, Idaho
During a total lunar eclipse, the Earth passes between the sun and the moon, casting its shadow across the moon’s surface and turning it a stunning coppery red. Lunar eclipses are visible to the naked eye (no fancy equipment required), as long as the skies are clear. This total lunar eclipse will be visible across much of North America (excluding parts of the Northeast), but few places offer a better backdrop than Sun Valley, Idaho.
Why? Sun Valley sits within the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve, designated by Dark Sky International, meaning you’ll experience exceptionally dark skies with minimal light pollution. As the eclipse unfolds in the western sky, the moon will take on its deep “blood red” hue above the iconic Sawtooth Mountains – a truly unforgettable sight. With skies this dark, you may also catch views of the Milky Way and the occasional shooting star. Add in Sun Valley’s average of 250 sunny days per year, and your chances of bluebird ski days and clear skies for eclipse viewing are high.
The Ski Vibe: With its slightly remote setting and relaxed small-town feel, Sun Valley Resort serves up shorter lift lines and wide-open slopes. It’s a great destination for families or groups with mixed ability levels, with lots of runs for beginners and intermediates (and a few challenging lines!), so everyone can ski together at their own speed.
Pro Tip: Plan for an early night – totality will be visible from 4:04 to 5:03 a.m. MST. For the best views in town, take a short walk up Knob Hill or head to Sun Valley Lake, where the moon’s red glow, surrounded by a blanket of stars, will reflect beautifully off the water. Bring binoculars to level up your view!
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Best Nearby Ski Resort: Breckenridge, Colorado
Every April, the night sky puts on one of its most mesmerizing shows: the Lyrids meteor shower. These dazzling “shooting stars” are actually tiny fragments of space debris left behind by Comet Thatcher. As Earth passes through this ancient comet trail, the particles collide with our atmosphere and burn up in brilliant streaks of light. The result is a sky filled with fast, fiery meteors that appear to radiate from a single point overhead. First recorded by Chinese astronomers in 687 BC, the Lyrids are the oldest known meteor shower, and in 2026, they’ll be active from April 14-30, peaking on the nights of April 21 and 22.
Best seen after moonset and before dawn in the Northern Hemisphere, the Lyrids can produce anywhere from a few dozen to even 100 meteors per hour under ideal conditions. For the best viewing, you’ll want dark skies, high elevation and crisp mountain air, which is exactly what Breckenridge delivers. Breck has been working towards reducing its light pollution since 2007, and in 2025, it became the first mountain ski resort community in Colorado to earn the Certified Dark Sky Community status from DarkSky International. For a picture-perfect experience, head out on a guided evening excursion via snowcat, snowshoe or cozy sleigh ride. Our Mountain Travel Experts can help you book the ultimate high-alpine stargazing adventure.
The Ski Vibe: Breckenridge is popular for its expansive terrain (spread across five distinct peaks in the Rocky Mountains’ Tenmile Range), high-alpine bowls and welcoming old mining town vibes.
Pro Tip: The shower is expected to peak on the night of April 22. For prime viewing (and a couple of local-approved lookouts), drive to the top of Hoosier Pass or click into your uphill skis and make your way to the summit of Peak 8.
>>>> Find lodging near Breckenridge
Best Nearby Ski Resorts: Glacier summer skiing in Tignes or Zermatt
This is the astronomical event of the year. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon completely covers the sun, plunging midday into an otherworldly darkness. If you’ve never witnessed totality, it’s a true bucket-list experience. The sky dims dramatically (like an eerie blend of dawn and dusk), temperatures drop, strange shadows ripple across the ground and for a few fleeting minutes, the sun’s normally hidden corona appears as a delicate, silvery halo suspended in the sky. The experience is so powerful that many first-timers become lifelong “eclipse chasers,” traveling the globe to stand in the path of totality again. (You’ve been warned!)
In 2026, the line of totality will sweep across Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain. Spain’s a win no matter what (and it’s the perfect excuse to plan a summer European trip afterward!). Totality occurs near sunset, around 6:30 pm, when the sun will sit lower on the horizon, so be sure to choose a viewpoint free from obstructions – mountains, buildings and trees could block your view. Coastal stretches in Spain like Malvarrosa Beach or the shores of Mallorca offer expansive skies and spectacular backdrops.
Once the eclipse adrenaline fades, keep the bucket-list momentum going with summer skiing in the Alps. Head to Tignes, France, to ski the Grande Motte Glacier with a professional guide (conditions permitting), or travel to Switzerland to ride Zermatt’s cable car up to 3,883 meters for laps on the Theodul Glacier. Our Mountain Travel Expert’s recommend starting early, since glacier conditions are best in the morning and typically close by midday. Few travel pairings feel more dreamlike than watching the sun disappear… then clicking into skis above the clouds.
The Ski Vibe: Glacier skiing is best suited for advanced skiers, and hiring a guide not only ensures safety but also unlocks access to the best terrain. (We can help with that.) La Grande Motte’s high-elevation glacier usually extends the ski season into August (be sure to confirm the glacier is open, as conditions can impact operations), while Zermatt-Matterhorn is home to the largest and highest summer ski area in Europe. Both deliver epic views and a surreal summer-on-snow experience.
Pro Tip: Don’t forget to get some solar viewing glasses to watch the full eclipse show (though it’s safe to take them off during the 3-4 minutes of totality).
>>>> Find lodging near Tignes, France
>>>> Find lodging near Zermatt, Switzerland
Best Nearby Ski Resort: Alyeska, Alaska
The Northern Lights, also known as the aurora borealis, are one of nature’s most magical performances. When charged particles from the sun stream toward Earth and collide with gases in our upper atmosphere, the night sky ignites in ribbons of color from electric green and icy blue to vivid pink and deep violet. We’re currently in a solar maximum (the most active phase of the sun’s 11-year cycle), which means brighter, stronger and more widespread aurora displays are expected through 2026. What was once considered a once-in-a-lifetime sighting has become far more frequent in recent years. Recent geomagnetic storms have even pushed the lights as far south as Colorado, Texas and parts of the Southeast – regions that rarely catch a glimpse. This year may be your last chance to see the full spectacle before the sun quiets down again.
For the best odds, though, you’ll want to head north. Alyeska Ski Resort in Alaska delivers prime aurora viewing, tucked into a remote location in the Chugach Mountains with low light pollution and high mountain vantage points. Alaska has long been one of the most reliable places on Earth to witness the Northern Lights, and Travel + Leisure named Alyeska Resort one of the top hotels in the world for aurora sightings. Guests can even request a Northern Lights wake-up call so they don’t miss the show.
The Ski Vibe: Alyeska is a haven for intermediate and advanced skiers, famed for its extreme, steep terrain (including the longest continuous double black diamond run in North America). And with a massive average of 650+ inches of annual snowfall, you’re guaranteed some epic powder laps.
Pro Tip: To spot the aurora borealis, you’ll want to be somewhere far north between late September to late March. The best viewing times are 10 pm-2 am (local time), and you’ll need dark, clear skies, patience and a little bit of luck. Follow the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center to increase your chances.
>>>> Book a stay at the Alyeska Resort
Best Nearby Ski Resort: Banff Lake Louise, Canada
You’ll want to mark this one on your calendar. Don’t just take it from us – NASA calls the Geminids “one of the best and most reliable annual meteor showers.” The 2026 peak is predicted for December 13-14, when up to 120 meteors per hour can streak across the sky under optimal conditions. But the shower remains active from November 19 through December 24 in the Northern Hemisphere, meaning you may catch shooting stars anytime throughout an early-season ski trip, especially under clear, dark skies (holiday ski getaway, anyone?!).
Banff is our top pick for this stargazing ski trip, since Banff National Park is part of the larger Rocky Mountain Dark Sky Corridor and home to several designated dark sky preserves with low light pollution. Local stargazing spots close to Banff include Vermilion Lakes, Lake Minnewanka or Two Jack Lake. This mountain town offers plenty of ways to enjoy the night sky, too: book an evening guided snowshoe tour or watch the show from the comfort of Banff Upper Hot Springs. If you’re craving a little more action, pair your stargazing with night skiing at Mt. Norquay or glide across the frozen surface of Lake Louise on ice skates.
The Ski Vibe: Banff is home to three world-class ski resorts, known as the SkiBig3: Lake Louise Ski Resort, Banff Sunshine Village and Mt. Norquay Ski Resort. With over 8,000 acres of skiable terrain, Banff truly offers something for everyone.
Pro Tip: For the darkest skies, the Icefields Parkway can’t be beat.
Best Nearby Ski Resort: Telluride, Colorado
A supermoon comes down to perfect timing. It happens when the moon reaches perigee – its closest point to Earth in its 27-day orbit – at the exact same time it’s full (a phase that occurs only every 29.5 days when the sun fully illuminates its surface). When those two events perfectly align, the moon appears slightly larger, brighter and more radiant than usual. Because the moon’s orbit subtly shifts as Earth circles the sun, this alignment only happens a few times each year. In 2026, there are just three chances to catch it: January 3, November 24 and December 23.
While the Christmas Supermoon (also known as the Full Cold Moon) will be visible around the globe, where you watch it makes all the difference. For the most dramatic views, look for high elevation, vast sightlines and minimal light pollution – Telluride Ski Resort showcases all three. Sitting at 8,750 feet and surrounded by the rugged San Juan peaks, Telluride rises above the valley fog that can blanket lower-elevation resorts in December. Its tucked-away box canyon setting keeps ambient light low, setting the stage for an overworldly view. Plus, Christmas in Telluride, with its Hallmark-movie setting and festive downtown lights feels nothing short of magical.
The Ski Vibe: Telluride is famous for its steep chutes, wide-open bowls and long groomers with breathtaking San Juan views in every direction.
Pro Tip: The best time to spot the supermoon is right after sunset, when the moon rises around 4:31 pm MST. If you want a guaranteed view, head to the nearby town of Ridgway, which is a designated Dark Sky Community. And be sure to book early – holiday ski trips often fill up fast.
>>>> Find lodging near Telluride
Ready to turn these celestial moments into your next mountain escape? Our Mountain Travel Experts will handle every detail, from slopeside stays and legendary starlit adventures to the best vantage points for catching the show. Lock in your winter escape now and let us do the rest.
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