A rare sky event will happen on August 12, 2026, with a solar eclipse in the morning and the Perseid meteor shower at night. The solar eclipse will be partial in many regions, but some areas will see total coverage.
The eclipse will be visible across Alaska, eastern Canada, 26 U.S. states, and most of Europe. Totality will occur in eastern Greenland, western Iceland, and northern Spain. Cities like Madrid, Paris, and London will see coverage of 91–99 percent. In North America, Fairbanks will see 37 percent, Maine 28 percent, Boston 16 percent, and New York City 10 percent.
In Spain, cities including León, Valencia, Bilbao, Burgos, Palma, Santander, Valladolid, and Zaragoza will experience totality. Iceland will also have prime viewing in Reykjavík, Ísafjörður, and Látrabjarg. A small part of Portugal and remote areas of Russia and Greenland will also see full coverage. The eclipse will not be visible in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines.
Safety is important. Eclipse glasses with ISO 12312-2 certification are required for viewing. Leftover glasses from 2024 may be reused if undamaged. Direct viewing is only safe during totality. Otherwise, use eclipse glasses or indirect methods like pinhole projectors.
Also Read: Marcos pushes to cut electricity bills, end system loss charges, and ease solar access
At night, the Perseid meteor shower will peak, offering 60–100 meteors per hour under dark skies. The best viewing will be after midnight, away from city lights. Venus will also be visible at half phase, with the Milky Way stretching across the sky.
This rare combination of a solar eclipse and meteor shower makes August 12 a special day for skywatchers.
