A total solar eclipse<\/a> occurs when the Moon is perfectly aligned between the Sun and Earth and completely blocks the face of the Sun.<\/p>\n The Moon passes between the Earth and sun every lunar cycle, but its orbit is tilted slightly so it does not always block the Sun.<\/p>\n For any location on the planet, there is a chance to experience totality, when the sun is completely blocked by the moon, every 375 years like the most recent total solar eclipse that crossed North America in 2024.<\/p>\n What\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0a meteor shower?<\/p>\n A meteor shower occurs when Earth passes through a stream of dust and debris left behind by a comet.<\/p>\n As those small pieces of material enter Earth\u2019s atmosphere, they heat up and glow, creating the streaks of light we see as meteors.<\/p>\n For the Perseids, the parent body is comet 109P\/Swift-Tuttle, which leaves behind the debris field Earth passes through each year.<\/p>\n The meteors may appear to come from a single point in the sky, called the radiant, but they can be seen across the entire sky.<\/p>\n Is it unusual for a solar eclipse and meteor shower to happen at the same time?<\/p>\n It\u2019s more of a coincidence than anything else.<\/p>\n The Perseid meteor shower<\/a> happens every year and peaks in mid-August, while solar and lunar eclipses occur about twice a year. The two events don\u2019t influence each other.<\/p>\n So, while the events may occur around the same time, there isn\u2019t a connection between the two.<\/p>\n This will be a total solar eclipse, and it will be very impressive in other parts of the world. The path of totality passes through Greenland, Iceland and Spain.\u00a0<\/p>\n Northeast Africa and\u00a0most of<\/a>\u00a0western Europe will also see a significant portion of the sun covered as a partial eclipse.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, parts of North America including nearly all of Canada (poor Vancouver is left out) and the Northeast corner of the U.S. will see a partial eclipse.<\/p>\n For example, northern Maine will see about 29% coverage of the Sun during the peak of the eclipse. In Michigan, places like Sault Ste. Marie will see 7% and East Lansing only 2.4%.\u00a0<\/p>\n If you\u2019re viewing the eclipse, you\u2019ll need proper solar eclipse glasses<\/a> or another indirect viewing method to safely\u00a0observe\u00a0it.<\/p>\n Looking directly at the Sun without\u00a0appropriate eye\u00a0protection can cause permanent eye damage.<\/p>\n Binoculars or telescopes should never be used to look at the Sun without proper solar filters.\u00a0<\/p>\n You can also enter your city and region into the\u00a0Time and Date website<\/a>\u00a0to find out exactly how much of the Sun will be covered during the eclipse in your area or follow the eclipse\u00a0online via the Eclipse App<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Perseid meteor shower is expected to be one of the top two meteor showers of the year.<\/p>\n The meteor shower is already underway, with the peak occurring on August 13.<\/p>\n The best viewing opportunities will be during the early morning hours of August 12, 13 and 14, before sunrise.<\/p>\n Under ideal conditions, the Perseids have a zenith hourly rate, which estimates the maximum number of meteors you can see in one hour, of about 100 meteors per hour.<\/p>\n Most people will see significantly fewer. But, spending an hour outside under a dark sky could still result in seeing a good number of bright meteors.<\/p>\n Get away from city lights, find a comfortable place to sit or lie down, and give your eyes time to adjust to the darkness. The best viewing will be during the early morning hours before sunrise.<\/p>\n You don\u2019t need a telescope or binoculars. In fact, your best tool is simply your own eyes because meteors can streak across large portions of the sky.<\/p>\n And don\u2019t be discouraged if you don\u2019t see one\u00a0immediately<\/a>. The meteor shower lasts for several nights, and patience can pay off. You might see several bright meteors\u00a0during<\/a>\u00a0an hour of watching.<\/p>\n So, grab a chair, get away from the city lights and look up. You may not catch every meteor, but you only need to see one to have a memorable night.<\/p>\n![\"We](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sun-vs-moon.jpg\")
Credit: Matt Anderson Photography \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786272132_39_solar-eclipse.jpg\")
A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes in front of the Sun. Credit: Sky Noir Photography by Bill Dickinson \/ Getty Images
\nWhat will we see during the August 12 total solar eclipse?<\/p>\n![\"Map](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/12th-August-2026-Eclipse-Map.jpg\")
Map showing the path of the 12 August 2026 total solar eclipse. The path of totality is represented by a dark, thin line. Either side of that line, observers will see a partial solar eclipse. Credit: BBC Sky at Night Magazine \/ Paul Wootton<\/p>\n![\"Map](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/12-august-2026-solar-eclipse-spain-portugal.jpg\")
Map showing the path of the total solar eclipse across Spain and Portugal, 12 August 2026. Credit: BBC Sky at Night Magazine \/ Paul Wootton
\nWhat makes the Perseid meteor shower worth watching?<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/perseids-peak-tonight.jpg\")
A composite image showing the peak of the Perseid Meteor shower, 12-13 August 2023, captured by Greg Meyer from Phoenix, Arizona, USA<\/p>\n![\"Chart](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/perseid-meteor-shower-2026.jpg\")
Chart showing the location of the radiant of the Perseid meteor shower 2026. Credit: Pete Lawrence
\nWhat\u2019s the best way to watch the Perseids shower?<\/p>\n