On Aug. 12, a total solar eclipse will sweep across parts of the Northern Hemisphere, treating millions of people to one of nature’s most awe-inspiring events. The path of totality — the narrow corridor where the moon completely blocks the sun — will cross Greenland, Iceland, and Spain before moving into northern Africa.
For those in the direct path, the sky will go dark in the middle of the day, temperatures will briefly drop, and stars will become visible for a few fleeting minutes. Viewers outside the path of totality across Europe and parts of the Atlantic will still experience a partial eclipse, where the moon covers only a portion of the sun.
NASA reminds skywatchers that looking directly at the sun during any phase of a solar eclipse — except during the brief moments of total totality — requires certified eclipse glasses or a solar viewer. Standard sunglasses are not safe for eclipse viewing.
Perseid meteor shower peaks at same time
As if a solar eclipse weren’t enough, the Perseid meteor shower is also hitting its peak this week. The Perseids are one of the most reliable and beloved meteor showers of the year, producing up to 100 meteors per hour under dark, clear skies at their peak, according to NASA.
The shower runs throughout much of August, but the best viewing typically falls between Aug. 11 and Aug. 13 — meaning skywatchers this year get a rare one-two punch of a solar eclipse by day and a meteor shower by night. The Perseids are caused by Earth passing through debris left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle, and the meteors appear to radiate from the direction of the constellation Perseus in the northeastern sky.
For the best experience, NASA recommends finding a dark spot away from city lights, lying flat on your back, and giving your eyes at least 20 minutes to adjust to the darkness. No telescope or binoculars are needed — just patience and a clear sky.
What are the Perseids, exactly?
The science behind a meteor shower is simpler than it might seem. As Earth orbits the sun each year, it passes through trails of debris left behind by comets. When those tiny particles — most no bigger than a grain of sand — enter Earth’s atmosphere at high speed, they burn up and create the bright streaks of light we call meteors, or shooting stars.
The Perseids are particularly popular because they occur during warm summer nights in the Northern Hemisphere and tend to produce bright, fast-moving meteors with long trails.
Partial lunar eclipse closes out the month
The month’s celestial fireworks don’t end with the eclipse and the meteor shower. On Aug. 28, a partial lunar eclipse will be visible for skywatchers in parts of the world, offering one more reason to look up before summer winds down.
During a partial lunar eclipse, the Earth moves between the sun and the moon, but not in a perfectly straight line. Only part of the moon passes through Earth’s darkest shadow, called the umbra, causing a portion of the moon’s surface to appear darker or take on a reddish-brown hue.
Unlike a solar eclipse, a partial lunar eclipse is completely safe to view with the naked eye — no special glasses or equipment required. It can also be seen across a much wider geographic area than a solar eclipse, making it one of the more accessible sky events of the year.
NASA encourages the public to take advantage of all three events this month as a reminder of how dynamic and awe-inspiring the solar system can be — no spacecraft required.