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Solar eclipse and shooting stars on same night in rare double spectacle this summer

On August 12, 2026, Britain will witness an exceptional partial solar eclipse, with the Moon obscuring around 91% of the Sun across much of the country, creating an eerie twilight effect during the early evening.
Following the eclipse, the Perseid meteor shower reaches its annual peak later that night, marking an extraordinary coincidence that brings two of the biggest celestial events of 2026 within hours of each other.
Major cities including London, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Glasgow, Cardiff, and Belfast are expected to experience more than 90% coverage; the eclipse begins at 6.17pm, reaching its maximum shortly after 7.13pm before finishing around 8.06pm.
Astronomers urge anyone planning to watch the eclipse to use certified solar filters, as looking directly at the Sun is unsafe; for the Perseids later that night, no equipment is needed.
Because the Moon sets with the Sun on August 12, skies will remain naturally dark throughout the night, giving the Perseids perfect viewing conditions; allowing eyes around 20 minutes to adjust enhances visibility.

Insights by Ground AI