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Get ready for one of the most action-packed weeks of the skywatching year!
We'll begin by hunting for rare "earth-grazing" Perseid shooting stars, before turning our gaze to the main event — a spectacular total solar eclipse that'll darken the skies over Greenland, Iceland and Spain on Aug. 12.
The excitement of the eclipse is followed by the peak of the Perseid meteor shower overnight on Aug. 12-13, when up to a hundred shooting stars will brighten the summer sky in the pristinely dark night following the August new moon. After that the planets take center stage, as Venus dazzles furthest from the sun in its evening apparition and Jupiter takes a stroll with Mercury through the predawn sky.
Why not prepare for this week's madness by reading up on what to expect during each stage of the Aug. 12 total solar eclipse, where it's visible from and just how deep a partial eclipse will be seen by viewers in the U.S! We also delve into eclipse timings and discuss whether its possible to spot an aurora in the false twilight that falls in the path of totality, as the moon's disk fully covers the sun in the daytime sky.
Be sure to keep an eye on our total solar eclipse liveblog, where we'll be bringing you all the latest eclipse news along with live reports from the path of totality, as skywatching editor Daisy Dobrijevic watches the moon swallow the sun in the skies over Greenland from the deck of a HX Expeditions cruise ship and I catch totality as it unfolds low in the evening sky from central Spain.
Wishing you all clear skies,
Anthony Wood
Skywatching Writer, Space.com
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| (Jules-Pierre Malartre/Starry Night) |
Head out in the late evening before the constellation Perseus rises high in the northeast, and keep your eyes peeled on the summer sky. You're on the lookout for "earthgrazers", a rare form of shooting star that skim our planet's atmosphere at a shallow angle, carving a relatively slow horizontal path while leaving long trails through the darkening sky.
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| (Jules-Pierre Malartre/Starry Night) |
Millions across Greenland, Iceland and Spain will witness a spectacular total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, as the moon sweeps across the face of our parent star, hiding its disk from sight during the climactic phase of totality. Many more will see a dramatic partial solar eclipse, where the moon occults a part of the sun's disk, while stopping short of concealing it entirely.
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| (Jules-Pierre Malartre/Starry Night) |
The 2026 Perseid meteor power will reach peak activity overnight on Aug. 12-13. The best time to hunt for Perseids will be in the predawn hours of Aug. 13, when up to 100 shooting stars could be seen brightening the night sky as Earth passes through the densest section of the debris stream left behind by comet Swift-Tuttle.
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| (Jules-Pierre Malartre/Starry Night) |
Venus will shine furthest from the sun in its current evening apparition at sunset on Aug. 14, when it'll appear as a stunningly bright "evening star" while shining low in the western sky, below the shimmering stars of the constellation Virgo.
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| (Jules-Pierre Malartre/Starry Night) |
August has plenty of surprises yet to come, including a breathtaking meeting of Jupiter and Mercury in the predawn sky on Aug. 15. The planets will be separated by less than 1 degree in the hour preceding dawn, making for an incredible — if challenging — naked eye target as they hug the horizon in the glare of the rising sun. If you have access to a telescope you may even spot the dark shadow of the Jovian moon Io darkening the gas giant's cloud tops!
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The next major moon milestone is the August new moon, which occurs at 1:37 p.m. EDT (1737 GMT) on Aug. 12. At this time, the moon's orbit will be perfectly aligned to carry it across the face of the sun in Earth's sky, triggering a total solar eclipse that will be visible across Greenland, Iceland and Spain.
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The Perseid meteor shower is one of the best shooting star displays of the year.
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| (Created in Canva Pro) |
If you're planning to watch the total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, knowing exactly when to look up is crucial.
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Find out where you can experience totality on Aug. 12, 2026, and which countries will experience a partial solar eclipse.
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The Aug. 12 eclipse won't rival 2024's Great American Eclipse, but millions across the U.S. and Canada will still see the moon take a bite out of the sun.
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From first contact to totality and beyond, this is what will happen during each stage of the Aug. 12 total solar eclipse.
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| (Left: Canva Pro. Right: Daisy Dobrijevic) |
A total solar eclipse and the northern lights at the same time? Experts explain why it's possible, but the odds are stacked against it.
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| (Created in Canva Pro) |
Follow our live coverage of the total solar eclipse 2026 as we count down to eclipse day with the latest news, expert insight and updates before bringing you live reports from Greenland and Spain.
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| Astronomy Kit and Accessories |
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We've rounded up the best solar eclipse glasses so you can watch safely from wherever you are.
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The best solar viewing gear available for the next solar eclipse. Spy the best solar glasses, filters, telescopes and binoculars.
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