Perseid meteor shower peaks tonight, aided by a new moon

scienceAug 12, 20261093,419

The Perseid meteor shower peaks overnight between midnight and dawn on 12 and 13 August, with skywatchers potentially seeing more than 100 meteors per hour on the peak nights. A deep partial solar eclipse will be visible across parts of the UK in the early evening before sunset, creating an unusual pairing of events on the same night. Royal Astronomical Society Research Fellow Dr Becky Smethurst called it "the perfect cosmic coincidence of events" and described the Perseids as one of the best nights for astronomy. The shower is caused by debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle, whose solid core measures about 16 miles 26 km and completes one orbit every 133 years. The Perseids are active from mid-July to 23 August, but most meteors appear around the peak; this year viewing conditions could be especially good because a new moon will leave skies darker. Observers are advised to go somewhere away from artificial light, give their eyes 20 to 30 minutes to adjust, and expect mostly clear skies across England and Wales though northern parts of the UK may see more cloud or a shower. Dr Smethurst noted that seeing a meteor during an eclipse would be extremely unlikely except during totality in places such as Spain, which the UK will not experience.

Phil Plait

@philplait.bsky.social

Don't forget that the Perseid meteor shower peaks tonight! It's one of the best of the year, with maybe 50 per hour visible. I wrote all about how to watch it for the 2023 shower; the basics still all apply. www.scientificamerican.com/article/pers...

31644d ago

Robby the Robot 6

The partial #eclipse is almost over above my garden and it was fun to watch in the company of two curious grandsons. It was their first and I taught them about it just like my grandfather did with me 63 years ago. The sky is perfectly clear so now we're getting ready for the Perseids. 🤞

Christopher Baker2

I've been looking forward to this happening during a new moon for so long and it's going to be cloudy/rainy in Colorado tonight. Womp womp.

Dr. RawheaD1

Obviously on the wrong side of the planet, but I'm hoping someone would capture a bright Perseid together with the total eclipse :D

Quoting this

Passing Strange At Present50

If you've never laid in a field and watched the Perseids, you owe it to yourself. It's not just starfall, raining down, it's you plummeting through the universe. Cosmological dust. Blow your little mind, safe & free. Look up. (I know it's not starfall it just feels that way)

Maj14

Excited because I was planning on having Itty Bitty stay up for this, but since today was her first day of school, it was all they talked about & she begged me to stay up tonight to see something I already planned on having her see. Now we're gonna be outside. Peep us some space.

Himbo Deluxe13

One of my fondest memories of being an asshat no-hoper before I got it together was taking my little sister out for hot chocolate and to watch a meteor shower because she'd never seen a shooting star before. Go see some cool natural phenomena. Make a memory.

fr0llein11

Heute Nacht auch noch die Perseiden wie fotografiert man die denn nun wieder 😂

Silkabelli (cittadina UE 🇪🇺)10

Ok I’ll try this next and it better be good after a sun eclipse with no glasses available anywhere.

Robust Borger5

Det er jo meget fint, men jeg har læst "Da Trifitterne kom", og af den grund er jeg ude.

emil4

mfw i live in an urban jungle near the tropical rain belt

JC3

Wait. There is a meteor shower as well? This can't be good.

Sharon Somerville #IAmAntifa2

If the local clouds clear around #Edinburgh I might head up to the Links to see if I can spot any.

RSPB

@rspb.bsky.social

A little celestial magic is coming our way tonight! ☀️🌘 From shortly after 6pm, a partial solar eclipse will be visible from parts of the UK, peaking around an hour later. Then, after dark, the Perseid meteor shower takes over, with shooting stars streaking across our skies into the early hours.

A partial solar eclipse against a glowing orange sky, with the Moon covering the lower-right portion of the Sun. Text reads: “A once in a generation solar eclipse will be visible this evening.”

30445d ago

RSPB70

It’s set to be a gorgeous evening to spend in nature. But with recent wildfires affecting parts of the UK, please leave the BBQs at home and help keep wildlife and wild places safe while enjoying the spectacle.

Astrea1965(pic is©️)💙🌊🦋🐸

@astrea1965.bsky.social

Eclipse, Perseid meteor showers, & 6 planets align....it's said today topples Kings & brings endings.

14745d ago

Roz.A 1

How we wish the orange convicted felon and the corrupt criminal enablers would spontaneously burst in flames today in a major cleansing of our planet. That would be a nice ending to the horrors that the criminal syndicate and its allies are bringing to our world everyday with impunity thus far!

PBS News

@pbsnews.org

Skygazers in many countries, including the United States, are about to get a double dose of celestial events. Both a solar eclipse and the Perseid meteor shower will be visible across the sky.

16845d ago

Eliza Orlins

@elizaorlins.bsky.social

PSA: GO OUTSIDE TONIGHT. The Perseid meteor shower peaks overnight tonight, and there’s a NEW MOON, which means basically no moonlight getting in the way. Find the darkest spot you can, put your phone away, look up, and give your eyes a little time to adjust.

17344d ago

Eliza Orlins18

Best viewing is after midnight through dawn. Seriously. Go look at the sky tonight.

Procrastolyn1

Hoping the smoke eases off enough to see.

Elle Fire 1

Thunderstorms here tonight and I'm absolutely heartbroken. 😭

John Morales

@johnmoralestv.bsky.social

Before our feeds fill up with eclipse pics, best to post this for tonite's Perseid meteor shower peak. Expect a dozen meteors per hour from suburban locations, half that from light polluted urban skies, 2 dozen or more from darker rural skies. No moon tonight! (@skyandtelescope.bsky.social)

12044d ago

Starman-X5

And here is an option if you have cloud cover. The Subaru Telescope (Hawaii) webcam live feed. I spotted a half-dozen meteors this morning in as many minutes. Just take into account the time zone difference! www.youtube.com/watch?v=6g4F...

eaglecanfly.bsky.social1

A free night show as well as an eclipse. A good night for star gazing.

👻

@0x0.sigint.team

My gran said "things happen in threes" Today: 1. Solar eclipse 2. Perseid meteor shower 3. Extinction event? Anyway, have a nice day And good luck 🤞

15745d ago

Jus 🇮🇪 🇪🇺 🚜 🌲5

Cosmic rapture event...anyways, l have to go to the bank 🏦 🥳

Von Karajan5

Be nonchalant, trust Poliakoff. The 3rd thing is the multi-planetary alignment.

Miranda5

Mine also said “There’s always a disaster at Christmas “ and always said “If we’re spared” to anyone who said See you soon/ next week/in the morning. I don’t think she was an optimist 🙄🥴

Pickwick The Dodo4

To be honest with the state of the world I might welcome it.

✨CHELLE D☯GGO✨(she/they)3

...wanna run that third thing by me again?

Neil 2

The holocene extinction event is already ongoing

Quoting this

Bel2

Pero si vamos con todo, que sea todo

David Blanchflower BSc

@davidbflower.bsky.social

After the Eclipse, we'll be treated to the peak of the Perseids meteor shower. 🔭 🧪

14345d ago

Tarnjit Parmar

@tarnjitparmar.bsky.social

A total solar eclipse, the perseid meteor shower, new moon and planetary parade today. The universe did a good job. 🌖 🌠🪐

13645d ago

Victor Lipman2

good way to put it!

Betty1

Any one of these phenomena would be enough to guarantee cloud cover. I always miss the good stuff. ☹️

Quoting this

leeks2

resetting the timeline takes an act of universal proportions

Petra Erika Nordlund

@pepurika.bsky.social

Actually freaky.... I'll spend the rest of the evening on this rock because perseid meteor shower is on next!!

12644d ago

Jasmine 🌌🔭

@astrojaz.bsky.social

solar eclipse AND a meteor shower tonight, i love being a space nerd!!!

The Moon is seen covering the Sun during a solar eclipse from San Millán de los Caballeros, Spain, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026. A total solar eclipse swept across parts of Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, the Atlantic Ocean, Spain, and a small corner of Portugal. A Partial eclipse was visible in parts of the U.S., most of Canada, much of Europe, and northwest Africa. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

9944d ago

Neon Genesis Ewangelion

@ewacat.bsky.social

OH HOLY SHIT WEDNESDAY HAS A PARTIAL SOLAR ECLIPSE *AND* METEORS??? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

8446d ago

Cheese & Jam53

With the eclipse, the meteors, and the planetary alignment, all happening at once, I'd like to suggest we keep careful track of all children born this Wednesday.

Neon Genesis Ewangelion28

time to flip a coin: is this awesome or is this the beginning of a Day of the Triffids plot

Sebas22

There's a six planet alignment too so it's definitely the apocalypse Personally I'm just happy we're getting an aesthetic one instead of the grey slop armageddon we've been seeing

Ant Dan4

And this as well. Apparently.

A Bompstable Cat1

Our ancestors would have been wickermanning the shit out of people this weekend.

ian.fenrisgames1

just been out to find the best local viewing spot using the extended hand method for prediction. that's me and Rainy set for tomorrow night

Quoting this

Dave Turner44

It's my 50th birthday on Wednesday. The universe is not pissing around when it comes to celebrating it.

Brainmage.itch.io16

I can't explain it, but I genuinely think this viral marketing for No Man's Sky. Liok at the work they've put in over the last decade. I wouldn't put it past them.

Natalie P (is not a vampire) 🦇15

It's going to be so hot that I know I'll miss it through napping, and... ugh. I don't WANT to be a Triffids survivor. It's so much effort.

Kate Watson15

Damnit, why is there never a spare virgin around to sacrifice when you need one?

The Rascal King of Gregging3

Nice try Triffids, you're not tricking me.

Nrrdule Poirot3

Meteors == Triffids Solar Eclipse == Superpowers Guess we're using the superpowers to fight the Triffids then

Scientific American

@sciam.bsky.social

Skygazers are in for a treat on August 12, as one of the most spectacular meteor showers coincides with a total solar eclipse 🌠 www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-...

4745d ago

🦝 Socks 🐭

@socksfur.bsky.social

Solar eclipse and a meteor shower in one day? It's more likely than you think! Okay, okay, I should have done this video last week. But knowing my audience y'all would have forgotten by now so doing it the day before is good. #perseids #eclipse #outerspace

6145d ago

River Side Casino

@riversidecasino.bsky.social

Make it your goal to not view the Perseid meteor shower until you hit three jackpots. Fun!

5944d ago

3 sources

bbc.co.ukPerseid meteor shower reaches peak: When and where to catch a glimpse bbc.comPerseid meteor shower reaches peak: When and where to catch a glimpse renfrewshire24.co.ukRenfrewshire set for solar eclipse and Perseid meteor shower tonight

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Perseid meteor shower peaks tonight, aided by a new moon

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