Skywatchers across North America and Europe are preparing for Wednesday, August 12, 2026, when a partial solar eclipse will be visible across much of eastern Canada and parts of the United States before darkness brings the peak of the Perseid meteor shower.
Partial Solar Eclipse Visibility Across North America and Europe
During the daylight hours, millions of people will see the moon take a bite out of the sun. While the moon’s dark umbral shadow will miss North America, the continent’s deepest eclipse will occur in far northern Canada, with Alaska and the northeastern U.S. receiving the best domestic views. Fairbanks will experience approximately 37% of the sun covered at around 8:27 a.m. AKDT, while Maine gets the largest partial eclipse in the contiguous U.S., with Presque Isle reaching about 28% at approximately 1:50 p.m. EDT. Across Europe, deep partial views include London and Paris seeing roughly 91% and 92% of the sun covered, respectively, and Madrid and Barcelona experiencing a 99% partial eclipse.
Certified Eclipse Glasses and ISO 12312-2 Standard Safety
Experts emphasize that certified eclipse glasses meeting the ISO 12312-2 standard are essential throughout every stage of the partial eclipse. Observers can reuse glasses from the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse if they inspect them for scratches and pinpricks, and viewers should purchase replacements exclusively from reputable manufacturers listed on the American Astronomical Society’s Suppliers of Safe Solar Viewers & Filters webpage. Binoculars, cameras, and optics also require securely mounted front solar filters.
Perseid Meteor Shower Peak and Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle Debris
Following the eclipse, the same new moon will leave the night sky free of moonlight as the Perseid meteor shower peaks overnight on August 12–13. As Earth turns into the debris stream left by Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle after midnight, exceptionally dark locations could see up to 100 meteors per hour, though 30 to 50 is more likely. National parks, Dark Sky Preserves, Dark Sky Places, and rural coastlines offer the darkest skies to catch faint meteors.
