Topline
Skywatchers across the U.S. have two compelling reasons to look up on Aug. 12 and into the early hours of Aug. 13. While Europe will experience a total solar eclipse, millions of Americans will instead witness a partial solar eclipse followed by the annual Perseid meteor shower, creating an unusual back-to-back celestial spectacle. Although the eclipse will be modest compared with the total eclipses seen in 2017 and 2024, favorable weather and an almost perfectly moonless night could make this one of the most memorable astronomy events of the year. The deepest eclipse will be from Maine and Alaska, while areas with low light pollution will have the best views for the Perseids. Here’s where, when and how to catch both events.
Timeline
Partial solar eclipse in Alaska (7:34–9:31 a.m. AKDT and the contiguous U.S. (10:27 a.m. MDT (Montana/North Dakota) to 2:52 p.m. EDT (Maine)
Perseid meteor shower peaks between 2–4 a.m. local time, with up to 100 meteors per hour possible under dark skies.
U.S. States And Cities To See The Partial Eclipse
Twenty-six U.S. states will see at least some of the partial solar eclipse on Aug. 12 — most in early afternoon — but across much of that area the moon will cover only a tiny fraction of the sun. The point at which the event should be obvious through solar eclipse glasses is a 10% eclipse. That puts Alaska, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and parts of New York firmly in play, with the deepest views in Fairbanks, Alaska, and northern Maine. New York City sits on the boundary. Farther southwest, including much of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the eclipse becomes progressively shallower and less visually rewarding.
All observers must wear ISO 12312-2-certified eclipse glasses for every stage of the partial solar eclipse. Never look at the sun through binoculars, cameras or telescopes unless they have a securely fitted solar filter.
- Fairbanks, Alaska — 37% (maximum at 8:27 a.m. AKDT)
- Anchorage, Alaska — 28% (maximum at 8:18 a.m. AKDT)
- Presque Isle, Maine — 28% (maximum at 1:50 p.m. EDT)
- Bangor, Maine — 23% (maximum at 1:53 p.m. EDT)
- Portland, Maine — 19% (maximum at 1:53 p.m. EDT)
- Augusta, Maine — 18% (maximum at 1:52 p.m. EDT)
- Montpelier, Vermont — 17% (maximum at 1:49 p.m. EDT)
- Manchester, New Hampshire — 16% (maximum at 1:53 p.m. EDT)
- Boston, Massachusetts — 16% (maximum at 1:55 p.m. EDT)
- Providence, Rhode Island — 15% (maximum at 1:55 p.m. EDT)
- Springfield, Massachusetts — 14% (maximum at 1:53 p.m. EDT)
- Albany, New York — 13% (maximum at 1:47 p.m. EDT)
- New Haven, Connecticut — 12% (maximum at 1:54 p.m. EDT)
- Bridgeport, Connecticut — 11% (maximum at 1:54 p.m. EDT)
- New York City, New York — about 10% (maximum at 1:54 p.m. EDT)
Data comes from TimeAndDate.com, which provides exact eclipse times for any location.
Where To See The Partial Solar Eclipse And The Perseid Meteor Shower
For most Americans, this won’t rival the spectacular total eclipses of 2017 or 2024. Even so, it’s a rare chance to watch the moon visibly bite into the sun before darkness falls and attention turns to the night’s second celestial event. The best U.S. locations for the complete double event will be rural areas of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and upstate New York. They will see a noticeable partial eclipse during the afternoon and, after dark, will also offer relatively easy access to darker skies for the peak of the Perseid meteor shower. For the best places to see it, find a location that looks dark on a light pollution map or find a Dark Sky Place (U.S./global), a Dark Sky Preserve (Canada), a Starlight Destination (global) or a Dark Sky Discovery Site (U.K.).
The Year’s Best Meteor Shower
Just hours after the eclipse, the Perseids reach their peak beneath one of the darkest skies in years. Because the new moon coincides almost exactly with the shower’s maximum, moonlight won’t wash out faint meteors, making 2026 one of the best Perseid displays in recent memory. Under dark skies, expect 60 to 100 meteors per hour, including bright fireballs. Activity increases after midnight and peaks before dawn on Aug. 13, when the constellation Perseus climbs high in the northeastern sky. Although the meteors appear to radiate from Perseus, they can streak across any part of the sky. The meteors are created by tiny fragments left behind by Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, which burn up in Earth’s atmosphere at around 37 miles per second (59 km/s), according to the American Meteor Society. For the best views, give your eyes 20–30 minutes to adapt, and look up after midnight using only the naked eye.
