Perseid meteor shower 2026 to peak in UK after eclipse today - ultimate guide

Perseid meteor shower 2026 to peak in UK after eclipse today - ultimate guide Today's solar eclipse will coincide with the peak of one of the year's most spectacular meteor showers - here's everything you need to know about the Perseids The solar eclipse won't be the only spectacular celestial event this evening, as one of the year's most dazzling meteor showers - the Perseids - reaches its peak just hours later. The celestial double whammy will kick off in the early evening and continue overnight, when views of the shower are expected to be at their best. People in the UK will witness the most dramatic solar eclipse since 1999, with the Moon covering up to 95 per cent of the Sun in Cornwall and 94 per cent in Pembrokeshire. Skygazers in many other locations, including London, will see around 90 per cent coverage. As darkness falls, attention will turn from the Sun to the stars, as the Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak overnight. The Perseids - active between July 17 and August 24 in 2026 - are widely regarded as one of the year's best meteor showers because they produce large numbers of bright, fast-moving streaks of light. What is the Perseid meteor shower? As Earth orbits the Sun, it passes through trails of debris left by passing comets and, occasionally, asteroids. The Perseid meteor shower, for instance, is caused by debris from Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. When these tiny pieces of debris enter Earth's atmosphere at high speeds, they encounter intense air resistance, causing them to become extremely hot and eventually burn up. The surrounding air glows as a result, creating the bright streak of light known as a meteor - or "shooting star". According to NASA, the Perseids can produce between 50 and 100 visible meteors per hour during their peak, provided viewing conditions are favourable. Timings for solar eclipse and peak of Perseid meteor shower While the best time to see the Perseid meteor shower is between midnight and 5.30am tomorrow, Royal Museums Greenwich says the Perseids' radiant is always above the horizon in the UK, meaning observers should be able to spot some meteors as soon as the Sun sets today. The exact timings of the solar eclipse this evening will vary depending on your location. In Edinburgh and Glasgow, the eclipse will begin at around 6.08pm, reach its maximum - when the largest part of the Sun's visible disc is covered - at around 7.05pm and end at about 8pm, according to Royal Museums Greenwich. In London, Bristol and Cardiff, the eclipse will begin at around 6.17pm, reach its maximum at around 7.12pm and finish at around 8.06pm. Timings for other locations in the UK are listed here. How can I watch the meteor shower? Unlike the solar eclipse, you do not need any special equipment to watch a meteor shower. Simply find a dark location away from city lights, as competing sources of light - such as a bright Moon or artificial glow - are the main obstacles to a clear view of meteors. Cloud-free nights, particularly when the Moon is at its least bright, offer the best viewing conditions. Royal Museums Greenwich notes: "In 2026 the peak of the Perseid meteor shower fortunately occurs during a new Moon, so conditions are ideal for seeing the peak." To view the eclipse, health officials have warned that people should use specially designed eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers to protect their eyes from harmful solar radiation. For those without eclipse glasses, there are other ways to watch the eclipse safely using items you may already have at home, such as creating a pinhole viewer. Key meteor shower dates for the rest of 2026 According to Royal Museums Greenwich, the following meteor showers are currently active or will be active later this year: - Alpha Capricornids Date of activity: July 3 - August 15. Date of maximum: July 30. - Southern Delta Aquariids Date of activity: July 12 - August 23. Date of maximum: July 30. - Perseids Date of activity: July 17 - August 24. Date of maximum: August 12-13. - Draconids Date of activity: October 6 - October 10. Date of maximum: October 9. - Orionids Date of activity: October 2 - November 7. Date of maximum: October 21. - Southern Taurids Date of activity: September 10 - November 20. Date of maximum: October 10. - Northern Taurids Date of activity: October 20 - December 10. Date of maximum: November 12. - Leonids Date of activity: November 6 - November 30. Date of maximum: November 18. - Geminids Date of activity: December 4 - December 20. Date of maximum: December 14. - Ursids Date of activity: December 17 - December 26. Date of maximum: December 22.