August 12 is shaping up to be an exceptional day for astronomy enthusiasts across the globe. During daylight hours, observers in North America—spanning from Alaska through eastern Canada to parts of the northeastern United States—will witness a partial solar eclipse. Meanwhile, residents of eastern Greenland, western Iceland, and northern Spain will experience the rare phenomenon of a total eclipse.
The celestial show continues after sunset with the Perseid meteor shower reaching its peak on the night of August 12-13. A new moon during this period will provide ideal darkness for viewing, allowing stargazers in areas with minimal light pollution to potentially observe between 50 and 75 meteors hourly. The optimal viewing window extends from midnight through 2 a.m. local time.
The dark skies on this night present additional opportunities for skywatchers. Beyond the meteor display, observers will have favorable conditions for spotting the Milky Way galaxy and witnessing six planets appearing together before dawn breaks.
Originally reported by Livescience →
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