UK Solar Eclipse And Meteor Shower: Where And When To Watch

Solar eclipses happen about twice a year. Visible meteor showers, meanwhile, occur up to 30 times annually.

But it’s a lot less common for the events to happen together. Happily, UK stargazers have just that combination to look forward to in the next few days.

The BBC suggested the “main UK [sky gazing] event” of 2026 is likely to be the coming solar eclipse. And as it turns out, it’ll happen within the same 24-hour stretch as the Perseid meteor shower in what’s been termed a “cosmic double whammy”.

This is expected to happen on August 12, 2026.

The partial solar eclipse (90% of the sun will appear to be covered by the moon) will start at around 6:17pm London time (the exact minute will vary across the UK). The greatest coverage, meanwhile, will be seen at 7:12pm London time.

The eclipse will mark the greatest coverage of the sun seen in the UK since 1999.

The Perseid meteor shower, meanwhile, is expected to run from 17 July to 24 August.

But it’s going to “peak” the night of 12-13 August – just hours after the amazing eclipse.

That means the greatest number of meteors are expected to fall on that night, leading to an unusually dazzling display.

Just how covered the sun will appear to be in 2026′s eclipse depends on your location. Spain might be the best place to catch it, but the UK’s in a pretty great spot this year, too.

Some particularly stunning views, with up to 90% coverage, are predicted in cities like:

• Glasgow,
• Belfast,
• Manchester,
• Liverpool,
• Birmingham.

If you’re considering travelling abroad for the event, the Republic of Ireland will have even better odds. Cork is going to see 96% coverage, while Dublin will get an impressive 94%.

Please don’t look directly at the sun during a solar eclipse. That can damage your vision.

Instead, wear certified solar eclipse glasses. Or, you can tune into Royal Museum Greenwich’s live stream of the event, which runs from 6:15-7:30pm on 12 August (it’s free!).

As for the Perseid meteor shower, you won’t need special equipment to watch it – just patience, clear skies, and a lack of light pollution.

The best, most “dramatic” views will probably come after midnight when the sky is darker.

Speaking to the Natural History Museum, planetary scientist Dr Ashley King said: “The darker the skies, the better your chances of seeing the really faint meteors as well… You could go to the coast or stand on a hill in the middle of the countryside somewhere.”

But don’t expect instant results, the expert continued.

“You might not be able to see anything for the first 10 minutes while your eyes adjust to the dark… Once you get used to the low light levels you’ll begin to notice more and more. So don’t give up too quickly.”