"The moon’s shadow will descend upon Earth on Wednesday, and some will bear witness to a total solar eclipse. But the universe won’t stop there: At night, nature’s fireworks will accent the sky as the Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak.

According to the American Meteor Society, the Perseids have been active since July 17 and will continue through Aug. 24. The shower crests Wednesday night into Thursday morning.

Fast, bright streaks with long, colorful tails make the Perseids a summer favorite among stargazers. Unlike the eclipse, which is visible only across a narrow swath of Russia, as well as Greenland, Iceland, Spain and a tiny corner of Portugal, the Perseids can be seen on a clear night by anyone in the Northern Hemisphere. And because solar eclipses occur during the new moon phase of the lunar cycle, there will be no moonlight to wash out views of the shower."

Katrina Miller reports for the New York Times August 11, 2026. [2]