Bob Siederer
10 August 2026
We generally don’t send out more than one newsletter a week, but occasionally omit something important and timely. So here’s a quick SciSchmooze extra to cover two astronomical happenings this week.
This Wednesday evening and Thursday morning one of the better meteor showers of the year, the Perseids, will be visible. The shower is caused by Earth’s passage through the debris trail of comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle each August. This year, the shower will occur at the same time as a new moon, so the night sky will be darker than usual, meaning more meteors should be visible.
Andrew Fraknoi has provided details and viewing instructions for the Perseids here.
Also, on August 12 a total solar eclipse will be visible over much of Europe. We won’t see anything here in the US, but NASA is providing online coverage from the path of totality, as well as from a plane chasing the shadow. You can watch the coverage here.
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