The sky of Spain chains together this Wednesday two of the great astronomical events of 2026. After the total solar eclipse on August 12, visible at sunset from a good part of the country, the maximum of the Perseids 2026 will arrive during the early morning.
The popular meteor shower will reach its peak activity on the night of August 12 to 13 and, this year, will have an exceptional circumstance for its observation: the new Moon will practically reduce lunar light pollution to zero.
From the eclipse to the Perseids in just a few hours
The solar eclipse on August 12, 2026 will be the first total solar eclipse visible from the Peninsula in more than a century. The path of totality will cross Spain from west to east during sunset and will pass through numerous capitals, from A Coruña to Palma, while other areas of the country will be able to see it partially.
But the astronomical spectacle will not end when the sun sets. Once night falls, the best period to observe the Perseids will begin, a meteor shower that occurs every summer and is popularly also known as "tears of Saint Lawrence" due to the proximity of its peak to the celebration on August 10.
The coincidence makes August 12 an especially unique astronomical day: Spain will be able to go from contemplating a total solar eclipse to enjoying one of the most popular meteor showers of the year in just a matter of hours.
What time to see the Perseids 2026 tonight
The maximum of the Perseids 2026 is expected for the night of August 12 to 13. The National Geographic Institute places the point of maximum activity between 4:00 and 6:00 AM, so those who want to enjoy the best conditions will have to wait until the last hours of the night.
The shower, however, is not limited exclusively to those two hours. The Perseids are active over a much broader period and can be observed for several nights around the peak. The calendar of the International Meteor Organization (IMO) establishes an activity period for 2026 from July 17 to August 24.
Therefore, it will be possible to start looking for shooting stars before dawn, although the probabilities will improve as the night progresses and the radiant of the Perseids gains height above the horizon.
The new Moon will favor the Perseids of 2026
One of the best pieces of news for those who want to observe the Perseids tonight will be the absence of moonlight. The calendar of the International Meteor Organization confirms that the New Moon occurs precisely on August 12, providing very favorable conditions around the peak of the shower.
The difference can be significant. The brightness of a full moon or one close to full can obscure the weaker meteors and considerably reduce the number of shooting stars visible to the naked eye. This year that obstacle will practically disappear.
The IMO estimates for the Perseids of 2026 a zenithal hourly rate (ZHR) of around 100 meteors per hour under ideal conditions. This figure does not mean that anyone will see a hundred shooting stars in an hour: it is a theoretical rate calculated under optimal conditions, with a completely dark sky and the radiant positioned in an ideal location. From a rural place, the organization notes that the observed rates can typically be around 30 to 50 Perseids per hour at the peak.
Where to look to see the Perseids
The Perseids get their name because their meteors seem to come from a point located near the constellation of Perseus, known as the radiant. However, it is not necessary to look directly at Perseus to enjoy the shower.
Meteors can appear in different areas of the sky and, in fact, looking away from the radiant allows for longer trails to be seen. The important thing is to have the largest possible field of vision and to allow the eyes to adapt to the darkness.
Unlike the solar eclipse, to observe the Perseids no glasses or any optical instruments are needed. They are seen with the naked eye, so binoculars and telescopes do not provide an advantage for following a meteor shower.
How to choose the best place to see the Perseids
The main enemy of the Perseids 2026 will be light pollution. The darker the sky, the greater the number of weak meteors that can be distinguished.
Therefore, it is advisable to move away from urban centers, streetlights, well-lit roads, and other sources of artificial light. A rural environment with a wide and clear horizon will offer better conditions than the center of a large city.
It is also advisable to stay away from bright screens for a while to help the eyes adapt to the darkness. Observing a meteor shower requires patience: meteors do not appear at regular intervals and several can occur in a few minutes and then there can be a period without noticeable activity.
What are "shooting stars" really
Although we commonly talk about meteor shower, the Perseids are not stars. Meteors are luminous phenomena produced when small particles of matter penetrate the Earth's atmosphere at high speed and heat up during their journey.
In the case of the Perseids, those particles come from the comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. Every year, when the Earth passes through the region of its orbit where remnants released by the comet remain, the number of visible meteors significantly increases.
The Perseids reach speeds of around 59 kilometers per second, which explains the quick flashes that cross the sky for just a few moments.
An exceptional day: daytime eclipse and Perseids at dawn
The 12th of August 2026 will be marked on the Spanish astronomical calendar by the coincidence of both phenomena. First, the total solar eclipse will occur at sunset and, during the early morning of Thursday the 13th, the Perseids will reach their peak.
The astronomical conditions for the meteor shower will also be particularly good due to the coincidence with the New Moon, although the actual visibility will also depend on clouds, light pollution, and the weather conditions of each locality.
Those who want to take advantage of both events will therefore have a long day ahead: eclipse at sunset and Perseids during the early morning, with the period between 4:00 and 6:00 hours as a reference to try to observe the maximum of the "tears of Saint Lawrence".