Perseid Meteor Shower and Solar Eclipse to Grace Skies August 12
The Cleveland-Akron (Canton) area can expect to see the Perseid meteor shower, described as the best of the year, coinciding with a solar eclipse that will be visible from Alaska to North Carolina on August 12.
Cleveland Akron, OH, August 5, 2026 —
Residents in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton area are in for a celestial spectacle on August 12, as the annual Perseid meteor shower is set to peak. This event is anticipated to be the year’s most impressive meteor shower. Adding to the cosmic display, a solar eclipse will also be visible across a wide swath of the United States, stretching from Alaska to North Carolina on the same date.
The Perseid meteor shower occurs each year when the Earth passes through the debris trail left by Comet Swift-Tuttle. These small particles burn up as they enter Earth’s atmosphere, creating the streaks of light commonly known as shooting stars. The peak viewing period is typically when the most meteors are visible per hour.
While the exact viewing conditions for the Cleveland-Akron-Canton area will depend on local weather, the shower is expected to produce a significant number of meteors. Stargazers are advised to find a location away from city lights for the best possible view of the celestial display.
The coinciding solar eclipse is a separate astronomical event. The path of this eclipse will provide a unique opportunity for observers in specific regions to witness the Moon pass between the Sun and Earth, casting a shadow on the planet. The visibility of the eclipse will vary depending on geographic location, with a broader region able to observe a partial eclipse.
Story summarized from the original created by Kayode Crown on www.cleveland.com, see more information here.
