Will Perseid shooting stars be visible during the Aug. 12 total solar eclipse?
On Aug. 12-13, a spectacular total solar eclipse will coincide with the peak of the Perseid meteor shower. However, the visibility of shooting stars during totality remains uncertain. The Perseids appear as Earth plows through debris from comet Swift-Tuttle, with up to 100 shooting stars visible each hour under ideal dark skies.
During the eclipse, the sky will take on the appearance of dusk, which may hide but not entirely prevent the sighting of bright Perseid fireballs. While some lucky observers might catch a glimpse, the odds are heavily stacked against it. NASA's Bill Cooke warns that only Perseid fireballs will be visible, and given the eclipse's brightness and duration, many observers may see no meteors at all.
Despite the low chances, skywatchers are advised to focus on the eclipse and save meteor hunting for later.
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