'They'll surf into the eclipse': Readers share their plans for today’s epic solar eclipse and meteor shower mash-up

On August 12, skywatchers and space enthusiasts in North America are set to witness a historic event. Partial solar eclipses will be visible in regions including Alaska, eastern Canada, and parts of the northeastern United States. Elsewhere, a total solar eclipse will be visible from eastern Greenland, western Iceland, and northern Spain.

Solar eclipse glasses are essential for safely viewing the partial phases of the eclipse. Once night falls, the Perseid meteor shower offers another celestial spectacle. With a new moon, the skies will be dark, allowing stargazers to observe up to 75 meteors per hour, with the best viewing hours from midnight to 2 a.m. local time.

Live Science poll results indicate that 51% of readers plan to watch both events, while 21% are only interested in the Perseid meteor shower. Approximately 20% of respondents are unable to witness the solar eclipse due to location, with some opting to watch it online. Interestingly, 2% of readers plan to stay indoors and scroll on Instagram instead.

Some adventurous readers, like a commenter who mentioned their brother heading to Spain for the eclipse with a group of surfers, are planning unique ways to experience both events.