Perseid meteor shower and partial solar eclipse to give skywatchers a celestial show

Skywatchers in Quebec and beyond will get a unique show this week, as the Perseid meteor shower coincides with a partial solar eclipse.

The Astrolab astronomy centre at the Mont-Mégantic, Que., provincial park says shooting stars will rain down from the sky between Tuesday and Friday.

On Wednesday, the meteor shower will combine with a partial solar eclipse to create a rare celestial alignment.

Sébastien Giguère, the Astrolab's scientific coordinator, says the Perseid meteor shower can feature up to 100 shooting stars per hour, compared to about five on an average night.

"From time to time, Earth passes through a trail of dust left behind by a comet, leaving behind more dust in the solar system," Giguère said in a phone interview. "And when Earth crosses that cloud of cosmic dust — that river of cosmic dust — well, there are more shooting stars than usual."

The Perseids are debris from comet Swift-Tuttle, an icy ball that orbits the sun every 133 years and isn't scheduled for a return visit until 2125. 

Giguère said that while parts of Europe will experience a total solar eclipse, Canadians will witness the phenomenon partially. People in Atlantic Canada will see the highest amount of sun coverage, followed by those in eastern Quebec.

Giguère says the Astrolab, which is part of a dark sky reserve, will have activities "day and night" for people who want to witness the meteor shower, with the peak expected Wednesday.

He said people can also maximize their chances of seeing shooting stars by heading to an open area with as little light pollution as possible on a clear night and looking up.

He also wants to remind people watching the solar eclipse to use eye protection.

The organization that runs Quebec's provincial parks says viewing conditions could be better than usual due to a new moon that doesn't cast any light. 

The Société des établissements de plein air du Québec says a partial lunar eclipse will also be visible across Quebec on the night of Aug. 27-28, providing a third astronomical event in one month.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 11, 2026.

— With a file from The Associated Press

By Morgan Lowrie | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.