Solar Eclipse and Meteor Shower 12th Aug - Add to your Diary

TWO UNMISSABLE EVENTS THIS AUGUST: A 27-YEAR ECLIPSE AND THE PERSEID METEOR SHOWER

Northumberland is one of the best places in England to see both — here's everything you need to know.

On the evening of Wednesday 12 August 2026, the sky above Northumberland will put on a double act that hasn't been seen in a generation. First, a dramatic partial solar eclipse will swallow up to 90% of the sun. Then, once darkness falls, the annual Perseid meteor shower hits its peak — with up to 150 shooting stars an hour.

If you're going to watch either of these from anywhere in England, Northumberland is the place to be.

THE PARTIAL SOLAR ECLIPSE — LOCAL TIMES FOR NORTHUMBERLAND

The last time British skies saw an eclipse this significant was 1999. That one was a total eclipse in Cornwall; this one is partial across the whole UK, but at 90% coverage it's still a genuinely stunning sight — the sky dims, the light turns strange, and the temperature drops noticeably.

Here are the times for the Northumberland and Newcastle area:

- Eclipse begins: 6:04 PM

- Maximum coverage (90%): 7:07 PM

- Eclipse ends: 8:26 PM

The sun will be sitting low in the western sky at maximum — only about 12 degrees above the horizon. That's actually a beautiful thing to watch, but it means you need a clear view to the west. Head somewhere open so a park or field away from tall buildings and trees.

Safety first — and this is serious. In 1999, dozens of people damaged their eyesight by looking directly at the eclipse. Do not use sunglasses, phone screens, or regular filters. You need:

- Eclipse glasses with the ISO 12312-2:2015(E) standard on the packaging

- A pinhole viewer (a piece of card with a small hole works; project the image onto a second piece of card) Might be a good DIY project for you and the kids (or even just the grown ups). We liked this link on YourTube https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Z5TbEluxkFk

If you can't get glasses in time, the Royal Observatory Greenwich is streaming the eclipse live on YouTube and Facebook from 6:10 PM — still worth watching.

WHERE TO GET YOUR ECLIPSE GLASSES

Stock will go fast as the date approaches — we'd hate for you to miss out, so get yours sorted sooner rather than later. Make sure whatever you buy carries the ISO 12312-2:2015(E) certification on the packaging. Here are reliable UK sources:

- EclipSpex (eclipspex.co.uk) — UK-based, ISO certified, ships directly

- Sollunae (sollunae.com) — on both the American Astronomical Society and Go Stargazing UK safe sellers lists

- Absolute Eclipse (absoluteeclipse.eu) — EU/UK shipping, CE certified

- Amazon — search "Celestron EclipSmart Solar Eclipse Glasses" (around £12.99)

Order now. Don't leave it too late — by then many sellers will be out of stock.

THE PERSEID METEOR SHOWER — NORTHUMBERLAND'S SECRET WEAPON

Here's where Northumberland really earns its place. The Perseids peak on the same night, and after midnight the show begins in earnest. At its height, you could see up to 150 meteors per hour.

Anywhere else in England you'd be fighting light pollution. Northumberland has Kielder Dark Sky Park — one of the largest protected dark sky areas in Europe — plus miles of coastline and moorland with virtually no artificial light. This is genuinely one of the best spots in the country for a night like this.

Best viewing: midnight through to around 5:30 AM. No equipment needed — just lie back, let your eyes adjust for 20 minutes, and look up. The meteors radiate from the Perseus constellation in the north-east, but they streak across the whole sky.

ON THE SAME NIGHT

The coincidence of both events on 12th August is rare. Spend the early evening watching the eclipse from somewhere with a western view, then move somewhere darker — or head out to the Northumberland countryside — for the meteor shower after midnight.

Wrap up warm. August nights at altitude or on the coast get cold quickly.

We'd hate you to miss either of these — get 12th August in your diary now, sort your glasses early, and make a proper night of it. Events like this don't come around often.

Clear skies are presently predicted for Northumberland.

NOTE ON TIMES: The eclipse times above are for the Newcastle/Northumberland area. They differ slightly from times quoted for other cities — so ignore those if you see them shared on social media.

SOURCES

Eclipse facts and times

- Secret Birmingham - (https://secretbirmingham.com/uk-partial-solar-eclipse-27-years-perseid-meteor-shower/) —-- timeanddate.com — Newcastle eclipse times (https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/uk/newcastle-upon-tyne?iso=20260812) — where the Northumberland-specific times came from (6:04 PM start, 7:07 PM peak, 8:26 PM end)

- Royal Observatory Greenwich (https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/how-see-12-august-2026-partial-solar-eclipse) — eclipse details and live stream info

- BBC Sky at Night Magazine (https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/solar-eclipse-august-2026-uk-ireland) — UK viewing guide

Eclipse glasses

- EclipSpex (https://eclipspex.co.uk/) — UK-based ISO certified seller

- Sollunae (https://sollunae.com/product/solar-eclipse-glasses/) — on the American Astronomical Society safe sellers list

- Absolute Eclipse (https://absoluteeclipse.eu/collections/2026-solar-eclipse) — EU/UK shipping, CE certified

- Amazon / Celestron EclipSmart — general retailer, price verified via search results