Total Solar Eclipse and Perseid Meteor Shower Align in European Skies

A rare total solar eclipse crossing the Iberian Peninsula and parts of France coincides with the peak of the Perseid meteor shower.

Key points

• The solar eclipse will be observable across a large part of the Iberian Peninsula and parts of southwestern France.
• The peak of the Perseid meteor shower is set to occur overnight, bringing up to one hundred shooting stars per hour under favorable conditions.
• Experts advise against forcing pets to watch the eclipse or using human eclipse glasses on animals.
• Additional celestial bodies, including Venus, Saturn, and Mars, will also be visible during the night.

Why it matters

The rare convergence of a total solar eclipse and the peak of the Perseid meteor shower offers an exceptional astronomical event, while prompting animal welfare advisories for pet owners.