dpNew England is getting a rare, 24-hour astronomical double feature on Wednesday: a partial solar eclipse during the day followed by the peak of the annual Perseid meteor shower that night.
Whether you’re catching a quick peek at the sun during your lunch break or laying out a blanket at midnight, here’s what you need to know about the forecast, timing and how to get the best views.
Act 1: Partial solar eclipse
First things first: this will not be a repeat of the dramatic total solar eclipse we experienced back in April 2024. The path of totality for this eclipse bypasses the United States entirely, crossing Greenland, Iceland and Spain.
However, New England still sits in the sweet spot to see a “bite” taken out of the sun. Here’s the timeline if you’re trying to catch a glimpse in Boston:
- 1:01 p.m. – Partial eclipse begins
- 1:55 p.m. – Maximum eclipse (16% of the sun covered)
- 2:46 p.m. – Partical eclipse ends
Depending on where you are in New England, the moon will cover between 10% and 30% of the sun (northern Maine gets the deepest view). In Boston, we max out at 16% coverage.
Safety: Don’t stare at the sun with the naked eye
Because only a fraction of the sun will be obscured, you will not notice daylight dimming or the sky turning dark. To actually see the crescent shape of the sun, you must use certified ISO 12312-2 solar eclipse glasses. Never look directly at the sun with the naked eye, standard sunglasses or unfiltered camera lenses.
The cloud forecast
Wednesday afternoon’s sky setup features a blend of sun and clouds across New England, with various cloud layers floating through at different levels of the atmosphere. The good news? Because the eclipse plays out over nearly two hours, you should still have plenty of clear windows to pop on your eclipse glasses and catch a great view.
Act 2: Perseid meteor shower peak
Flipping to night mode: the annual Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak Wednesday night into early Thursday morning.
Known as the undisputed king of summer meteor showers, the Perseids regularly produce 50 to 100 “shooting stars” per hour under ideal conditions.
The secret advantage: a dark moon
This year’s setup is exceptionally good for one big reason: a new moon. Moonlight is the number-one thief of meteor showers because bright light washes out fainter shooting stars. With zero moonlight in the sky this year, the background will be pitch dark — making bright meteors and occasional fireballs pop dramatically.
The overnight cloud forecast
While the moon is cooperating, we are keeping a close eye on the cloud cover forecast. There are some signs that mid-level clouds may try to build into New England late Wednesday night.
These increasing clouds could partially obscure viewing during the peak overnight hours. You can find the hourly cloud cover forecast for your specific location in the free 1DegreeOutside weather app.
Pro tips for peak stargazing
To maximize your chances of catching a shooting star on Wednesday night:
- Escape the city lights: Drive away from urban streetlights toward dark-sky spots (the Cape Cod coastline, central Massachusetts, or northern New England).
- Ditch the telescope: Meteors streak rapidly across huge chunks of the sky. You don’t want a telescope or binoculars — your naked eyes offer the widest field of view.
- Give your eyes 20 minutes: Step away from your phone screen. It takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes for your eyes to fully adjust to the dark.
- Look northeast: The meteors radiate out from the constellation Perseus (and originate from the Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle) in the northeast, but they can zip across any part of the night sky.
