Some Canadians will be able to see a partial solar eclipse on Wednesday, followed by a Perseid meteor shower later in the evening. A partial solar eclipse occurs when “the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth but the Sun, Moon, and Earth are not perfectly aligned,” NASA says. “Only part of the Sun will appear to be covered, giving it the shape of a crescent.” The eclipse will be visible in the northern and western parts of Canada, with Newfoundland and Labrador expected to get the clearest view, according to Pierre Langlois, manager of space astronomy and planetary science missions at the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). [Newfoundland and Labrador] “We’re not seeing the full eclipse yet, but they’re making the most of it for all of us,” he said. Story continues below advertisement Below are the local times when the partial solar eclipse will be most visible in Canada. Canadians may still be aware of the April 2024 total solar eclipse that darkened Canadian skies. “It will be like they see full sun with a little bit of five percent dimming,” Langlois said. “We won’t see the difference without eclipse glasses. But with the glasses you will be able to clearly see that little mark of the sun.” 5:47 Local Photographer Talks Aurora + Perseid Meteor Shower Canadians can also build a makeshift projector using an empty cardboard box, aluminum foil, and white paper to view the eclipse if protective glasses are not available. Story continues below advertisement The next total solar eclipse will occur on August 22, 2044, according to the CSA. Get the latest national news Get the latest Canadian news delivered to your inbox as it happens so you don’t miss any breaking news. Spain and Iceland will witness the most complete view of the eclipse, which will be a total solar eclipse in the country. A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves between the Sun and Earth, according to NASA. The Perseid meteor shower peaks at night. If watching the eclipse wasn’t enough, Canadians also have the opportunity to see a Perseid meteor shower, which peaks on Wednesday and Thursday nights. A NASA spokesperson told Global News that a Perseid meteor shower is caused by “Earth passing through debris left by Comet Swift-Tuttle as it moves in its orbit around the Sun.” More about Canada More videos As a result, “these pieces of debris enter the Earth’s atmosphere at a very fast speed of 59 kilometers per second, vaporizing at about 80 or 90 kilometers altitude and leaving behind rays of light that we call meteors or shooting stars,” the spokesperson said in a written statement. “You have to be patient, but it’s a great sight if you’re lucky to be in a region where you can see it,” Langlois said. “It’s a bit like when we drive through the snow and we see snowflakes coming towards us. That’s exactly what’s happening with these meteor showers.” The Perseid meteor showers occur annually and can begin to be seen from the northern hemisphere from late July to mid-August and make it “much easier to predict” visible shooting stars. 0:30 Perseid meteor shower: new moon, clear skies create favorable conditions for Canadians. For optimal viewing, the CSA recommends staying away from city lights, which can make it difficult to see fainter meteors. If a flashlight is needed, “place a Red Filter over the bulb,” the agency recommends. NASA also advised looking for “a place with a dark sky, lying on your back and looking up to capture as much of the sky as possible,” since “Perseids can appear anywhere in the sky.” Story continues below ad “Give your eyes at least 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness and try not to look at your cell phone, as the bright screen ruins night vision.” “As soon as the sun sets, you want the sky to be really dark, so I would say between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. should be the maximum because of the absolute darkness,” Langlois said. No additional technology or eye covers are needed to view the shower, although Langlois recommends using a camera with a long lens. to take photographs. “The best technology would be a heated blanket and a hot chocolate dispenser, if possible.” © 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
