PODCAST:
August 10, 2026 ~ Michael Narlock, the Cranbrook Institute’s Head of Astronomy discusses this week’s Perseid meteor shower and eclipse.
BLOOMFIELD HILLS ~ A partial solar eclipse will be visible across the country midday Wednesday, followed by a Perseid meteor shower on Wednesday night. The Perseid meteor shower is an annual display of “shooting stars” caused by bits of comet dust burning up in Earth’s atmosphere. Cranbrook Institute of Science is inviting the community to view both astronomical events.
Cranbrook Institute astronomy head Mike Narlock told Focus with Paul W. Smith guest host Dave LewAllen the mid-week forecast could offer ideal viewing conditions. “If the heavens open up, then on the evening of Wednesday, August 12 into the morning of August 13, we’ll be experiencing the peak of the Perseid meteor shower.”
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The partial eclipse marks the moon’s passing between the sun and Earth, briefly obscuring a small portion of the sun. Totality, full coverage of the sun, will not occur anywhere in the United States. In Michigan, NASA predicts about 3% coverage at roughly 1:30 p.m.
The Perseids have been active since mid-July, but their activity will peak Wednesday night as Earth moves through the densest part of the comet’s debris trail. The annual mid-summer shower aligns with a new moon this year, reducing moonlight and improving visibility. NASA said dark skies could reveal up to 100 meteors per hour in rural areas.
If conditions are clear, Wednesday will offer a rare pairing of astronomical events: a muted dip in sunlight followed by a surge of meteors streaking overhead. For Michigan observers, it’s a chance to watch two celestial events unfold within the span of a single day. Cranbrook will host eclipse viewing opportunities in the afternoon and a Perseid meteor shower program Wednesday evening. Tickets and details are available at Science.Cranbrook.edu.
