When to catch Cornwall’s solar eclipse and Perseids this August

Cornwall has some of the darkest skies in the country, and this August they have plenty on offer. A rare solar eclipse, a busy meteor shower and a late-month full moon all land within a few weeks of each other. If you want to see any of it, timing and location matter, so here is what is happening and when to look up.

A total solar eclipse over Europe on 12 August

Late afternoon and into the early evening of 12 August brings the first solar eclipse visible from mainland Europe since 1999. The path of totality crosses Eastern Greenland, western Iceland, the northern half of Spain and the northeast corner of Portugal.

Cornwall sits outside that path, so what we get here is a partial eclipse, with a large chunk of the sun hidden behind the moon. According to a DiscoverCars.com survey on family camping destinations, up to 96% of the sun will be covered from the UK around the new moon on 12 August.

The release lists start times for several cities rather than for Cornwall specifically. Around London, Bristol and Cardiff the partial eclipse begins at 18:17, with the greater eclipse expected at 19:13. For Manchester and Liverpool it starts at 18:13, and around Glasgow and Edinburgh in Scotland it begins at 18:08.

The Perseid meteor shower peaks the same night

The 12th into the 13th of August is also the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, so there is a chance of two events in one evening. During the pre-dawn hours, observers can expect somewhere between 50 and 100 fast, bright meteors an hour. The trick is finding a safe spot well away from light pollution, which is where Cornwall’s darker corners come into their own.

The Sturgeon Moon rounds off the month on 28 August

The full moon on 28 August is traditionally known as the Sturgeon Moon, a name tied to abundance, survival and deep emotional reflection. It has gone by other names too over the years, including the corn moon, grain moon, flying up moon and black cherries moon.

Where to watch

For the best unobstructed views, the recommendation is to camp out. The DiscoverCars.com survey put the UK among the most affordable places to do exactly that.

Aleksandrs Buraks, Head of Growth at DiscoverCars.com, said stargazing suits the season. “Stargazing is a great activity to do over the summer, as this is the time of year when many celestial events take place. If you’re patient (and lucky), you may be able to spot the total solar eclipse alongside a few meteors this August.”

Aleksandrs added that it works well as a family outing. “Spotting these night sky events can be a great way for families to spend time together. If you’re planning on making a trip out of it, make sure to camp in a spot away from light pollution to increase your chances of spotting these fascinating celestial events.”