The maximum width of the totality path for the eclipse during the 2026 Perseid peak is 294 km.
The totality path is the narrow strip on Earth’s surface where the Moon completely covers the Sun. Its width changes along the path because of the geometry between the Moon, Earth, and Sun.
At locations outside that strip, observers may see a partial solar eclipse rather than totality. The August 12, 2026 eclipse crosses parts of the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, the Atlantic Ocean, northern Spain, and northeastern Portugal.
The Perseid meteors are best observed after darkness returns. Solar-eclipse viewing requires proper eye protection except during the brief period of totality, so eclipse safety and meteor viewing involve different observing practices.