Four Celestial Events to Align on August 12th
While the solar eclipse will not be visible from Egypt, skywatchers can still catch the planetary alignment and peak meteor shower under clear skies.
Skywatchers will have the chance to witness four major astronomical events on Wednesday, August 12th, when a new Moon, a six-planet alignment, a total solar eclipse and the peak of the Perseid meteor shower all occur on the same day.
Before dawn, Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, Uranus, Saturn and Neptune will line up across the morning sky. Mars, Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn are expected to be visible to the naked eye under clear, dark conditions, while Uranus will require binoculars or a small telescope and Neptune will only be visible through a telescope.
A total solar eclipse will also take place as the Moon completely obscures the Sun. According to NASA, the path of totality will cross Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, northern Spain and a small part of Portugal. The eclipse will not be visible from Egypt or most Arab countries, although parts of Europe, North America and northwestern Africa will experience a partial eclipse.
The Perseid meteor shower is also expected to reach its annual peak, producing up to 60 meteors per hour under favourable conditions. This year's display is expected to be particularly clear because it coincides with a new Moon, reducing moonlight and improving visibility as Earth passes through debris left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle.
