Two Meteor Showers Now, Lunar Eclipse Coming: U.S., West Coast, Oregon / Washington

Published 07/26/26 at 12:55 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Portland, Oregon) – Time to get your sky action on. Photo Oregon Coast Beach Connection: you'll see the moon turn dark orange at this eclipse.

Late July and especially August are getting ready to create quite a show across the globe and most of the U.S. and Americas, with two meteor showers already kicking in and a nearly complete lunar eclipse. Whether you're inland or on the Washington coast or Oregon coast, it's all going to be – of course – about the weather. But August is usually fairly kind in that regard.

The Delta Aquariids produce a steady flow of meteors rather than a single, exact peak. Activity increases in late July and continues into early August, blending with the rising Perseids. The radiant climbs into view in mid-evening, reaches its highest point around 2 a.m., and drops low again by dawn. In 2026, the full moon arrives on July 29, so the clearest viewing opportunities come during the moon-free early-morning hours in the week before that date.

Under ideal dark-sky conditions, observers may see 15 to 20 meteors per hour, with many Delta Aquariids appearing alongside early Perseids as August begins.

The Perseids strengthen gradually through early August and then decline quickly after their peak. In 2026, the predicted peak falls on August 13, making the mornings of August 12 and 13 the prime viewing window. August 14 may still offer good activity, though the shower typically fades rather rapidly.

Here's the plus side: the 2026 incarnation has a new moon on August, which ensures dark skies for the peak.

Photo Manuela Durson - Manuela Durson Fine Arts - Bandon just after dark, showing a comet and some satellite action.

“The Perseids are best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere during the pre-dawn hours, though at times it is possible to view meteors from this shower as early as 10 p.m.,” said NASA.

See more Oregon / Washington Astronomy.

Pacific Northwest Weather | Oregon, Washington, Coastline (see NW from space) |---| Washington Coast Weather |---| Oregon Coast Weather |---| Inland Oregon Weather

The radiant rises late in the evening and reaches its highest point near dawn. Observers watching the total solar eclipse on August 12 may even catch a few Perseids during totality. Under good dark-sky conditions, peak rates often exceed 90 meteors per hour.

“Perseids are also known for their fireballs. Fireballs are larger explosions of light and color that can persist longer than an average meteor streak,” said NASA. “This is due to the fact that fireballs originate from larger particles of cometary material. Fireballs are also brighter, with apparent magnitudes greater than -3.”

Shooting star in Portland / Oregon Coast Beach Connection

Partial Lunar Eclipse for U.S., West Coast

A partial lunar eclipse will be visible across Portland, western Oregon, and much of Washington on the evening of August 27, 2026. The eclipse begins at 7:49 p.m., though the moon will still be below the horizon at that point. It reaches maximum at 9:12 p.m., when the moon will be about 12 degrees above the east-southeast horizon with a magnitude of 0.930. The event ends just after midnight at 12:01 a.m., lasting a little over four hours.

However, for the Pacific Northwest it's going to be a bit difficult. Because the moon rises during the total phase, it will appear extremely dim and may be difficult to see until it climbs higher or the darkest portion of the eclipse ends. Observers should look toward roughly 103 degrees east-southeast as the moon comes up.

Times are about equal for northern Washington areas – like Seattle – but it'll start to shift the farther east you go into Oregon and Washington. Farther north it'll be just a little bit lower as well.

Areas just east of the West Coast, like Nevada, Idaho, etc., will get better views, along with the rest of the U.S.

Delta Aquariids
Dates: July 18 – August 21
Peak: Predicted July 30, 2026 though the shower does not produce an exact peak
Best viewing: Late July through early August, from midnight until dawn

Perseids
Dates: July 14 – September 1
Peak: Predicted August 13, with the strongest activity on the mornings of August 12 and 13
Best viewing: Late night through dawn under a new-moon sky

Oregon Coast Beach Connection will soon have a piece about what one spot on the Oregon coast may be best to see interstellar phenomenon – and the actual science behind it.

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