It's a day that has been one of the most searched astronomy topics of the year; people want to know: What's happening in the sky today?
A solar eclipse, the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, a six-planet alignment and a viral claim that Earth could somehow lose gravityconverge on Aug. 12,
Three of those astronomical events are real and are happening, or did take place, today, while one viral theory had scientists shaking their heads. We survived that gravity hoax, which was supposed to be a seven-second lapse in our planetary gravitational pull at 9:36 a.m. EST. It didn't happen as we remain grounded on Mother Earth.
What's happening in the sky today?
Today features a rare combination of astronomical events spread across the day and night.
Before sunrise, skywatchers could spot
a six-planet alignment, often called a "planet parade." Shortly after midday, a solar eclipse took place. Then tonight, the annual Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak, offering some of the best meteor viewing of the year.
It's unusual for so many headline-grabbing sky events to occur on the same date, which is why Aug. 12 has become one of the most anticipated astronomy days of 2026.
Is the Perseid meteor shower peaking tonight?
Yes.
The Perseids are expected to peak tonight into early tomorrow morning, producing some of the year's brightest and most popular "shooting stars." Under dark skies, observers could see dozens of meteors per hour as Earth passes through debris left by Comet Swift-Tuttle.
This year's viewing conditions are especially favorable because the shower peaks near a new moon, meaning less moonlight and darker skies.
For the best viewing, experts recommend getting away from city lights and looking up after midnight through the pre-dawn hours.
What is the planet parade everyone is talking about?
The term "planet parade" refers to several planets appearing grouped together in the sky from Earth's perspective.
Today, six planets — Mercury, Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune — appeared along the ecliptic before sunrise, creating a visual lineup that has generated significant online interest. Astronomers note that the planets were not actually lined up in space, but appear that way when viewed from Earth.
Searches for "planet parade," "planetary alignment" and "six planets aligned" have surged as people look for viewing guides and explanations.
Was the solar eclipse visible today?
A solar eclipse occurred today around 1:30 EST. It was a partial eclipse in Pennsylvania but the path of totality crossed parts of Greenland, Iceland and Spain, while portions of the northeastern United States could see a partial eclipse.
Will Earth lose gravity today?
No.
Despite widespread social media posts and viral videos surrounding the so-called "Project Anchor" theory, scientists say there is no evidence that Earth will lose gravity for seven seconds or any amount of time today.
The claim has spread online because it coincides with today's eclipse and planetary alignment, but neither event can turn off Earth's gravity. Gravity comes from Earth's mass and remains constant regardless of eclipses or planetary configurations.
Why is Aug. 12 such a big astronomy day?
What makes today special isn't one event. It's the unusual overlap of several major celestial events.
Skywatchers could have started the day with a six-planet alignment, follow a solar eclipse during daylight hours and end the night watching Perseid meteors streak across the sky. The same new moon that allows the solar eclipse also helps create ideal dark-sky conditions for tonight's meteor shower.
That combination has made Aug. 12 one of the most talked-about astronomy dates of the decade and explains why so many people are searching variations of the same question today:
What's happening in the sky today?
Maria Francis is a Pennsylvania-based journalist covering trending and breaking topics across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions for USA Today Network. Reach her at mfrancis@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Miss the eclipse and planet parade? Look up tonight for Perseid meteors
