Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks Over Red Sea Skies as Six Planets Align This Week
A new moon, a six-planet alignment and the Perseid meteor shower's peak converge over Egypt on 12 August — with the Red Sea coast's dark desert skies offering some of the country's clearest views.
11 August 2026
Skywatchers across Egypt, including along the Red Sea coast, are in for a rare astronomical show on Wednesday, 12 August, when four events converge in the same window: a new moon, a six-planet alignment, a total solar eclipse (not visible from Egypt) and the peak of the Perseid meteor shower.
The new moon arrives at 8:36pm Cairo time. With the Moon positioned between Earth and the Sun, the night sky will be darker than usual — favourable conditions for observing stars and meteors away from city lights, according to Egyptian Streets.
In the hours before dawn, six planets — Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, Uranus, Saturn and Neptune — will appear together in the sky. Jupiter, Mercury, Mars and Saturn should be visible to the naked eye under suitable conditions, while spotting Uranus requires binoculars and Neptune a telescope.
The Perseid meteor shower, one of the most reliable annual displays, will also be visible from Egypt, reaching its peak around 12 August.
Good conditions on the coast
Away from Cairo's light pollution, the Red Sea coast's desert skies offer some of the clearest stargazing conditions in Egypt. A dark, moonless night coinciding with a meteor-shower peak is a natural draw for anyone with a clear horizon — a hotel beach, a desert safari camp, or a boat at anchor after dark. The source gives no specific viewing guidance for the Red Sea governorate, so stargazers should simply find the darkest spot available after sunset and before dawn on 12 August, away from resort lighting.