Solar Eclipse August 2026

On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse crossed the Northern Hemisphere, with a narrow path of totality and a much wider zone of partial eclipse.

This was a total solar eclipse (magnitude about 1.0386) belonging to Saros series 126. Because it occurred roughly 2.3 days after lunar perigee, the Moon appeared relatively large in the sky and fully covered the Sun along the central path. Greatest eclipse occurred near 17:47 UTC (with maximum totality lasting about 2 minutes 18 seconds) at roughly 65.2°N, 25.2°W—just off the western coast of Iceland. The path of totality was up to about 294 km (183 miles) wide.

Path of Totality (Where the Sun Was Completely Covered)

The Moon’s umbra swept a relatively narrow track across:

- Remote northernmost Siberia / northern Russia (midday totality in a small area)

- The Arctic region

- Greenland (eastern/sparsely populated stretches; late afternoon/early evening)

- Iceland (especially the far western edge / areas near Reykjavík, where totality was brief in the late afternoon)

- The North Atlantic Ocean

- Northern Spain (a significant populated stretch, including cities such as León, Zaragoza, Valencia, and others; late evening, shortly before sunset)

- A small corner of northeastern/northwestern Portugal

- Parts of the Mediterranean Sea and the Balearic Islands

In Spain and the tip of Portugal, totality occurred low on the horizon near sunset, creating dramatic “sunset eclipse” viewing opportunities for those in the path. This was the first total solar eclipse visible from mainland Europe since 2015 and the first in Iceland since 1954 (the only one for Iceland in the 21st century). Madrid and Barcelona fell just outside the path and experienced a very deep partial eclipse instead.

 Partial Eclipse Visibility

A much broader penumbral zone allowed partial views across large parts of the Northern Hemisphere, including:

- Most of Europe (often a deep partial, with high percentages of the Sun covered in places like the UK, France, and elsewhere)

- Northwestern Africa

- Most of Canada

- Parts of the northern United States (from Alaska eastward toward the Northeast and as far south as areas reaching North Carolina in some reports; coverage was generally modest—higher in eastern Canada/Atlantic Canada and New England, lower farther south and west)

- Other northern regions

In the contiguous U.S., it was a relatively minor partial event for most viewers (often under 20–30% coverage depending on location), best seen in the Northeast and with proper eye protection. Alaska saw an earlier partial phase. Many places experienced the partial phases in the afternoon or with the Sun relatively high (or, farther east in Europe/Spain, toward evening).

 Additional Context and Viewing Notes

NASA and other organizations provided live streams and detailed timing maps. Safe viewing required certified solar filters or eclipse glasses for all partial phases; only during the brief totality (where visible) was it safe to look without them. The event coincided roughly with the peak of the Perseid meteor shower and a new Moon, offering additional night-sky interest after the solar event for some observers.

In short, the August 12, 2026 total solar eclipse delivered dramatic midday-to-sunset darkness along a remote-to-populated track from the high Arctic through Iceland and into Spain, while giving millions more a partial view across Europe, North America, and beyond. It stands out as a notable European totality after a long wait and a memorable recent celestial highlight.