Full Breakdown
August 12 2026 Solar Eclipse: Totality Across the Atlantic, Partial Views in the United States and Canada
8/12/2026, 10:47:17 PM
Core Event
On Wednesday, August 12 2026, the Moon will pass directly in front of the Sun, producing a total solar eclipse for a narrow corridor that includes the North Pole, Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain and a small part of Portugal. Outside this path, observers across the United States and Canada will see a partial eclipse, with obscuration ranging from a few percent in the Mid-Atlantic to over one-third in northern Alaska and New England.
Background & Context
The 2026 eclipse follows the total eclipse of April 8 2024. The 2026 totality will peak at 2 minutes 18 seconds near the Denmark Strait, shorter than the 2024 event. The next comparable long-duration total eclipse will occur on August 2 2027 in North Africa (6 minutes 23 seconds). Mainland Spain last saw totality on August 30 1905.
Data & Statistics
| Location (U.S. & Canada) | Max Coverage | Peak Time (local) |
|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks, Alaska | 37 % | 8:27 a.m. AKDT |
| Anchorage, Alaska | 28 % | 8:21 a.m. AKDT |
| Bangor, Maine | 24 % | 1:53 p.m. EDT |
| Portland, Maine | 19 % | 1:53 p.m. EDT |
| Boston, Massachusetts | 16 % | 1:55 p.m. EDT |
| New York City | 9 % | 1:54 p.m. EDT |
| Philadelphia, PA | 7 % | 1:53 p.m. EDT |
| Washington, D.C. | 4 % | 1:53 p.m. EDT |
| Detroit, Michigan | 3 % | 1:36 p.m. EDT |
| Iqaluit, Nunavut (Canada) | 61 % | 1:24 p.m. EDT |
| St. John’s, Newfoundland (Canada) | 53 % | 3:34 p.m. NDT |
| Montreal, Quebec (Canada) | 18 % | 1:45 p.m. EDT |
*Percentages and times are from NASA and time-and-date calculations.*
Partial eclipse begins as early as 7:34 a.m. AKDT in Alaska and ends by 2:52 p.m. EDT in Maine. The deepest partial view in the contiguous U.S. is in northern New England; in Canada it is in the far north and east.
Official Statements & Responses
- NASA will stream the eclipse starting at 1:15 p.m. (Spanish local time) on NASA+, YouTube and NASA Live, allowing North American viewers to watch the total phase over Europe.
- The American Astronomical Society and several Bay Area institutions (Chabot Space & Science Center, California Academy of Sciences, SETI Institute, Exploratorium) will host livestream watch parties around 10 a.m. local time, synchronized with totality in Iceland and Spain.
- Safety guidance from NASA and the AAS stresses using certified eclipse glasses; regular sunglasses are unsafe.
Why It Matters
The 2026 eclipse is the first total solar eclipse visible from mainland Europe since 1999, drawing tourism to Spain, Iceland and Greenland. In North America it offers a deep partial view without traveling to the totality corridor, underscoring the need for public outreach and safe-viewing education. The eclipse also coincides with the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, allowing observers to see meteors shortly after the solar event.
What’s Next
- The next total solar eclipse visible from the United States will not occur until 2045.
- A longer-duration total eclipse will follow on August 2 2027 over North Africa.
Prepared viewers should check local weather forecasts and verify exact timing for their location using reputable eclipse-tracking websites.
