# Solar eclipse to occur next week. Here is what to know

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/solar-eclipse-to-occur-next-week-here-is-what-to-know/
- Published: 2026-08-09T00:56:21+00:00
- Updated: 2026-08-09T01:12:59+00:00
- Original publisher: NPR (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.npr.org/2026/08/08/nx-s1-5925939/solar-eclipse-august-2026
- Topics: Art, Culture, Politics

## Key points

- Solar eclipse occurs on 12 August 2026
- Totality visible in Iceland, Greenland, northern Russia, Spain, Portugal
- Use certified eclipse glasses; never view the sun directly

## Summary

A solar eclipse will take place on Wednesday 12 August 2026, with totality visible from Iceland, Greenland, northern Russia, and parts of Spain and Portugal, while a partial eclipse will be seen across northern regions of the United States, from Alaska to North Carolina. The event is notable partly because it marks the first time totality has been visible from mainland Spain since 1905, and it offers scientists a rare opportunity to study the sun's corona and its effects on Earth's atmosphere.

In Reykjavík, totality will occur at around 5:48pm local time, while in León, Spain, it will begin at 8:28pm and last roughly two minutes; Washington DC will see only a partial eclipse, beginning at about 1:17pm ET with 4% sun coverage. NASA plans to fly high-altitude jets and scientific balloons during the event to gather data. Experts stress that proper eclipse glasses or filtered viewers are essential, as ordinary sunglasses offer no protection and direct viewing risks permanent eye damage. The next partial eclipse visible from the US is due on 2 August 2027, with the next total eclipse crossing the contiguous US not expected until 23 August 2044.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.