Solar eclipse to occur next week. Here is what to know
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.
- 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
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This particular eclipse is significant partly because of geography. Full coverage, or "totality", will only be visible along a narrow path through places including Iceland, Greenland, northern Russia, and parts of Spain and Portugal, while a much wider area, including much of the northern United States, will only see a partial eclipse. Scientists are also using the event as an opportunity to study the Sun's corona and how it interacts with Earth's atmosphere, including with instruments carried by aircraft and balloons.
A basic but important point of background is safety: looking directly at the Sun during any part of an eclipse, other than the brief moment of total coverage within the path of totality, can cause serious and permanent eye damage. Ordinary sunglasses do not offer adequate protection, so proper eclipse glasses or filtered viewing equipment are needed to watch safely.