On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse will race from the Arctic across Greenland, Iceland, and Spain, offering millions a rare glimpse of totality. Meanwhile, North America and parts of Europe will experience a partial eclipse on the same day, accompanied by the peak of the Perseid meteor shower.
Stargazers face a remarkably busy astronomical calendar this week. Starting at 15:34 GMT on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, the moon’s shadow will trace a path across the globe blotting out the sun for as long as two minutes and 18 seconds. While the centerline of this celestial event bypasses the United States entirely, millions of people worldwide will witness either a breathtaking total eclipse or a modest partial phase.
This particular alignment marks mainland Europe’s first total solar eclipse since 1999. About 15 million people live directly within the narrow path of totality, which spans roughly 180 miles wide across eastern Greenland, western Iceland, and northern Spain according to detailed tracking data. The longest period of totality along this trajectory will occur off the west coast of Iceland, where observers will see 2 minutes 18 seconds of totality.
Where Totality Crosses Europe and the Arctic
In Iceland, Reykjavik residents will experience roughly 1 minute of totality, while those on the farthest western coast will see totality last nearly 2 minutes. Across northern and eastern Spain, cities such as León, Valladolid, Zaragoza, Teruel, and Valencia sit securely inside the path. Totality begins in western Spain at roughly 18:27 GMT, placing the eclipsed sun low above the western horizon just before dusk.
Populous metropolitan areas like Madrid and Barcelona fall just outside the central band. Observers stationed there will not experience full darkness, but they will still witness more than 99 percent solar coverage. This geometry highlights the sharp boundaries dictated by the moon’s umbral shadow.
Partial Viewing Across North America and the U.K.
Observers across North America and much of Western Europe will see a partial eclipse rather than total darkness. In the United Kingdom and France, the event arrives in the evening hours, frequently overlapping with sunset. Further east in Europe, many cities will watch the sun set before the eclipse reaches its maximum depth.
Across the Atlantic, North America sits far from the umbral path, meaning the moon takes only a shallow bite out of the solar disk. The event occurs during the morning and afternoon hours. Alaska and northern Canada will catch the eclipse in the morning, while eastern Canada and the northeastern United States experience it in early afternoon.
Fairbanks, Alaska, records the deepest U.S. view, with about 37 percent of the sun covered at 8:27 a.m. AKDT. In the contiguous United States, Maine secures the strongest partial coverage, reaching approximately 28 percent around 1:50 p.m. EDT in Augusta according to regional timing models. Altogether, a partial eclipse will be visible across 26 U.S. states, though viewers farther south and west will see little to nothing.
- Boston, Massachusetts: 16% partial eclipse peaking at 1:53 p.m. EDT
- Providence, Rhode Island: 15% partial eclipse peaking at 1:55 p.m. EDT
- New York City, New York: 10% partial eclipse peaking at 1:54 p.m. EDT
- Trenton, New Jersey: 8% partial eclipse peaking at 1:53 p.m. EDT
In Boston, local experts note that a 16 percent obscuration is nowhere near enough to alter ambient daylight. This is nowhere near close enough for you to notice that anything is going on unless you have special glasses to view the eclipse
WBZ-TV, via CBS Boston.
Safety Requirements and a Double Celestial Night
Because the sun is never completely obscured across North America and most of viewing Europe, eye safety remains paramount. Astronomers and safety officials emphasize that regular sunglasses provide zero protection against solar damage. Anyone observing the partial phases must use certified eyewear that meets the ISO 12312-2 certification standard. Those utilizing binoculars, telescopes, or cameras must fit approved solar filters to the front optics.
For individuals unable to travel to the path of totality in Spain or Iceland, digital options exist.
The astronomical action does not stop when the sun goes down. Later that same evening, the annual Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak, bringing a display of 50 to 100 shooting stars per hour. Because August 12 features a new moon, skies will remain exceptionally dark, providing ideal atmospheric conditions for meteor watchers who find an open horizon free of artificial light highlighting a rare combination of simultaneous celestial events.
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