Total Solar Eclipse on August 12, 2026: What You Need to Know
A rare total solar eclipse will take place on August 12, 2026, with the path of totality sweeping across northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, the North Atlantic, and parts of Portugal and Spain. The eclipse will be visible in different forms across Europe and North America, with some areas experiencing a deep partial eclipse and others seeing a more modest partial event.
The path of totality, where the Moon fully obscures the Sun’s disc, will be approximately 100 km wide and will last for less than two minutes in most areas. Observers in the center of the eclipse path in Greenland, Russia, or over the North Atlantic will enjoy a slightly longer spectacle, though still under two and a half minutes.
Beyond the path of totality, skywatchers in Europe and North America will witness a partial eclipse, with the Sun only partly obscured. The extent of coverage will vary sharply by location, with observers in the United States and southern Canada seeing only a small “bite” taken from the solar disc, while those nearer the path of totality across most of Europe and northwestern Africa will see the vast majority of the Sun concealed.
In the Arab world, several countries will enjoy a striking partial eclipse, including Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and Mauritania. However, the UAE will miss out entirely, as it lies outside the eclipse’s viewing path. According to Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Chairman of the Emirates Astronomical Society, the total solar eclipse will not be visible from the UAE.
For those who cannot view the eclipse in person, NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) will provide live online coverage. NASA will stream the eclipse live from 1:15pm EDT on August 12 via nasa.gov/live, while the ESA will host a live broadcast on YouTube from the Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre in Teruel, Spain, beginning at 19:30 CEST on August 12.
If you’re interested in watching the eclipse online, you can visit the NASA or ESA websites for live streams and updates. Additionally, you can check the websites of local astronomical societies or planetariums for information on viewing events and online broadcasts.
