NASA to stream and study August 12, 2026 solar eclipse

A total solar eclipse will sweep across parts of Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Portugal, and the North Atlantic on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, marking the first total solar eclipse visible from mainland Europe since 1999. The event will be visible as a partial eclipse across a much wider area, including parts of the northeastern United States, Canada, much of Europe, and northwestern Africa.

For those within the narrow path of totality, where the moon will completely block the sun, the experience will last for a few minutes, turning day into night and revealing the sun's ethereal outer atmosphere, the corona. Observers outside this path will see a partial eclipse, where the moon covers only a portion of the sun. Safety is paramount for all viewers, as looking directly at the sun without proper protection can cause permanent eye damage. Certified eclipse glasses that meet the ISO 12312-2 standard are essential for viewing the partial phases, and they should be purchased well in advance of the event. During the brief period of totality, viewers can safely remove their glasses to see the corona with the naked eye.

The celestial event has spurred a wide range of viewing plans and...