Countdown to the August 12, 2026 Total Solar Eclipse Begins

WHO:

Space - Daisy Dobrijevic is currently aboard HX Expeditions' MS Spitsbergen exploring Greenland's dramatic coast.

Space - Anthony Wood is joining the DEB initiative in Valoria la Buena, Spain, for his first-ever total solar eclipse.

France 24 - NASA is mentioned as a source of information regarding eclipses.

Space - Daisy Dobrijevic is the skywatching editor reporting from Greenland.

Space - Anthony Wood is a skywatching writer reporting from Valoria la Buena, Spain.

WHAT:

[12:24 p.m. ET] - USA Today - The total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026, will allow people across most of Europe and in northwestern Africa to see the moon cover most of the sun, while the partial eclipse will be visible in the United States, with Fairbanks, Alaska, experiencing 37% coverage.

[12:24 p.m. ET] - USA Today - Maximum coverage for the partial eclipse in various U.S. cities includes Fairbanks, Alaska, at 37%; Anchorage, Alaska, at 28%; and Bangor, Maine, at 24%.

[12:24 p.m. ET] - USA Today - The partial eclipse will be visible in Washington, D.C., with 4% coverage, occurring from 1:17 p.m. to 2:27 p.m., with maximum coverage at 1:53 p.m.

[12:24 p.m. ET] - USA Today - NASA will host a live broadcast of the eclipse beginning at 1:15 p.m. ET on August 12 on multiple platforms including Amazon Prime, Facebook, Instagram, NASA+, Twitch, X, and YouTube.

France 24 - The total solar eclipse will create a twilight effect, causing temperatures to drop and some animals to exhibit unusual behavior, such as going to sleep.

France 24 - The total eclipse will last under two minutes for observers in Spain, with Burgos experiencing darkness for exactly one minute and 48 seconds.

France 24 - Partial eclipses will last around one hour and 45 minutes, visible across most of Europe, Canada, the northern United States, and northwest Africa.

France 24 - The total solar eclipse will create a strange twilight during which temperatures drop, shadows appear at unusual angles, and some animals may go to sleep.

France 24 - NASA describes the phenomenon of eclipses as a "cosmic coincidence," explaining that the Sun is about 400 times larger than the Moon but also about 400 times farther away.

Space - The total solar eclipse will be the first total solar eclipse visible in mainland Europe since 1999.

France 24 - The total eclipse will last slightly longer in parts of Russia and Greenland, though still under two-and-a-half minutes.

France 24 - Partial eclipses will last around one hour and 45 minutes.

France 24 - The total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026, will be the first total solar eclipse visible in mainland Europe since 2006.

France 24 - The totality will last slightly longer in parts of Russia and Greenland, though still under two-and-a-half minutes.

France 24 - The total solar eclipse will cross over areas in Spain that have been affected by devastating fires, which scientists attribute to human-driven climate change.

France 24 - The total solar eclipse on August 2, 2027, will have a totality lasting six minutes and 23 seconds, with the next longer eclipse not occurring until 2114.

France 24 - A total solar eclipse will occur on August 12, 2026, when the Moon completely covers the Sun.

France 24 - The total eclipse will last under two minutes for observers in Spain, with Burgos experiencing darkness for exactly one minute and 48 seconds.

Space - Millions of skywatchers across Europe, northeastern United States, and eastern Canada will witness a partial solar eclipse.

WHERE:

France 24 - The total solar eclipse will first be visible in a remote region of northern Russia before moving to Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and the northeastern tip of Portugal.

Space - The total solar eclipse will cross over a remote region of northern Russia before moving to Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain, and the Balearic Islands.

France 24 - The path of totality will cross over a remote region of northern Russia before moving to Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and the northeastern tip of Portugal.

France 24 - The path of totality will cross northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain, and the Balearic Islands.

France 24 - In Spain, the eclipse will move from the northern city of Oviedo to the island of Mallorca.

Space - The reporting locations include Scoresby Sund in Greenland and Valoria la Buena in northern Spain.

WHEN:

France 24 - The total solar eclipse will occur just before sunset on August 12, 2026.

France 24 - The total solar eclipse will occur on August 12, 2026, just before sunset.

France 24 - The total solar eclipse will take place on August 12, 2026.

France 24 - A subsequent total solar eclipse is scheduled for August 2, 2027.

France 24 - An annular eclipse will occur on January 26, 2028.

WHY:

France 24 - The total solar eclipse is considered one of the continent’s most anticipated astronomical events of the decade, with the last total solar eclipse visible in mainland Europe occurring in 1999.

France 24 - The total solar eclipse is considered one of the continent’s most anticipated astronomical events of the decade.

France 24 - The total solar eclipse is one of the continent’s most anticipated astronomical events of the decade.

France 24 - The total solar eclipse is a rare event, with the last total solar eclipse visible in mainland Europe occurring in 1999.

HOW:

[12:24 p.m. ET] - USA Today - NASA recommends using eye protection such as solar viewing glasses or pinhole projectors to safely view the eclipse, emphasizing that viewers can only look directly at the eclipse during the brief moments of totality.

France 24 - Experts recommend using eclipse glasses that filter UV rays and meet the standard ISO 12312-2:2015 to safely view the eclipse.

France 24 - Eclipses occur when the Moon passes directly between the Sun and Earth, casting a shadow on the planet.

France 24 - Experts recommend using specifically designed eclipse glasses that filter UV rays to safely view the eclipse.

(UPDATED August 8, 2026 02:58 UTC)

A total solar eclipse is set to occur on August 12, 2026, allowing people across most of Europe and northwestern Africa to witness the moon cover most of the sun, while a partial eclipse will be visible in the United States, with Fairbanks, Alaska, experiencing 37% coverage. In various U.S. cities, Anchorage, Alaska, will see 28% coverage, Bangor, Maine, will have 24%, and Washington, D.C., will experience 4% coverage from 1:17 p.m. to 2:27 p.m., peaking at 1:53 p.m. NASA will provide a live broadcast of the eclipse starting at 1:15 p.m. ET on August 12 across multiple platforms, and they advise viewers to use solar viewing glasses or pinhole projectors for safe viewing.

(UPDATED August 7, 2026 16:45 UTC)

A total solar eclipse is set to occur just before sunset on August 12, 2026, and it's expected to create a twilight effect that will cause temperatures to drop and some animals to behave unusually, like going to sleep. Observers in Spain will experience the total eclipse for one minute and 48 seconds, while partial eclipses will last around one hour and 45 minutes, visible across much of Europe, Canada, the northern United States, and northwest Africa. This event is highly anticipated, marking the first total solar eclipse visible in mainland Europe since 1999, and it will begin in a remote region of northern Russia before moving through Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and the northeastern tip of Portugal.

(UPDATED August 7, 2026 15:49 UTC)

A total solar eclipse is set to occur just before sunset on August 12, 2026, and it promises to be one of the most anticipated astronomical events in Europe this decade. This spectacular phenomenon will create a strange twilight where temperatures drop, shadows appear at unusual angles, and some animals may even go to sleep. The eclipse will cross over a remote region of northern Russia before moving on to Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain, and the Balearic Islands, marking the first total solar eclipse visible in mainland Europe since 1999.

(UPDATED August 7, 2026 14:15 UTC)

Daisy Dobrijevic is currently aboard HX Expeditions' MS Spitsbergen, exploring the dramatic coast of Greenland, while Anthony Wood is preparing to experience his first total solar eclipse in Valoria la Buena, Spain, as part of the DEB initiative. This highly anticipated total solar eclipse will take place on August 12, 2026, just before sunset, with the path of totality crossing northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and the northeastern tip of Portugal. Experts advise using eclipse glasses that filter UV rays and meet the ISO 12312-2:2015 standard to safely enjoy this remarkable astronomical event, which will last under two-and-a-half minutes in some locations.

(UPDATED August 7, 2026 12:41 UTC)

A total solar eclipse is set to occur on August 12, 2026, marking the first time since 2006 that such an event will be visible in mainland Europe. This eclipse will pass over regions in Spain that have recently suffered from devastating fires linked to climate change, while totality will last just under two-and-a-half minutes in parts of Russia and Greenland. Experts advise using eclipse glasses that filter UV rays and comply with the ISO 12312-2:2015 standard for safe viewing of this spectacular phenomenon.

(UPDATED August 7, 2026 08:58 UTC)

A total solar eclipse is set to occur on August 12, 2026, when the Moon will completely cover the Sun, with the totality lasting just under two minutes for observers in Spain, particularly in Burgos, where darkness will last for one minute and 48 seconds. Millions of skywatchers across Europe, the northeastern United States, and eastern Canada will also experience a partial solar eclipse, while the path of totality will cross northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain, and the Balearic Islands. Experts recommend using specially designed eclipse glasses to safely view this rare event, as the last total solar eclipse visible in mainland Europe took place in 1999.