Total Solar Eclipse
Wednesday, 12 August 2026
Total solar eclipse visible from the Arctic, Iceland, Spain, and parts of North Africa. First total eclipse visible from Europe since 1999.
Path of totality
Approximate central line — the orange trace marks where observers will see total eclipse. Outside a ~100-km-wide band, observers see a partial eclipse only.
What to expect
During totality, the Sun's corona becomes visible — pearl-white streamers of plasma extending millions of kilometers into space. Day turns to twilight; bright stars and planets appear; the temperature drops noticeably.
Maximum duration: 2m 18s. This is how long the central phase will last for observers on the center line — observers near the edge of the path will see a shorter central phase, and observers outside the path will see only a partial eclipse.
Best visible from: Greenland, Iceland, Spain, North Africa. Outside these regions, observers either see a smaller partial eclipse or none at all — Earth's curvature puts the event below the horizon.
Viewing safety
- Never look at the partial phases with the naked eye — ISO-12312-2 certified eclipse glasses are required.
- Camera phones and regular sunglasses do not provide adequate protection.
- During totality only, it is safe to look directly at the corona — lasts 2m 18s.