TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The only total solar eclipse of 2026 will cross parts of the Northern Hemisphere on Wednesday, August 12, offering skywatchers in parts of Spain, Iceland, Greenland and northern Russia a chance to experience totality, while much of Europe will see a partial eclipse.
The celestial event occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun, temporarily blocking sunlight. Whether viewers see a total or partial eclipse depends on their location because the Moon's darkest shadow follows a relatively narrow path across Earth's surface.
Where Will the 2026 Solar Eclipse Be Visible?
The path of totality will stretch from extreme northern Russia across Greenland and Iceland before reaching northern Spain.
According to CBS News, western Iceland and northern Spain are among the best populated locations for viewing totality, while much of the path passes over sparsely populated areas such as northern Greenland.
Spain is expected to experience its first total solar eclipse since 1905.
A partial eclipse, meanwhile, will be visible across a much wider area. Major European cities including Madrid, London and Paris will see at least 90 percent of the Sun covered.
Parts of North America will also experience a partial eclipse, although coverage will be considerably lower. Fairbanks, Alaska, will see about 37 percent coverage, while Boston will see 16 percent, New York City about 9 percent, Toronto about 8 percent and Philadelphia about 7 percent.
When Will the Solar Eclipse Happen?
The total eclipse will begin in extreme northern Russia at about 17:00 UTC, or 1 p.m. Eastern Time, before moving across Greenland, Iceland and the North Atlantic toward Europe.
In Iceland, totality will reach Reykjavik at 5:48 p.m. local time.
The eclipse will then cross the Atlantic before reaching northern Spain. In Valencia, totality is expected at 8:32 p.m. local time.
As reported by The Guardian, totality in Spain will peak between 8:26 p.m. and 8:33 p.m. local time, depending on the location, shortly before sunset.
The timing is particularly important for observers in western Europe because the Sun will be relatively low on the horizon. In London, the partial eclipse will begin at 6:17 p.m. local time, reach maximum coverage of about 92 percent at 7:13 p.m. and end at 8:06 p.m.
In Cornwall, coverage will reach about 96 percent, while parts of western Scotland will see around 93 percent.
How Rare Is the 2026 Total Solar Eclipse?
Total solar eclipses occur somewhere on Earth roughly every 18 months, but any particular location may wait decades or even centuries for one.
Wednesday's event will be the first total solar eclipse visible from mainland Europe in two decades. The last total eclipse visible from parts of the United Kingdom occurred in 1999.
The next total solar eclipse visible from the UK is not expected until 2090.
For the United States, the next total solar eclipse will occur in 2044, although its path will be limited to Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. Another total eclipse will cross a much wider section of the country in 2045, from Northern California toward Florida.
How Can You Watch the Eclipse Safely?
Looking directly at the Sun without proper protection can cause permanent eye damage, even during a partial solar eclipse.
Specialized solar eclipse glasses should be used when viewing the Sun. Ordinary sunglasses are not a safe substitute.
During totality, when the Moon completely covers the Sun, viewers within the path of totality can briefly remove their eclipse glasses. However, the glasses must be worn throughout the event when viewing a partial eclipse.
For people without eclipse glasses, experts recommend viewing the eclipse indirectly rather than looking at the Sun.
A simple pinhole projector can be made using household objects such as a piece of paper with a small hole or a colander. The device projects an image of the partially eclipsed Sun onto a surface without requiring viewers to look directly at the Sun.
Why Are Scientists Interested in the Eclipse?
Beyond its visual appeal, a total solar eclipse gives scientists an opportunity to study the Sun's outer atmosphere, known as the solar corona.
Astronomers can use the brief period of totality to study the corona's chemistry and how it changes with the Sun's approximately 11-year cycle of solar activity.
Solar eclipses have also played an important role in scientific history. During the 1919 total eclipse, expeditions observed stars near the Sun to test predictions from Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity.
What Else Can You See on August 12-13?
The eclipse coincides with another major celestial event: the annual Perseid meteor shower.
The Perseids are expected to reach their peak overnight from August 12 to 13. The timing is particularly favorable because the Moon will be in its new phase, meaning moonlight will not brighten the sky and interfere with meteor observations.
Under clear, dark skies, the Perseids can produce dozens of meteors per hour, with the possibility of particularly bright fireballs.
For skywatchers who can remain outside after the eclipse, the combination of a major solar eclipse on August 12 and the Perseid peak overnight into August 13 makes this one of the most notable celestial events of 2026.
Read: 9 Night Sky Events to Watch in August: From Eclipses to Meteor Showers
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