According to NASA, a partial solar eclipse will be visible across portions of Alaska, the Midwest, and the East Coast on Wednesday, August 12, offering millions of skywatchers a celestial alignment even as Europe and Greenland experience a rare total solar eclipse. Unlike the dramatic daytime darkness of the 2024 total eclipse in North America, this week’s event will produce subtle sky dimming without turning day into night.
Where to Watch the Partial Eclipse in North America
Skywatchers in North America will not see the total phase, but many cities across the continent are positioned to view the moon partially covering the sun, according to NASA data. Viewers in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, will see the highest coverage in the region at 53%, with the partial phase beginning at 2:28 p.m. and ending at 4:37 p.m. local time, peaking at 3:35 p.m.
According to NASA timetables, Anchorage, Alaska, will experience 28% coverage, with the event running from 7:36 a.m. to 9:09 a.m. local time. Further south and east, coverage drops significantly. Bangor, Maine, will see 24% coverage beginning at 12:54 p.m., while Montreal, Quebec, will witness 18% coverage starting at 12:50 p.m. Major U.S. metropolitan areas will catch only a sliver of the event: New York City will experience 9% coverage, Philadelphia 7%, Washington, D.C., 4%, Detroit 3%, and Toronto 8%, according to NASA calculations.
Pro Tip: According to NASA and USA TODAY safety guidelines, looking directly at the sun during a partial eclipse requires certified solar eclipse glasses or approved solar filters for cameras, binoculars, and telescopes. Regular sunglasses are not safe for observing the sun.
Total Solar Eclipse Paths Across Europe and Greenland
While North America catches a partial view, a total solar eclipse will sweep across parts of the Arctic and Europe, marking continental Europe’s first encounter with totality since 1999, according to Associated Press reports. The path of totality begins near the North Pole before tracking southward across Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and a small patch of Portugal, according to Live Science reporting.
Prime locations for viewing totality include Scoresby Sund in Greenland, where totality lasts up to 2 minutes and 17 seconds starting at 4:35 p.m. WGST, and Reykjavik, Iceland, where totality lasts 60 seconds at 5:48 p.m. GMT, according to Live Science. In Spain, cities such as León and Soria will experience totality exceeding 1 minute and 45 seconds during the evening hours, while Madrid will see a near-total 99.9% partial phase, according to Live Science data.
Comparing the 2026 Event to Past and Future Eclipses
Wednesday’s celestial alignment follows a series of high-profile eclipses that captured public attention across the Western Hemisphere. The Great American Eclipse of 2017 brought over two minutes of totality from Oregon to South Carolina, a duration nearly doubled during the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse that raced from Mexico’s Pacific coast past Newfoundland, as reported by the Associated Press.
Unlike those events, Wednesday’s partial views in the U.S. will not feature sudden daytime darkness or visible stars, according to USA TODAY reporting. However, the event serves as a prelude to what NASA has dubbed the “Eclipse of the Century” on August 2, 2027. That upcoming total solar eclipse will feature an exceptionally long period of totality lasting up to 6 minutes and 23 seconds in parts of the world, according to USA TODAY.
Did You Know? Total solar eclipses occur somewhere on Earth approximately once every 18 months, making them among the rarest recurring predictable celestial events, according to data cited by USA TODAY.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the partial solar eclipse begin in the U.S.?
According to NASA, the partial eclipse begins around 11:34 a.m. ET on Wednesday, August 12, and reaches its peak at 1:46 p.m. ET, though local start times vary by region.
Can I look at the partial eclipse without glasses?
No. According to NASA and Live Science, certified solar eclipse glasses must be worn at all times during a partial eclipse. Totality is the only phase when viewing without eye protection is safe.
Will the sky turn dark in the U.S. during this eclipse?
No. According to USA TODAY, viewers in the U.S. will only experience minor dimming because the moon will block only a fraction of the sun, unlike the total eclipses of 2017 and 2024.
Where can I watch the eclipse online?
According to Live Science, NASA, the European Space Agency, and major news networks including CNN will livestream totality views from Iceland and Spain starting around 1 p.m. EDT on Wednesday.
Want to stay updated on upcoming astronomical events and space exploration news? Subscribe to our newsletter or explore our latest science coverage for more details on celestial alignments.
Keep reading