Phases of the Total Solar Eclipse Arriving in August 2026

An eagerly anticipated total solar eclipse is set to grace the skies on August 12, 2026, offering a celestial spectacle primarily visible in the Northern Hemisphere. The phenomenon will unfold in three distinct phases: the penumbral, partial, and total eclipse.

The penumbral phase marks the eclipse's beginning as the Moon starts to pass between the Earth and the Sun, causing a subtle dimming of sunlight that often goes unnoticed. This phase signifies that the astronomical event has commenced.

Following this is the partial eclipse, where the Moon progressively covers a larger portion of the Sun, creating the iconic crescent shape. During this stage, daylight noticeably diminishes, and temperatures may slightly drop. This phase will be observable in many regions outside the path of totality, including much of Europe, Canada, and parts of the northern United States and western Africa.

The climax of the event is the total solar eclipse, the most awe-inspiring stage. It occurs when the Moon completely obscures the Sun's disk, casting a shadow across a narrow band of Earth. For a few minutes, the sky will darken as if it were dusk, stars and planets may become visible, and the Sun's outer atmosphere, the corona, will be revealed, a breathtaking sight exclusive to the period of totality.

For the August 12, 2026 eclipse, the path of totality will traverse sectors of Greenland, Iceland, and Spain. The journey of the Moon's shadow will begin over Alaska, with the totality phase starting over Russia's Laptev Sea before advancing through polar regions. It will then sweep across Greenland, reach Iceland where its capital, Reykjavik, will experience totality, and cross the Atlantic towards the Iberian Peninsula. In Spain, the total eclipse will be visible in cities such as Bilbao, Burgos, La Coruña, León, Lugo, Oviedo, Palencia, Santander, Segovia, Soria, and Valladolid.