US states to witness partial solar eclipse on August 12, 2026

Skywatchers are anticipating a spectacular total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026, a celestial event that will briefly plunge parts of the world into daytime darkness.

The path of totality, where the Moon will completely obscure the Sun, will traverse Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, Spain, Portugal, and the Atlantic Ocean. Observers within this narrow band will witness the dramatic moment the Sun disappears behind the Moon.

While the United States will not be in the path of totality for this particular eclipse, many regions across the country will have the opportunity to view a partial solar eclipse. This means the Moon will cover only a section of the Sun, creating the appearance of a 'bite' taken out of the solar disk.

According to NASA, states from Alaska to the East Coast, including Connecticut, Illinois, New York, and Pennsylvania, are expected to witness this partial phenomenon. Following the eclipse, skygazers can look forward to the Perseid meteor shower, which typically peaks shortly after the eclipse.