A total solar eclipse will occur on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, with a magnitude of 1.0386. This celestial event happens when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, completely blocking direct sunlight for viewers within the path of totality. Because the eclipse occurs approximately 2.2 days after the Moon’s perigee on August 10, 2026, the Moon’s apparent diameter will be larger than usual, creating favorable viewing conditions for the eclipse chasers.
Path and Timing
The path of totality will traverse the Arctic Ocean, eastern Greenland, western Iceland, the Atlantic Ocean, and northern Spain, including the extreme northeastern part of Portugal. The point of greatest duration will occur just 45 kilometers off Iceland’s western coast at coordinates 65°10.3′ N and 25°12.3′ W, where totality will last 2 minutes and 18.21 seconds.
Unusually, the initial portion of the eclipse path will move from east to west, traveling from Russia to Greenland while narrowly avoiding the North Pole. In northern Spain, the total eclipse will cross from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean coast, passing over cities including A Coruña, Valencia, Zaragoza, Palma, and Bilbao. Madrid and Barcelona will fall just outside the totality path.
A partial eclipse will be visible across more than 90% of the Sun in Ireland, Great Britain, Portugal, France, Italy, the Balkans, and North Africa, with lesser coverage extending to most of Europe, West Africa, and northern North America.
Visibility in India
Unfortunately, this total solar eclipse will not be visible from India. The eclipse path remains confined to high northern latitudes and parts of Europe. However, you can watch the eclipse live via several streams online, including those of NASA.
Safety Precautions
However, if you are fortunate enough to travel abroad to catch the eclipse, don’t forget to exercise necessary precautions. Direct viewing of the Sun is unsafe except during the brief total phase when the Moon completely blocks the Sun’s aura. Special-purpose solar filters, such as eclipse glasses, must be used during all partial phases. Ordinary sunglasses or homemade filters are inadequate and dangerous for solar observation.
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