Total Solar Eclipse on August 12, 2026: Visibility and Timings
A total solar eclipse is set to occur on August 12, 2026. While the event will be visible in parts of Europe and North America, it will not be observable from India as it takes place during the night.
Key takeaways
- A total solar eclipse will take place on August 12, 2026.
- The eclipse will be visible in countries like Spain, Iceland, and Greenland.
- It will not be visible from India due to occurring during nighttime hours.
- Partial views will be available across Europe, Africa, and North America.
What Happened
A total solar eclipse is scheduled for August 12, 2026. The celestial event will be visible in Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and a small part of Portugal, with totality lasting up to two minutes and 18 seconds. Wider areas of Europe, Africa, and North America will experience partial phases of the eclipse.
In India, the eclipse will occur while the Sun is below the horizon. The partial phase is calculated to begin at 3:34:15 p.m. UTC and end at 7:57:57 p.m. UTC, with maximum eclipse at 5:46:06 p.m. UTC. Converted to Indian Standard Time, this translates to roughly 9:04 p.m. on August 12 to 1:28 a.m. on August 13, with the peak around 11:16 p.m. on August 12.
Background
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon aligns between the Sun and Earth, casting a shadow. A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon completely obscures the Sun. This particular eclipse is notable as it marks the first total solar eclipse visible in mainland Europe since 1999, with Spain being a prime viewing location.
Key Facts
- A total solar eclipse will occur on August 12, 2026.
- The eclipse will be visible in Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and parts of Portugal.
- Partial phases will be visible across Europe, Africa, and North America.
- The eclipse will not be visible in India because it will occur at night.
- The partial phase will begin at 3:34:15 p.m. UTC and end at 7:57:57 p.m. UTC.
- Maximum eclipse will occur at 5:46:06 p.m. UTC.
- In Indian Standard Time, the eclipse window is approximately 9:04 p.m. August 12 to 1:28 a.m. August 13.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
