Total Solar Eclipse of August 12, 2026
Total over Iceland and Spain · a deep partial eclipse up to 98% across Western Europe, at sunset
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⏱ Countdown
Time remaining until greatest eclipse, or the exact start time for your city, with a live verdict and calendar reminder.
Try ?city=london for the exact time in London.
🔭 Simulator
A city-by-city animation of the Sun and Moon: percentage obscured, time of maximum, position in the sky, second by second.
Try ?city=dublin to see 94% of the Sun covered over Dublin.
🗺 Interactive map
The path of totality, obscuration contour lines, and the exact time anywhere on Earth — just click the map.
Try ?c=51,-8&z=4 to centre the map on the North Atlantic.
What you'll see across Western Europe
On August 12, 2026, most of Western Europe will experience a deep partial eclipse, late in the day, with the Sun already low on the western horizon.
| City | Obscuration | Maximum (local time) |
|---|---|---|
| Dublin | 94% | evening |
| London | 91% | evening |
| Paris | 92% | 20:17 CEST |
| Berlin | ~84% | evening |
| New York | ~9% | midday |
Across Western Europe the Sun sits only a few degrees above the horizon at maximum: a clear, unobstructed western horizon — away from buildings or hills — is essential to enjoy the show. Farther east, the Sun sets before the eclipse ends.
Where to see the total eclipse
The path of totality crosses Arctic Russia, Greenland, then Iceland and the Atlantic before reaching northern Spain right at sunset. This is the first total solar eclipse visible from continental Europe since August 11, 1999 — the next one visible from mainland France won't happen until September 3, 2081.
Greatest eclipse occurs at 17:45:56 UTC off the coast of Iceland (65.2°N, 25.2°W), with a magnitude of 1.039 and up to 2 minutes 18 seconds of totality. Reykjavík gets about 1 minute of totality around 17:48 local time. In Spain, Gijón and Oviedo enjoy roughly 1 minute 45 seconds of totality around 20:27–20:28, and Zaragoza about 1 minute 24 seconds at 20:30.
A trap worth knowing: Madrid and Barcelona reach 99.9% obscuration but sit just a few dozen kilometers outside the path — the eclipse will never be total there.
Practical tip: pick a viewing spot with a perfectly clear western horizon (a beach or a west-facing hill), since the Sun will already be low or near setting during totality.
Watching safely
A few essential rules for watching the August 12, 2026 solar eclipse safely:
- Check that your glasses carry the ISO 12312-2 certification and show no scratches, creases or pinholes — never reuse damaged or very old glasses.
- Never look at the Sun through a camera, binoculars or a telescope without a proper solar filter mounted on the front of the instrument.
- Without certified glasses, use the pinhole projection method: a small card with a pinhole projects an image of the Sun onto a surface, without ever looking at it directly.
- Where the Sun is very low on the horizon, secure a clear western view and keep your glasses on throughout the entire partial phase, from start to finish.
- In Iceland and Spain, naked-eye viewing is only safe during totality — put your glasses back on the instant any sliver of Sun reappears.
Embed these widgets on your site
These three tools are free to embed via iframe on your site or blog — please keep the link back to the source.
Countdown (height 380px)
<iframe src="https://eclipse-2026.emergence.md/en/countdown?embed=1" width="100%" height="380" style="border:0;border-radius:12px;overflow:hidden" loading="lazy" title="Countdown — Total Solar Eclipse of August 12, 2026"></iframe>Simulator (height 560px)
<iframe src="https://eclipse-2026.emergence.md/en/simulator?embed=1" width="100%" height="560" style="border:0;border-radius:12px;overflow:hidden" loading="lazy" title="Simulator — August 12, 2026 solar eclipse"></iframe>Interactive map (height 520px)
<iframe src="https://eclipse-2026.emergence.md/en/map?embed=1" width="100%" height="520" style="border:0;border-radius:12px;overflow:hidden" loading="lazy" title="Interactive map — August 12, 2026 solar eclipse"></iframe>Free to embed — please keep the link back to eclipse-2026.emergence.md.
Frequently asked questions
What time is the eclipse exactly?
Greatest eclipse occurs at 17:45:56 UTC over the Atlantic west of Iceland. Local maximum times vary by city in the evening: London 91% shortly before sunset, Dublin 94%, Berlin around 84%. Use the simulator for the exact local time in your city.
Will the eclipse be total anywhere in Western Europe?
Yes, but only along a narrow path: Iceland and northern Spain (Gijón, Oviedo, Zaragoza) are inside the path of totality. Everywhere else in Western Europe — including London, Dublin, Paris and Berlin — the eclipse is a deep partial eclipse only.
Where can I see the total solar eclipse?
The path of totality crosses Arctic Russia, Greenland, Iceland, the Atlantic, and northern Spain, where the eclipse ends right at sunset. This is the first total solar eclipse visible from continental Europe since August 11, 1999.
What glasses do I need to watch the eclipse?
ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses, new and unscratched. Ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, do not protect your eyes. Only during totality (in Iceland or Spain) can the Sun be viewed with the naked eye, and only for that brief period.
Is the eclipse visible from the United States?
Only a small partial eclipse is visible from the US East Coast around midday, with New York seeing roughly 9% obscuration. The main event — totality and the deepest partial phases — favors Iceland, Spain and Western Europe in the evening.
Why is the eclipse so low on the horizon in Western Europe?
The eclipse happens late in the day, with the Sun already low in the sky and setting in the west. A clear, unobstructed western horizon is essential to see it. Farther east, the Sun sets before the eclipse ends.