The partial solar eclipse is on Wednesday, August 12, 2026—not this coming weekend. Most observers in the United States and Canada will see only part of the Sun covered, even though the eclipse is total along a narrow path elsewhere in the world.
The eclipse is not this weekend. The 2026 solar eclipse occurs on Wednesday, August 12, 2026; the following weekend is August 15–16. It will be a total solar eclipse somewhere on Earth, but viewers across most of the United States and Canada will see only a partial eclipse.
In the U.S., the partial eclipse generally runs from around midday into the afternoon, depending on location. Before making plans, check your city’s exact timing, the local weather forecast, and the condition of any solar viewer you intend to use.
What will be visible?
The Moon will pass in front of the Sun. Along a narrow path crossing Greenland, Iceland, the Atlantic Ocean, northern Russia, Spain, and a small part of Portugal, the Moon will completely cover the Sun for a period of totality. That is not what most people in the contiguous United States or Canada will see.
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Across a much wider area—including parts of the northern United States, most of Canada, much of Europe, and northwestern Africa—the Moon will cover only part of the Sun. The amount of coverage depends heavily on location: northern areas generally see a larger bite, while southern and eastern U.S. locations see a smaller one.
A partial eclipse is still a real eclipse, but it does not become safe to view without protection merely because some of the Sun remains visible. Even a thin remaining crescent can cause serious eye injury if viewed directly.
Representative U.S. viewing times
The following examples are local times for August 12, 2026. “Maximum” is the moment when the greatest portion of the Sun is covered at that location. Coverage is the approximate percentage of the Sun’s disk covered at maximum. These figures are examples, not a substitute for a location-specific eclipse calculator.
| Location | Eclipse begins | Maximum | Eclipse ends | Maximum coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, Alaska | 7:36 a.m. | 8:21 a.m. | 9:09 a.m. | 28% |
| Fairbanks, Alaska | 7:37 a.m. | 8:27 a.m. | 9:18 a.m. | 37% |
| Bangor, Maine | 12:54 p.m. | 1:53 p.m. | 2:49 p.m. | 24% |
| Boston | 1:01 p.m. | 1:55 p.m. | 2:46 p.m. | 16% |
| New York City | 1:07 p.m. | 1:54 p.m. | 2:38 p.m. | 9% |
| Philadelphia | 1:11 p.m. | 1:53 p.m. | 2:35 p.m. | 7% |
| Washington, D.C. | 1:17 p.m. | 1:53 p.m. | 2:27 p.m. | 4% |
| Detroit | 1:03 p.m. | 1:36 p.m. | 2:08 p.m. | 3% |
Times can vary substantially even between nearby cities. Use NASA’s eclipse maps and location calculator for your exact address, then recheck the timing on the day of the eclipse. Pay attention to the time zone shown by the calculator.
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How to watch the eclipse safely
There is no safe moment during a partial eclipse to look directly at the Sun without suitable eye protection. Regular sunglasses—even very dark ones—do not block the harmful solar radiation. Do not use exposed film, CDs, smoked glass, or homemade filters.
For direct viewing, use purpose-made ISO 12312-2 solar eclipse glasses, a handheld solar viewer, or a properly installed solar filter designed for direct observation of the Sun. The ISO number is a performance standard, not a guarantee that every product carrying the words “ISO certified” is safe.
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Before using any viewer, hold it up to a light and inspect it carefully. Discard it if it is scratched, punctured, torn, separating from its frame, or otherwise damaged. Put the viewer over ordinary prescription glasses if necessary. With children, provide close adult supervision.
To use eclipse glasses, put them over your eyes before turning toward the Sun. Look only through an intact, suitable viewer, and turn away from the Sun before removing it. Never assume that a small remaining sliver of sunlight is harmless.
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A printed “ISO 12312-2” claim on packaging is not, by itself, proof of safety. The American Astronomical Society recommends favoring manufacturers and suppliers whose products have demonstrated, through testing by an appropriately accredited laboratory, that they meet the standard. ISO does not certify individual eclipse-glasses products.
The AAS maintains a reviewed supplier list for solar viewers and filters. It is a useful place to check a manufacturer or supplier, but availability, product details, and shipping regions can change. Confirm the current listing before buying, and do not assume that a marketplace listing is safe solely because its title includes “ISO 12312-2.”
According to AAS guidance, suitable viewers may be reused when they are less than 10 years old, came from a supplier with appropriate accredited testing, and remain undamaged. Store them clean and dry where they will not be scratched, punctured, or crushed.
Never use eclipse glasses behind binoculars or a camera
Do not look through a camera viewfinder, telescope, binoculars, spotting scope, or other optical device while wearing eclipse glasses. The optics concentrate sunlight and can damage the viewer and injure your eyes.
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- Meets Industry Standards - Our CE and ISO certified safe shades for direct sun viewing are made while adhering to stringent safety and quality regulations set by the American Astronomical Society.
- A Comfy Fit - These certified sunglasses for eclipse are suitable for teens and adults. Featuring crease lines on both sides, these optical quality safe shades may be worn over prescription glasses.
- Filters Out Harmful Light - View eclipses safely with our paper glasses. Our solar viewers use solar safe filter technology, which helps shield your eyes from IR, UV, and 99.9999% of visible light.
- Excellent Value - Each pack contains 10 non-polarized solar eclipse glasses for viewing the sun. Share them with friends and loved ones so you can all enjoy viewing solar eclipses in complete safety.
Anyone using magnification needs a special-purpose solar filter securely attached at the front aperture—the large opening facing the Sun—of the camera lens, telescope, or binoculars. A filter placed only over an eyepiece or at the camera’s rear is not a safe substitute. If you are not certain that an optical setup is designed for solar observation, do not point it at the Sun.
For most casual viewers, a camera is unnecessary. A phone can record the event indirectly by photographing a projection or the surrounding scene, but do not look through the phone’s optical path at the Sun and do not treat a phone camera as eye protection.
Watch without looking at the Sun: pinhole projection
If you do not have a verified solar viewer, use indirect projection. Stand with the Sun behind you and let sunlight pass through a small hole in a card onto a nearby shaded surface. The projected image will show the changing shape of the Sun.
You can also use a colander, leafy branches, or crossed fingers to create many small projected images. Look only at the image cast onto the surface—not through the pinhole, colander, branches, or your fingers toward the Sun.
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A purchased pinhole eclipse projector can make the activity easier for a classroom or family, but no special kit is required. A card and a nearby surface are enough. Keep young children supervised and make sure everyone understands that projection is indirect viewing.
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NASA’s online broadcast is a good option if your location is outside the visibility area, clouds obscure the eclipse, you cannot obtain a verified viewer, or you simply prefer not to observe the Sun directly.
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NASA says its live coverage begins at 1:15 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. The broadcast is scheduled to include views from the eclipse path and interviews with subject-matter experts. NASA’s schedule lists totality beginning in Iceland at 1:45 p.m. EDT and in Spain at 2:28 p.m. EDT.
Because livestream schedules and links can change, check NASA’s official eclipse coverage page shortly before the event. Watching a stream on a television, computer, or phone does not require looking at the real Sun and is the safest choice when suitable eye protection is unavailable.
A simple eclipse-day checklist
- Confirm that the event is Wednesday, August 12, 2026—not the following weekend.
- Check exact local start, maximum, and end times for your location.
- Check the weather forecast and identify an indoor livestream option.
- Use only an undamaged solar viewer from a manufacturer or supplier with credible accredited-testing evidence.
- Put direct-viewing protection over your eyes before facing the Sun.
- Do not use sunglasses, exposed film, CDs, smoked glass, or improvised filters.
- Never use eclipse glasses with binoculars, telescopes, or cameras.
- For optical equipment, install a purpose-made solar filter securely at the front aperture.
- If you lack a safe viewer, use pinhole projection or NASA’s livestream.
- Inspect reusable viewers again before use and discard anything damaged.
The most important distinction is simple: August 12’s eclipse is total along a limited global path, but it is partial for most U.S. observers. Wherever you watch, verify the local forecast and timing immediately beforehand, and treat eye safety as non-negotiable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the partial solar eclipse happening this weekend?
No. The eclipse occurs on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. The following weekend is August 15–16, after the eclipse has ended.
Can I watch the partial eclipse with regular sunglasses?
No. Regular sunglasses do not provide sufficient protection, regardless of how dark they look. Use purpose-made, undamaged solar viewers that meet the relevant requirements and come from a supplier with credible accredited-testing evidence.
Can I wear eclipse glasses while looking through binoculars or a camera?
No. Eclipse glasses are not safe when used behind binoculars, a telescope, or a camera. Optical equipment requires a special-purpose solar filter securely mounted at the front aperture.
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Yes. NASA’s live coverage is scheduled to begin at 1:15 p.m. EDT on August 12, 2026. A livestream is also the safest option if you do not have a verified solar viewer or if clouds block your view.
The Bottom Line
The 2026 eclipse takes place on Wednesday, August 12, not the August 15–16 weekend. Most U.S. viewers will see a partial eclipse. Use verified, undamaged solar viewers for direct observation; use a front-aperture solar filter with optical equipment; or watch indirectly through pinhole projection or NASA’s livestream.
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