The next total solar eclipse is coming in August. Who can see it?
Saleen MartinCorrections & clarifications: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the type of eclipse occurring on Aug. 27, 2026. The Aug. 27-28 event is a lunar eclipse.
The next total solar eclipse is just over three months away and while those in Europe are guaranteed the best view, U.S. astronomers and space fans will still be able to see it partially, experts say.
The upcoming total solar eclipse falls on Aug. 12, according to NASA. Among the lucky viewers are those in Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia and a small part of Portugal. People in Europe, Africa and North America will be able to see a partial eclipse, as well as those near the Atlantic Ocean, the Arctic Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean.
Here's what to know about the summer total solar eclipse – and who might be able see it (with proper protective eyewear, of course).
What is a total solar eclipse?
A total solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, blocking the face of the sun, per NASA.
People in the center of the moon’s shadow when it hits Earth will be able to see the total eclipse. The sky will then darken, as if dawn or dusk have arrived.
Depending on the weather, people in the path of a total solar eclipse can see the sun’s corona or outer atmosphere, which is usually impossible to see due to the brightness of the sun, NASA said.
In the United States, the Aug. 12 total solar eclipse will begin around 11:34 a.m. Eastern Time and it will end around 2:52 pm Eastern Time, according to Norwegian time zone website Time and Date.
Do you need eclipse glasses to view a total solar eclipse?
Those wanting to see solar eclipses should not do so with the naked eye, experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said online. Viewers should use specialized eye protection, aka "eclipse glasses." Regular sunglasses do not provide enough protection.
Serious eye damage can result from looking directly at the sun, the agency wrote. "Use approved solar filters or cut a pin hole in a shoe box and watch the sun's light cast through the pin hole onto a smooth surface such as cardboard. The only portion of a solar eclipse which is safe to view without filters is the brief time during totality. Otherwise all partial solar eclipses need approved filters."
The total solar eclipse is the only type of solar eclipse that allows viewers to momentarily take off their eclipse glasses. They can remove their glasses during "totality," or the short period of time when the moon is completely blocking the sun, according to NASA.
Who can view the Aug. 12 total solar eclipse?
What people look for during these total solar eclipses is totality, or the period when the moon completely blocks the face of the sun, per NASA.
The maximum totality on Aug. 12 will be 2 minutes and 18 seconds, reported National Eclipse, which provides information on upcoming eclipses.
Come Aug. 12, people near the far western tip of Iceland's peninsula will be in luck. According to National Eclipse, visitors there can access an unpaved road that reaches a lighthouse and seabird cliffs, and this road will allow them to see about 2 minutes and 13 seconds of totality.
"(That's) just 5 seconds short of the maximum totality duration for the 2026 eclipse," the website read.
In Spain, those in the northeastern city of Gijón will be able to experience 1 minute and 45 seconds of totality. People in Oviedo, part of northern Spain, will get about 1 minute and 48 seconds.
Per National Eclipse, those in the following states will see a partial eclipse:
- Alaska
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Iowa
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- Maine
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Montana
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Virginia
- Vermont
- Wisconsin
- West Virginia
USA TODAY contacted NASA on May 5 to find out which parts of the United States will get the best view of the Aug. 12 eclipse.
Are there any more eclipses this year?
According to NASA, there will be a partial lunar eclipse between Aug. 27 and Aug. 28 for people in the Americas, Europe, Africa, and western Asia to experience.
For those wanting to know if they'll be able to see the eclipses on Aug. 12 and Aug. 27, Time and Date has tools to check specific locations in the U.S.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s trending team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at [email protected].