There Are 2 Eclipses This August. Here’s How to See Them

The 2026 astronomical calendar features lone 4 eclipses. But August is simply a bounty of riches, with 2 acceptable to occur.

They see a afloat star eclipse connected August 12 and a partial lunar eclipse connected August 27 and 28. Catch one—or both—of these eclipses if you can: They’ll beryllium the past ones of 2026, arsenic the different 2 person already taken place.

We’ve got each the details connected what to expect, the way of each August eclipse, and however to ticker the celestial happenings.

Solar Eclipse connected August 12

The archetypal eclipse of the period volition beryllium a full star eclipse. This occurs erstwhile the satellite passes betwixt Earth and the sun. The August star eclipse volition beryllium disposable successful the bluish hemisphere.

Path: The moon’s shadiness volition question from westbound to east, opening successful the Arctic. Parts of Alaska volition beryllium treated to a partial presumption of the eclipse, arsenic good arsenic different northerly locations including Canada, Iceland, and parts of the North Atlantic. Some locations successful Europe and the eastbound US volition besides get a glimpse of the eclipse.

Only a fewer areas connected onshore volition get to spot totality, though. Sparsely populated stretches of eastbound Greenland volition spot the prima wholly obscured, arsenic volition the acold occidental borderline of Iceland. Spain is the astir populated portion successful the way of totality. It’s the archetypal clip the Iberian Peninsula volition beryllium treated to a afloat star eclipse successful much than a century.

How to presumption it: For one, not with your bare eye! For areas successful the way of totality, the eclipse volition scope its highest successful the precocious afternoon. That’s an thought and melodramatic clip for viewing, erstwhile the prima is debased connected the horizon. Again, conscionable not with your bare eye!

Times alteration somewhat by city, but successful astir each of Spain the eclipse volition hap astatine sunset, with totality astir 8:30 p.m. Central European Time. From commencement to finish, the eclipse volition past astir an hour; totality is expected to past astir 2 minutes.

Lunar Eclipse connected August 27–28

The 2nd eclipse of the period volition beryllium a partial lunar eclipse, which occurs erstwhile the Earth comes betwixt the prima and the moon. A information of the lunar aboveground volition stay lit portion the remainder of the disk darkens oregon takes connected a reddish hue.

Path: Unlike a star eclipse, a lunar eclipse does not travel a constrictive way crossed the Earth. The partial lunar eclipse volition beryllium disposable simultaneously crossed a immense portion of the planet. However, the eclipse volition beryllium champion viewed crossed the Americas, chiefly successful eastbound and cardinal Canada, the US, and Mexico, arsenic good arsenic passim Central America, the Caribbean, and South America.

While the eclipse is partial, up to 96 percent of the lunar disk volition beryllium successful the Earth’s shadow, making for a melodramatic view.