Solar eclipse August 12, 2026

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun. On 12 August 2026, a total solar eclipse will cross Greenland, Iceland and Spain. Will you see the full solar eclipse? Check the list of the countries where it will be visible.

There are many other countries where you can see a partial solar eclipse. Hundreds of millions of people across Europe will get the chance to see a partial or total eclipse on Wednesday when the Moon passes in front of the Sun. There will be 94% coverage in Dublin and 83% in Oslo, Norway. Montreal will see an 18% bite out of the sun, tapering to 9% in New York and 2% in Norfolk, Virginia.

Finland to see partial solar eclipse on 12 August 2026. The solar eclipse will take place when the Sun is low above the west-northwestern horizon, meaning viewing opportunities will depend on local weather conditions and the position of buildings, trees and hills. The event in Finland is set to begin before 8pm and reach its peak just before 9pm.

Viewing Conditions Strategy
* Clear Western Horizon: Because late afternoon/evening eclipses occur lower in the sky, scout a viewing spot (a hill, field, or elevated deck) with an unobstructed view toward the west/southwest free from tall trees or buildings.
* Check Cloud Coverage: Plan a backup location 30–60 minutes away in case local cloud cover threatens your view.

Many people want to see the solar eclipse. A few warnings needs to be kept in mind to stay safe. ⚠️

Looking directly at a solar eclipse without proper protection can cause permanent eye damage.
Whether you’re in the path of totality or viewing a partial eclipse across Europe or North America, you must protect your eyes or use indirect projection. If you plan to look directly toward the Sun, standard sunglasses will not protect your eyes regardless of how dark or polarized they are. Use ISO 12312-2 Certified Viewers: Check that your solar glasses or handheld viewers are explicitly stamped with ISO 12312-2 compliance: ISO 12312-2:2015, “Eye and face protection — Sunglasses and related eyewear — Part 2: Filters for direct observation of the Sun.” The ISO 12312-2 standard is the main international benchmark for handheld, non-magnifying solar viewers used for direct observation of the Sun.
Inspect the Filters: Before looking up, check your lenses for scratches, tears, or pinholes. Discard damaged glasses immediately.
Putting Them On: Turn away from the Sun, put the glasses on securely over your eyes (or over prescription glasses), and then look up. Turn away before removing them.

“Do not look at the Sun through a camera lens, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while wearing eclipse glasses or using a handheld solar viewer,” the US space agency wrote in a post about eclipse safety.

If you don’t have ISO-certified glasses, use indirect projection to safely view the eclipse cast onto a surface. There are several DIY methods for this:
* Kitchen Colander: Hold a standard kitchen colander 1–2 feet above a sheet of white paper or the ground with your back to the Sun. Each small hole will project a mini crescent-shaped image of the eclipsed Sun.
* Pinhole Cardboard: Take two pieces of cardboard or stiff paper. Punch a clean pinhole in one piece. Stand with the Sun behind your shoulder, and hold the pinhole card so sunlight shines through the hole onto the second card acting as a screen.
* Natural Tree Shade: Find a nearby leaf-covered tree. The small gaps between the leaves act as natural pinhole projectors, casting dozens of mini crescent eclipses onto the ground.

What if you want to take a picture of solar eclipse? Many will be hoping to capture the celestial phenomenon on their phones or cameras. You need to be also careful with cameras. Experts have warned that pointing a digital camera or smart phone camera lens directly at the Sun could cause permanent damage to a device. ⚠️
Pointing your smartphone or camera at the Sun can permanently damage internal sensors, experts warn.
Direct exposure to the Sun, even when partially covered by the Moon, risks overheating a smartphone or digital camera. Pointing a camera at the Sun for a prolonged period could even burn parts of the internal sensor, creating dead pixels that cannot be repaired. “The best practice would be to hold a pair of eclipse glasses in front of your phone’s lenses when photographing the Sun at any point other than totality.”

A solar eclipse creates a rapid, temporary interruption in solar radiation, triggering immediate physical, biological, and technological changes across the path of shadow. Here is a list of some effects on nature and ecosystems:

Atmospheric and Weather Changes
Temperature Drop: Ambient temperatures typically fall by 5°F to 15°F (3°C to 8°C) within minutes as direct sunlight vanishes, with the sharpest decline occurring right at totality.
Eclipse Wind: As the ground rapidly cools under the Moon’s shadow, localized air convection changes, causing winds to quiet down or abruptly change direction before picking up again as light returns.
Humidity and Cloud Shifts: Relative humidity spikes near the surface. Low-altitude cumulus clouds, which rely on rising warm air from sun-heated ground, frequently dissipate during the eclipse.

Animal and Wildlife Behavior
Diurnal Species (Daytime): Songbirds stop singing and head for roosts, honeybees cease foraging and return to hives, and livestock line up to head toward their barns, treating totality as sudden nightfall.
Nocturnal Species (Nighttime): Crickets, frogs, owls, and bats mistake the darkness for dusk, initiating night calls and nocturnal foraging early.
Disoriented Navigation: Species reliant on solar cues or light patterns—such as migratory birds, dragonflies, and marine organisms near the water surface—often freeze or temporarily lose direction during the shadow’s passage.
Anxiety and Grouping: Zoo observations note unusual social behaviors during totality; for instance, flamingos form protective huddles around chicks, while chimpanzees have been observed climbing high structures to gaze at the darkened sky.

Plant Life
Photosynthesis Shutdown: Photosynthetic activity halts sharply as solar irradiance drops.
Stomatal Closure: Pores on leaves (stomata) begin closing to conserve water, temporarily slowing down plant transpiration until full daylight returns.

Effects on Humans and Infrastructure:

Vision Safety
Solar Retinopathy: Looking directly at the Sun’s exposed disk—even during a partial eclipse—causes irreversible thermal damage to retinal photoreceptors. Because the retina lacks pain receptors, damage occurs without immediate warning. Standard sunglasses offer zero protection; viewing requires specialized ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses.

Psychological and Emotional Impact
Awe and Collective Experience: Totality routinely triggers strong psychological reactions, including goosebumps, vocal emotional outbursts, and an intense sensation of awe. Psychological studies show that experiencing a total eclipse fosters elevated feelings of social connection and awe among crowds.

Electrical Grids and Logistics
Solar Power Fluctuations: Electrical grid operators must manage sudden drop-offs in solar energy generation followed by rapid “ramp rates” as the Moon moves past the Sun, requiring hydro, natural gas, or battery reserves to balance the grid. Britain’s biggest energy supplier urges people not to use washing machines or dishwashers during solar eclipse because the shutdown in solar energy generation will coincide with a usual surge in electricity demand in the UK.
Cell Towers and Traffic: Massive influxes of observers into narrow paths of totality often overload rural telecommunication networks and cause severe highway congestion before and after the event.