|
🌑🌕
ECLIPSE SOLAR TOTAL
AUGUST 2026
Full coverage of the phenomenon and photo gallery from key observation points
Greenland · Iceland · Russia · Spain · Portugal
August 12, 2026
📰 midire.ar
⏱️ Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
|
📅 International News · Science and Astronomy
The total solar eclipse of August 12, 2026: this is how the phenomenon that darkened the North Atlantic and Europe was experienced
👤 Editorial midire.ar | 🕒 Updated August 13, 2026
⏱️ Reading Time: 9 minutes
The Moon once again came between the Earth and the Sun on Wednesday, August 12, 2026 and starred in one of the great astronomical events of the year: a total solar eclipse that darkened the sky in swathes of Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, Spain and one end of Portugal, while a partial eclipse extended over much of the northern hemisphere. from North America to northwest Africa.
|
" During these moments, the environment acquires an unrepeatable atmosphere: the sky darkens, stars appear in broad daylight and the solar corona is revealed as a silver halo around the Moon. "
— Federation of Astronomical Associations of Spain
|
🌘 What happened and why it is an exceptional astronomical event
A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is located exactly between the Sun and the Earth, and its apparent diameter is large enough to completely cover the solar disk. The Aug. 12 phenomenon occurred just two days after lunar perigee — the point in the orbit where the moon is closest to Earth — expanding its apparent size in the sky and favoring a wider than usual swath of totality.
It was also the first total solar eclipse observable from the Iberian Peninsula in more than a century, and the first major European eclipse since the one that occurred in 1999. According to Spain's National Geographic Institute, the strip of totality crossed the country from west to east at sunset, passing near capitals such as A Coruña, Oviedo, León, Bilbao, Zaragoza and Palma de Mallorca.
📊 Key Eclipse Facts
|
Parameter
|
Value
|
|
Date
|
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
|
|
Type of eclipse
|
Solar total
|
|
Magnitude
|
1,0386
|
|
Maximum duration of totality
|
2 minutes and 18-20 seconds
|
|
Maximum width of the totality strip
|
294 km
|
|
Time of Maximum Eclipse (UTC)
|
17:47
|
|
Zones of totality
|
Northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain and NE Portugal
|
|
Partial phase zones
|
North America, Continental Europe, United Kingdom, North Africa
|
|
Saros
|
126 (eclipse 48 of 72 in the series)
|
🗺️ The journey of the lunar shadow, step by step
The lunar umbra — the darkest part of the shadow, where the Sun is completely blocked — began its journey over the Bering Sea and northern Siberia, where totality occurred at almost noon local time. From there it advanced towards the Arctic, passing very close to the North Pole, where the occultation of the solar disk reached 98.6%.
● Greenland and Iceland: totality was experienced in the late afternoon, with the Sun still relatively high above the horizon.
● North Atlantic: The eclipse crossed the ocean before making landfall in Europe.
● Spain and northeastern Portugal: totality arrived at dusk, with the Sun very low, almost touching the horizon, which required observing it from points with good visibility to the west.
● Rest of Europe, UK, Ireland and North Africa: partial phase, with up to 90-96% solar coverage in some regions of the UK.
● Northern United States and Canada: moderate partial eclipse, just a small "bite" visible in the solar disk.
📸 Gallery: the key points of observation
Thousands of observers and astrophotographers fanned out along the strip of totality. Below is a selection of images and verified graphic resources on the main observation points of the phenomenon, with direct links to the sources.
🇪🇸 Spain — the great protagonist of the eclipse
🖼️ Santa Barbara Viewpoint: First Moments of Totality Captured by Daniel Wiegert (EarthSky Community Photos)
🖼️ Zaragoza: Totality with visible solar prominence, by Alexander Krivenyshev / WorldTimeZone.com
🖼️ A Coruña: Solar corona between clouds, with a pink prominence, by Aurelian Neacsu
🖼️ Segovia: Totality captured by Cristina Ortiz López for EarthSky
🇮🇸 🇬🇱 Iceland and Greenland
🖼️ Trajectory and satellite imagery: Official NASA map and animations of totality's passage through the Arctic
🗺️ Reference maps
🖼️ Global trajectory map: Official NASA/Fred Espenak map with the band of totality — Wikimedia Commons
🖼️ Eclipse map in Europe: Detail of the strip of totality over European territory — Wikimedia Commons
🖼️ Iberian eclipse trio 2026-2028: Comparative map of the three consecutive eclipses visible from Spain
📝 Chronicle: the totality, minute by minute
Around 7:30 p.m., Spanish peninsular time, the Moon began to "bite" the solar disk in a way that is barely perceptible to the naked eye. As the afternoon progressed, the ambient light lost intensity and the landscape took on an increasingly leaden tone. Around 8:28 p.m., at the moment of greatest expectation, the Moon completely covered the Sun: the day became a fleeting night, the temperature dropped slightly, some stars and planets became visible, and around the lunar silhouette appeared the solar corona, that halo of incandescent gas that can only be observed during totality.
In the north of the trajectory – Greenland and Iceland – the weather conditions played against it: cloudiness prevented a complete observation at several points. On the other hand, in Spain, where the eclipse occurred almost at sunset, the clear sky allowed postcards of totality with the Sun very low above the horizon, in many cases just before sunset.
🔬 The Scientific Value of a Total Eclipse
Beyond the visual spectacle, total solar eclipses retain enormous value for science: they are the only opportunity to directly observe the solar corona without specialized instruments, allowing astrophysicists to study its temperature, magnetic structure and behavior. Historically, this type of phenomenon also served to confirm fundamental theories of physics, as happened in the famous eclipse of May 29, 1919, when observations corroborated Einstein's theory of general relativity.
🇦🇷 And in Argentina? Why it wasn't seen and when will be the next opportunity
From Argentine territory, the eclipse of August 12 was not visible even in its partial phase: the band of totality was concentrated in the northern hemisphere, while the maximum of the phenomenon occurred around 2:47 p.m., Argentine time, without any observable effect on the local sky.
The good news is that the country will not have to wait too long for its next appointment with a solar eclipse: on February 6, 2027, an annular eclipse will occur – the characteristic "ring of fire" – whose annularity strip will cross Argentine Patagonia, crossing the provinces of Chubut, Río Negro and Buenos Aires, with a partial phase visible from the rest of the country. In locations such as Mar del Plata, Bahía Blanca or Tandil, the Moon will cover up to 86% of the solar disk. Before that date, between August 27 and 28, 2026, a partial lunar eclipse can also be observed from Argentina.
For those who dream of a total eclipse "at home", the wait is longer: the next one that will cross Argentine territory will only occur on December 5, 2048, with the strip of totality crossing the south of the country, Chile, Namibia and Botswana.
🔭 The trio of European eclipses 2026-2027-2028
The eclipse of August 12, 2026 is the first of an exceptional sequence of three consecutive solar eclipses visible from the Iberian Peninsula, a rare phenomenon that will make Spain one of the reference destinations for astronomical observation in the coming years.
|
Date
|
Type
|
Area of greater visibility
|
|
August 12, 2026
|
Total
|
Northern Spain, Iceland, Greenland
|
|
February 6, 2027
|
Cancel
|
Southern South America (Chile and Argentina) and Antarctica
|
|
August 2, 2027
|
Total
|
Southern Spain, North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula
|
|
January 26, 2028
|
Cancel
|
America, crossing to Spain and Portugal
|
|
July 22, 2028
|
Total
|
Southern Hemisphere
|
💬 Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Why was the eclipse of August 12 not seen from Argentina?
Because the strip of totality and the zone of partial visibility were concentrated exclusively in the northern hemisphere: Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Portugal, much of Europe, North America and northwest Africa. The geometry of the eclipse cast no shadow on the southern hemisphere.
❓ How long did the totality phase last?
The maximum totality, recorded near Iceland, reached 2 minutes and 18-20 seconds. In Spain, where the eclipse occurred almost at sunset and with the Sun very low, the duration of totality was shorter, between 76 and 104 seconds depending on the locality.
❓ When was the previous total eclipse and when will it be the next worldwide?
The previous total eclipse occurred on April 8, 2024, visible from Mexico, the United States, and Canada, with a maximum totality of 4 minutes and 28 seconds. The next total solar eclipse will occur on August 2, 2027 and will be one of the longest of the century, with more than six minutes of totality over Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula.
❓ Is it safe to look at a solar eclipse with the naked eye?
Outside of the brief seconds of totality, looking directly at the Sun without adequate protection — eclipse-approved glasses or certified solar filters — can cause serious and permanent damage to the retina. Indirect projection methods are also a safe alternative to track the phenomenon.
🔗 Sources consulted
🖼️ NASA Science: Official NASA information and maps about the eclipse
🖼️ Wikipedia (EN): Complete technical sheet of the solar eclipse of August 12, 2026
🖼️ National Geographic Institute of Spain: Timetables and duration of totality by locality in Spain
🖼️ EarthSky: Eclipse Observer Community Image Gallery
🖼️ Infobae: Calendar of upcoming eclipses visible from Argentina
⚙️ SEO DATA SHEET
🏷️ Core metadata
Title tag: August 2026 Total Solar Eclipse: Full Coverage & Image Gallery | midire.ar
Meta description: Full coverage of the total solar eclipse of August 12, 2026: route, duration, key data, upcoming eclipses and image gallery from Spain, Iceland and Greenland.
Slug: /total-solar-eclipse-august-2026-gallery-coverage
Primary keyword: total solar eclipse August 2026
Secondary keywords: eclipse August 12, 2026, total eclipse Spain 2026, next eclipse Argentina, solar eclipse gallery, solar corona
Keywords LSI: totality strip, lunar umbra, eclipse magnitude, annular eclipse Argentina 2027, saros 126, eclipse glasses
📈 E-E-A-T Signs
●Experience: Reporting based on real-time news coverage and reports from observers on the ground.
●Expertise: technical data contrasted with official sources (NASA, IGN Spain).
●Authority: direct links to primary sources and recognized scientific bodies.
●Trustworthiness: visible update date and clear attribution of each image and data cited.
🎯 Structured Data (JSON-LD)
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📱 Open Graph / Twitter Card
og:title: August 2026 Total Solar Eclipse: this is how the phenomenon was experienced
and:type: article
twitter:card: summary_large_image
⚡ Core Web Vitals — goals
●LCP (Largest Contentful Paint): < 2,5 segundos
●INP (Interaction to Next Paint): < 200 ms
●CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift): < 0,1
♿ WCAG 2.1 AA Accessibility
●Minimum text contrast 4.5:1 on dark and light backgrounds.
●Descriptive alt text on all images in the gallery.
●Semantic hierarchy of headers (unique H1, H2/H3 nested correctly).
●Links with descriptive text, avoiding "click here".
|
🌑🌕
ECLIPSE SOLAR TOTAL
AUGUST 2026
Full coverage of the phenomenon and photo gallery from key observation points
Greenland · Iceland · Russia · Spain · Portugal
August 12, 2026
📰 midire.ar
⏱️ Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
|
📅 International News · Science and Astronomy
The total solar eclipse of August 12, 2026: this is how the phenomenon that darkened the North Atlantic and Europe was experienced
👤 Editorial midire.ar | 🕒 Updated August 13, 2026
⏱️ Reading Time: 9 minutes
The Moon once again came between the Earth and the Sun on Wednesday, August 12, 2026 and starred in one of the great astronomical events of the year: a total solar eclipse that darkened the sky in swathes of Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, Spain and one end of Portugal, while a partial eclipse extended over much of the northern hemisphere. from North America to northwest Africa.
|
" During these moments, the environment acquires an unrepeatable atmosphere: the sky darkens, stars appear in broad daylight and the solar corona is revealed as a silver halo around the Moon. "
— Federation of Astronomical Associations of Spain
|
🌘 What happened and why it is an exceptional astronomical event
A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is located exactly between the Sun and the Earth, and its apparent diameter is large enough to completely cover the solar disk. The Aug. 12 phenomenon occurred just two days after lunar perigee — the point in the orbit where the moon is closest to Earth — expanding its apparent size in the sky and favoring a wider than usual swath of totality.
It was also the first total solar eclipse observable from the Iberian Peninsula in more than a century, and the first major European eclipse since the one that occurred in 1999. According to Spain's National Geographic Institute, the strip of totality crossed the country from west to east at sunset, passing near capitals such as A Coruña, Oviedo, León, Bilbao, Zaragoza and Palma de Mallorca.
📊 Key Eclipse Facts
|
Parameter
|
Value
|
|
Date
|
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
|
|
Type of eclipse
|
Solar total
|
|
Magnitude
|
1,0386
|
|
Maximum duration of totality
|
2 minutes and 18-20 seconds
|
|
Maximum width of the totality strip
|
294 km
|
|
Time of Maximum Eclipse (UTC)
|
17:47
|
|
Zones of totality
|
Northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain and NE Portugal
|
|
Partial phase zones
|
North America, Continental Europe, United Kingdom, North Africa
|
|
Saros
|
126 (eclipse 48 of 72 in the series)
|
🗺️ The journey of the lunar shadow, step by step
The lunar umbra — the darkest part of the shadow, where the Sun is completely blocked — began its journey over the Bering Sea and northern Siberia, where totality occurred at almost noon local time. From there it advanced towards the Arctic, passing very close to the North Pole, where the occultation of the solar disk reached 98.6%.
● Greenland and Iceland: totality was experienced in the late afternoon, with the Sun still relatively high above the horizon.
● North Atlantic: The eclipse crossed the ocean before making landfall in Europe.
● Spain and northeastern Portugal: totality arrived at dusk, with the Sun very low, almost touching the horizon, which required observing it from points with good visibility to the west.
● Rest of Europe, UK, Ireland and North Africa: partial phase, with up to 90-96% solar coverage in some regions of the UK.
● Northern United States and Canada: moderate partial eclipse, just a small "bite" visible in the solar disk.
📸 Gallery: the key points of observation
Thousands of observers and astrophotographers fanned out along the strip of totality. Below is a selection of images and verified graphic resources on the main observation points of the phenomenon, with direct links to the sources.
🇪🇸 Spain — the great protagonist of the eclipse
🖼️ Santa Barbara Viewpoint: First Moments of Totality Captured by Daniel Wiegert (EarthSky Community Photos)
🖼️ Zaragoza: Totality with visible solar prominence, by Alexander Krivenyshev / WorldTimeZone.com
🖼️ A Coruña: Solar corona between clouds, with a pink prominence, by Aurelian Neacsu
🖼️ Segovia: Totality captured by Cristina Ortiz López for EarthSky
🇮🇸 🇬🇱 Iceland and Greenland
🖼️ Trajectory and satellite imagery: Official NASA map and animations of totality's passage through the Arctic
🗺️ Reference maps
🖼️ Global trajectory map: Official NASA/Fred Espenak map with the band of totality — Wikimedia Commons
🖼️ Eclipse map in Europe: Detail of the strip of totality over European territory — Wikimedia Commons
🖼️ Iberian eclipse trio 2026-2028: Comparative map of the three consecutive eclipses visible from Spain
📝 Chronicle: the totality, minute by minute
Around 7:30 p.m., Spanish peninsular time, the Moon began to "bite" the solar disk in a way that is barely perceptible to the naked eye. As the afternoon progressed, the ambient light lost intensity and the landscape took on an increasingly leaden tone. Around 8:28 p.m., at the moment of greatest expectation, the Moon completely covered the Sun: the day became a fleeting night, the temperature dropped slightly, some stars and planets became visible, and around the lunar silhouette appeared the solar corona, that halo of incandescent gas that can only be observed during totality.
In the north of the trajectory – Greenland and Iceland – the weather conditions played against it: cloudiness prevented a complete observation at several points. On the other hand, in Spain, where the eclipse occurred almost at sunset, the clear sky allowed postcards of totality with the Sun very low above the horizon, in many cases just before sunset.
🔬 The Scientific Value of a Total Eclipse
Beyond the visual spectacle, total solar eclipses retain enormous value for science: they are the only opportunity to directly observe the solar corona without specialized instruments, allowing astrophysicists to study its temperature, magnetic structure and behavior. Historically, this type of phenomenon also served to confirm fundamental theories of physics, as happened in the famous eclipse of May 29, 1919, when observations corroborated Einstein's theory of general relativity.
🇦🇷 And in Argentina? Why it wasn't seen and when will be the next opportunity
From Argentine territory, the eclipse of August 12 was not visible even in its partial phase: the band of totality was concentrated in the northern hemisphere, while the maximum of the phenomenon occurred around 2:47 p.m., Argentine time, without any observable effect on the local sky.
The good news is that the country will not have to wait too long for its next appointment with a solar eclipse: on February 6, 2027, an annular eclipse will occur – the characteristic "ring of fire" – whose annularity strip will cross Argentine Patagonia, crossing the provinces of Chubut, Río Negro and Buenos Aires, with a partial phase visible from the rest of the country. In locations such as Mar del Plata, Bahía Blanca or Tandil, the Moon will cover up to 86% of the solar disk. Before that date, between August 27 and 28, 2026, a partial lunar eclipse can also be observed from Argentina.
For those who dream of a total eclipse "at home", the wait is longer: the next one that will cross Argentine territory will only occur on December 5, 2048, with the strip of totality crossing the south of the country, Chile, Namibia and Botswana.
🔭 The trio of European eclipses 2026-2027-2028
The eclipse of August 12, 2026 is the first of an exceptional sequence of three consecutive solar eclipses visible from the Iberian Peninsula, a rare phenomenon that will make Spain one of the reference destinations for astronomical observation in the coming years.
|
Date
|
Type
|
Area of greater visibility
|
|
August 12, 2026
|
Total
|
Northern Spain, Iceland, Greenland
|
|
February 6, 2027
|
Cancel
|
Southern South America (Chile and Argentina) and Antarctica
|
|
August 2, 2027
|
Total
|
Southern Spain, North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula
|
|
January 26, 2028
|
Cancel
|
America, crossing to Spain and Portugal
|
|
July 22, 2028
|
Total
|
Southern Hemisphere
|
💬 Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Why was the eclipse of August 12 not seen from Argentina?
Because the strip of totality and the zone of partial visibility were concentrated exclusively in the northern hemisphere: Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Portugal, much of Europe, North America and northwest Africa. The geometry of the eclipse cast no shadow on the southern hemisphere.
❓ How long did the totality phase last?
The maximum totality, recorded near Iceland, reached 2 minutes and 18-20 seconds. In Spain, where the eclipse occurred almost at sunset and with the Sun very low, the duration of totality was shorter, between 76 and 104 seconds depending on the locality.
❓ When was the previous total eclipse and when will it be the next worldwide?
The previous total eclipse occurred on April 8, 2024, visible from Mexico, the United States, and Canada, with a maximum totality of 4 minutes and 28 seconds. The next total solar eclipse will occur on August 2, 2027 and will be one of the longest of the century, with more than six minutes of totality over Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula.
❓ Is it safe to look at a solar eclipse with the naked eye?
Outside of the brief seconds of totality, looking directly at the Sun without adequate protection — eclipse-approved glasses or certified solar filters — can cause serious and permanent damage to the retina. Indirect projection methods are also a safe alternative to track the phenomenon.
🔗 Sources consulted
🖼️ NASA Science: Official NASA information and maps about the eclipse
🖼️ Wikipedia (EN): Complete technical sheet of the solar eclipse of August 12, 2026
🖼️ National Geographic Institute of Spain: Timetables and duration of totality by locality in Spain
🖼️ EarthSky: Eclipse Observer Community Image Gallery
🖼️ Infobae: Calendar of upcoming eclipses visible from Argentina
⚙️ SEO DATA SHEET
🏷️ Core metadata
Title tag: August 2026 Total Solar Eclipse: Full Coverage & Image Gallery | midire.ar
Meta description: Full coverage of the total solar eclipse of August 12, 2026: route, duration, key data, upcoming eclipses and image gallery from Spain, Iceland and Greenland.
Slug: /total-solar-eclipse-august-2026-gallery-coverage
Primary keyword: total solar eclipse August 2026
Secondary keywords: eclipse August 12, 2026, total eclipse Spain 2026, next eclipse Argentina, solar eclipse gallery, solar corona
Keywords LSI: totality strip, lunar umbra, eclipse magnitude, annular eclipse Argentina 2027, saros 126, eclipse glasses
📈 E-E-A-T Signs
●Experience: Reporting based on real-time news coverage and reports from observers on the ground.
●Expertise: technical data contrasted with official sources (NASA, IGN Spain).
●Authority: direct links to primary sources and recognized scientific bodies.
●Trustworthiness: visible update date and clear attribution of each image and data cited.
🎯 Structured Data (JSON-LD)
{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "NewsArticle", "headline": "Eclipse Solar Total de Agosto 2026: Cobertura Completa y Galería de Imágenes", "datePublished": "2026-08-13", "dateModified": "2026-08-13", "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "midire.ar" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "midire.ar" }, "about": "Eclipse solar total del 12 de agosto de 2026" }
{ "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Why wasn't the eclipse seen from Argentina?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Because the visibility strip was concentrated in the northern hemisphere." } } ] }
📱 Open Graph / Twitter Card
og:title: August 2026 Total Solar Eclipse: this is how the phenomenon was experienced
and:type: article
twitter:card: summary_large_image
⚡ Core Web Vitals — goals
●LCP (Largest Contentful Paint): < 2,5 segundos
●INP (Interaction to Next Paint): < 200 ms
●CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift): < 0,1
♿ WCAG 2.1 AA Accessibility
●Minimum text contrast 4.5:1 on dark and light backgrounds.
●Descriptive alt text on all images in the gallery.
●Semantic hierarchy of headers (unique H1, H2/H3 nested correctly).
●Links with descriptive text, avoiding "click here".
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