A total solar eclipse will cross the Northern Hemisphere tomorrow, August 12, 2026. This celestial event represents the only total eclipse occurring this year, casting a shadow across parts of Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain. While the path of totality is limited to specific areas, approximately 230 million people across Europe will witness at least 90 percent coverage of the sun. Major cities including London, Madrid, and Paris are positioned to see significant partial darkness during the event.
For those in the path of totality, the sun will be obscured for about two minutes. Safety remains a priority, as viewers must use certified solar eclipse glasses to prevent retinal damage. It is important to note that glasses should remain on at all times for those viewing a partial eclipse, as the sun is never fully blocked in those locations. The window for total darkness is brief, with the entire path crossing the globe in less than two hours.
The event begins in extreme northern Russia at 1:00 p.m. ET. From there, the moon moves across Greenland and Iceland before reaching northern Spain. This is a rare occurrence for Spain, which has not seen a total solar eclipse since 1905. Viewers in North America will see a much smaller effect, with residents of Fairbanks, Alaska, seeing 37 percent totality, while cities like New York and Boston will see significantly less coverage.
If you miss this event, the wait for a total eclipse in the United States will be substantial. The next opportunity for a total solar eclipse over the contiguous United States will not occur until 2044, limited to Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. A more widespread coast-to-coast eclipse is scheduled for 2045. For tomorrow's event, CBS News will provide live streaming coverage beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET.