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Total solar eclipse

Total solar eclipse, 12 August 2026

The Moon passed in front of the Sun. Inside a narrow path the eclipse was total; a much wider area saw a partial eclipse.

DateWed, Aug 12, 2026
TypeTotal
From LondonPartial, about 91%
CountdownPast
Join the waitlistHow to watch safely

What you’ll see from London

Times for London, United Kingdom

From London the Moon covered about 91% of the Sun at maximum, at 19:13 local time. To have seen the total phase you had to be inside the narrow central path.

  1. 18:17Partial eclipse begins (Sun 19° up)
  2. 19:13Maximum, about 91% of the Sun covered (Sun 10° up)
  3. 20:06Partial eclipse ends (Sun 3° up, low)
  4. —Totality not visible here

Where to see it

The path of totality crosses Greenland, western Iceland and northern Spain, with the eclipse ending at sunset over the Mediterranean. Most of Europe, North Africa and the North Atlantic see a partial eclipse.

Greatest eclipse, where the central phase lasts longest, at about 65.2°N, 25.2°W.

Visible from 19 of SkyMate’s 39 cities (computed):

  • ReykjavíkIcelandTotal
  • MadridSpainPartial, 100%
  • RomeItalyPartial, 95% · Sun low or setting
  • DublinIrelandPartial, 94%
  • ParisFrancePartial, 92%
  • EdinburghUnited KingdomPartial, 91%
  • LeithUnited KingdomPartial, 91%
  • GlasgowUnited KingdomPartial, 91%
  • LondonUnited KingdomPartial, 91%
  • ManchesterUnited KingdomPartial, 91%

How to watch safely

Never look at the Sun without certified solar viewing glasses that meet the ISO 12312-2 standard. Sunglasses, smoked glass and exposed film are not safe. Check the glasses for scratches or holes before you use them, and supervise children.

Never point binoculars, a telescope or a camera at the Sun unless a certified solar filter covers the front of the optics. Don’t use eclipse glasses to look through unfiltered optics: the concentrated sunlight will burn through them and into your eye.

A pinhole projector is a safe, simple alternative: let sunlight through a small hole in card onto a surface behind it and watch the projected crescent. Only during totality, when the Sun is completely covered, is it safe to look without protection. Put your glasses back on the moment the first bright point of sunlight returns.

Upcoming eclipses

Questions

Can I use sunglasses?
No. Sunglasses let through far too much light. Use eclipse glasses that meet ISO 12312-2, or project the Sun with a pinhole.
Can I photograph the eclipse with my phone?
Only with a certified solar filter over the lens for the partial phases. Never look at the Sun through a camera’s optical viewfinder without a proper filter.
What is the difference between total, annular and partial?
In a total eclipse the Moon covers the Sun completely. In an annular eclipse the Moon is too far from Earth to cover it, leaving a bright ring. Everywhere outside those narrow paths sees a partial eclipse.
Plan your eclipse day.SkyMate shows local contact times and a countdown for the place you choose.Join the waitlist

Eclipse times and circumstances computed by SkyMate with the open-source astronomy-engine library; for critical planning, cross-check with NASA/GSFC eclipse predictions (Espenak). Data & Licences

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