Where the August 12 Total Solar Eclipse Was Visible

On 12 August 2026, the Moon's shadow crossed the Arctic and parts of Europe, producing the first total solar eclipse visible from continental Europe since 1999. Totality was confined to a path about 290 kilometres wide, touching Russia, Greenland, Iceland and Spain, while a deep partial eclipse was visible across Europe, North America and north-west Africa.

In Spain, the total phase occurred near sunset, with the Sun very low on the western horizon. The Portuguese science agency Ciência Viva and the Portuguese Association of Amateur Astronomers streamed from Parque Natural de Montesinho, the only location in Portugal where totality was observable. There, the eclipse was total from 18:33 to 20:23 local time, reaching maximum around 19:30, when the Moon covered the Sun completely for roughly 26 seconds and the solar corona became visible.

Outside the path of totality, viewers saw a partial eclipse: Newfoundland had 53% of the solar disk covered, Quebec City 24%, Boston 16% and New York 10%. The article also cautioned against misleading YouTube channels that reuse old eclipse footage and present it as live coverage.

The same night marked the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, offering Northern Hemisphere observers the chance to see about 50 meteors per hour under clear skies.

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Why Official Streams and a Narrow Path Shaped This Eclipse

The 290-Kilometre Corridor Made Location Decisive

The event's drama was concentrated in a narrow band, which meant viewers outside it saw only a partial covering. Spain's low horizon added a complication: only sites with a clear western view could capture the total phase well, which is why institutions placed teams in León, Javalambre, Villalibedo and Mallorca.

Institutions Supplied the Most Reliable Coverage

NASA, ESA, Timeanddate, Exploratorium, Slooh and the California Academy of Sciences/SETI Institute each provided live streams from named locations. Using established scientific teams and telescopes reduced the risk of fake re-streams. NASA also connected the broadcast to research: a WB-57 high-altitude aircraft mission and the Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project used the eclipse to study the solar corona and atmospheric effects.

Perseids Extended the Observation Window

The Perseid meteor shower peaked on the same night, giving Northern Hemisphere viewers a second reason to follow the institutional broadcasts. Ciência Viva planned to cover both the eclipse and the meteor shower from the total-eclipse zone, turning a 26-second moment into a longer public science event.

How to Watch the Reliable Eclipse and Perseid Broadcasts

  • Use the named official broadcasts: NASA TV and NASA online, ESA Web TV, Timeanddate on YouTube, Exploratorium, Slooh and the California Academy of Sciences/SETI Institute event.
  • If you were in Portugal, the only totality location was Parque Natural de Montesinho, with maximum coverage around 19:30 and totality lasting about 26 seconds.
  • In North America, expected partial coverage was 53% from Newfoundland, 24% from Quebec City, 16% from Boston and 10% from New York.
  • For the Perseids, the peak ran overnight from 12 to 13 August, with up to 50 meteors per hour possible for Northern Hemisphere viewers under dark, clear skies.
  • Avoid YouTube channels that reuse older eclipse footage as if it were live; stick to verified institutional streams.