August 12, 2026 total solar eclipse to cross Arctic, Europe and North Africa

total solar eclipse August 12 2026 eclipse safety glasses ionosphere research Perseids meteor shower

A total solar eclipse will occur on 12 August 2026. The narrow path of totality will begin over the Arctic, cross Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain and a small part of north‑western Portugal before moving over the Atlantic. In the totality zone the Sun will be completely obscured for up to two minutes 18 seconds near western Iceland and about 20 seconds in northern Spain. Outside the path, a deep partial eclipse will be visible across much of Europe, North Africa and parts of North America, with coverage reaching 92 % in Tangier, Morocco, 84‑92 % in Germany, up to 88 % in Denmark and 90‑96 % in the United Kingdom.

Safe viewing requires certified eclipse glasses that meet the CE mark and ISO 12312‑2:2015 standards; ordinary sunglasses are insufficient. Eye‑care organisations in Germany, Denmark and the United Kingdom warn of permanent retinal damage without proper protection. The German Aerospace Center (DLR) will conduct an international measurement campaign to study the ionospheric response to the sudden loss of solar radiation during the eclipse. The event coincides with the peak of the Perseids meteor shower, offering a rare combined spectacle of a solar eclipse by day and a meteor shower by night.

Travel operators in Iceland and other locations are promoting viewing spots, and several national weather services have issued forecasts for clear skies in the eclipse‑affected regions.

Entities: Bodensee Region · Denmark · European Space Agency · European Space Agency (ESA) · German Aerospace Center (DLR) · German Federal Office for Radiation Protection · Louis Nielsen · Moon · NASA · Partial Solar Eclipse · Partial Solar Eclipse (12 August 2026) · Pernille Lindhardt Steiness

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 3 SOURCES] Partial eclipse will be visible across much of Europe, the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, Morocco and other North‑African locations, with up to 92 percent coverage in Tangier, Morocco. (Articles 24854c37, 4598deb2, 85a1a3ad)
[● 4 SOURCES] Safe viewing requires certified eclipse glasses meeting CE marking and ISO 12312‑2:2015; ordinary sunglasses are insufficient and can cause permanent eye damage. (multiple)
[● 4 SOURCES] In Germany the eclipse will cover 84‑92 percent of the Sun. (multiple)
[● 2 SOURCES] In Denmark up to 88 percent of the Sun will be obscured, the strongest eclipse there since 2015. (Articles b9e594cc, e329ed48)
[● 13 SOURCES] A solar eclipse will occur on 12 August 2026. (multiple)
[● 2 SOURCES] The total phase will last up to 2 minutes 18 seconds near western Iceland and about 20 seconds in northern Spain. (multiple)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The next total solar eclipse visible from Europe after this will not occur until 2075, with the next total eclipse after that in 2081. (Article 85a1a3ad)
[DISPUTED] The eclipse will be total in a narrow path crossing Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain and northeast Portugal. (Articles 54f1390b, 24854c37)
[DISPUTED] The path of totality will cross the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain and a small part of north‑western Portugal. (multiple)
[● 2 SOURCES] In Denmark the eclipse will cover up to 88 percent of the Sun. (multiple)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The German Aerospace Center (DLR) will study the ionospheric response during the eclipse with international measurement campaigns. (multiple)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Tangier, Morocco will experience about 92 percent solar obscuration. (multiple)