A Rare Astronomical Event: Witnessing the 2026 Total Solar Eclipse

Updated on: August 12, 2026 / 10:16 AM EDT / CBS News

The highly anticipated 2026 total solar eclipse is finally here, and with it comes an opportunity for stargazers to witness a rare and awe-inspiring celestial event. This spectacular display occurs when the moon passes directly between the Earth and the sun, blocking the sun's light and casting a shadow on the planet.

To put this phenomenon into perspective, a total solar eclipse occurs somewhere on Earth about every 18 months, but in any one particular spot on the globe, these events could happen hundreds of years apart. This means that for many people, a total solar eclipse is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, making it all the more special and memorable.

The path of totality for this year's eclipse will stretch across parts of the Northern Hemisphere, offering a breathtaking sight to those lucky enough to experience it. Many of the best places to view totality are not inhabited, like northern Greenland, but western Iceland and northern Spain are also on the path of totality for a peak eclipse experience. In Spain, this is a particularly rare occurrence, as the country has not experienced a total solar eclipse since 1905.

This animation from NASA shows the path of totality for the eclipse, along with the time when it will cross those areas: While totality will be visible in only a few populated regions, a partial solar eclipse will be visible in a much wider area. According to population data from the Center for International Earth Science Information Network at Columbia University, about 230 million people will be able to see 90% totality.

Most major cities in Europe will see at least 90% totality, including Madrid, London, and Paris. Even some of North America will get a chance to see a partial solar eclipse, though it won't be nearly as impressive as when the U.S. got to see a total eclipse in 2024. The best place to see it in the U.S. is in Fairbanks, Alaska, where it will reach 37% totality.

Boston will see 16% totality, while New York City will see about 9% totality, Toronto will see about 8%, and Philadelphia will see 7%. The total eclipse will first become visible in extreme northern Russia at 17:00 UTC, which is 1 p.m. Eastern time. It will reach northeast Greenland by 1:30 p.m. ET and western Iceland by about 1:45 p.m. ET.

After crossing the northern Atlantic for 45 minutes—when it will be best visible in the U.K., with London reaching its max of 91% at 2:13 p.m. ET (7:13 p.m. local time)—totality will reach northern Spain at about 2:30 p.m. ET (exactly 8:32 p.m. local time in Valencia). The whole path will be over by 2:45 p.m. ET.

For those in North America seeing a partial eclipse, it will be most full in Toronto at 1:40 p.m. and New York City at 1:54 p.m. local time. In Fairbanks, you will need to get up early to see its fullest point at 8:27 a.m. local time. If you are lucky enough to be in one of the locations where the solar eclipse reaches totality, it will last for about two minutes.

You will need to wear solar eclipse glasses to safely view the sun during the event to protect your retinas from damage. You can take your glasses off for that two minutes when it's at totality. If you're outside the path of totality but lucky enough to at least get a partial eclipse, you'll have to leave those glasses on the whole time to avoid eye damage.

Looking ahead, the next total solar eclipse over the U.S. will be in 2044, but that one will only be visible in three states: Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. There will be another opportunity visible in many states as it moves from coast to coast in 2028. The eclipse will start in Northern California and move in an arc towards the east, ending in Florida, similar to one in 2017.

There will be numerous U.S. cities where eclipse watchers can view the total eclipse, including Reno, Nevada; Colorado Springs; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Little Rock, Arkansas; Jackson, Mississippi; and Orlando, Florida. There will be another in 2052 that crosses the Southeast, including Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.

To see a total eclipse in the northeastern U.S., you'll have to wait all the way until May 1, 2079. The 2026 total solar eclipse is a rare and awe-inspiring celestial event that will leave a lasting impression on those who witness it.