Partial Solar Eclipse August 12, 2026:
USA State-by-State Viewing Guide

Alaska (up to 28% coverage), Maine (~22%), Vermont (~21%), New Hampshire (~21%), Massachusetts (~20%), New York (~18–20%), Rhode Island (~19%), Connecticut (~18%), New Jersey (~17%), Pennsylvania (~16%), Michigan (~14%), Minnesota (~16%), Wisconsin (~14%), North Dakota (~17%), South Dakota (~14%), Montana (~13%), Delaware, Maryland, and northern Virginia (~10–15%). States not in this list — including California, Texas, Florida, and most of the South and Midwest — will not see the eclipse at all.

For New York City, the eclipse begins approximately 6:45 PM EDT, reaches maximum (~18–20% coverage) around 7:32 PM EDT, and ends around 8:14 PM EDT. The Sun will be about 15–18° above the western horizon — a low angle that requires a clear, unobstructed view to the west. For upstate New York (Albany, Buffalo, Rochester), coverage and timing vary slightly — generally 15–22% coverage with similar start and end times.

No — totality on August 12, 2026 is only visible from Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, and Spain/Portugal. The path of totality does not cross any part of the 50 US states. American observers see only partial phases, with Alaska getting the highest coverage (~28%). The next total solar eclipse visible from the contiguous USA is a partial-to-total event visible in Alaska on August 22, 2044, with totality crossing the western states. The next contiguous US total eclipse is in 2045.

Yes — especially through eclipse glasses or solar binoculars where the effect is clearly visible. With the naked eye (through proper ISO glasses), the Sun's disk appears noticeably "bitten" in the upper right quadrant. Through 10× solar binoculars, the Moon's curved edge crossing the Sun's surface is a striking, unmistakable sight, and sunspot groups often become visible simultaneously. The experience is meaningfully different from a normal day. Many first-time eclipse watchers are surprised by how dramatic even a 15–20% partial eclipse looks.

ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses — the international safety standard for direct solar viewing. These block 99.999% of visible light and 100% of UV and IR radiation. Never use regular sunglasses, stacked sunglasses, camera ND filters, or any improvised solar filter. Solar binoculars (like the Celestron EclipSmart models) provide a enhanced, magnified view and are equally safe with their built-in certified front filters. Do not use binoculars or telescopes without proper full-aperture front solar filters — the heat concentrated by the optics will damage both the instrument and your eyes.

Yes — with a proper solar filter over the phone's camera lens. Holding ISO-certified eclipse glasses in front of your phone camera can work but results vary. The Helioclipse 12-pack includes a dedicated phone camera solar filter that fits over the lens directly, giving consistently clean results. For DSLR photography, use a solar film filter (like Baader AstroSolar) cut to fit over your lens — NOT a camera ND filter, which does not block UV and IR radiation sufficiently. Never point a phone or DSLR at the Sun without proper solar filtration.

Yes — and August 12, 2026 is the only date in recent years when both occur simultaneously. The partial solar eclipse is visible in the late afternoon and early evening (if you are in the northeastern USA or Alaska). After the Sun sets, the same night produces the Perseid meteor shower peak under a completely moonless sky — the best Perseid conditions in years. Observers in the eclipse zone can experience both events by watching the eclipse through ISO glasses before sunset, then staying out until the early morning hours for the peak Perseid rate. See our August 2026 night sky guide for a full timeline.

Any location with an unobstructed view to the west or west-southwest. The Sun will be low (15–18° altitude) at maximum eclipse around 7:30 PM EDT, so you need a clear western horizon — no tall buildings, trees, or hills blocking it. Good options in NYC: rooftop bars or observation decks with west-facing views, the Hudson River waterfront (Riverside Park, Hudson River Park), Central Park's west side, or the promenade in Brooklyn Heights facing Manhattan. Avoid street-level locations in Midtown Manhattan where buildings block the western sky.