Total Solar Eclipse August 12, 2026
Solar Filters, Eclipse Glasses & Telescope Guide

The path of totality crosses Greenland, Iceland, and northern-to-central Spain, ending over the western Mediterranean. Key observation cities include Reykjavík (Iceland), Bilbao, Zaragoza, and Valencia (Spain). The partial eclipse is visible across all of Europe, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East. If you are outside the narrow path of totality (approximately 185km wide), you will only see a partial eclipse — still impressive, but without the corona.

Never use a telescope to observe the Sun without an appropriate full-aperture solar filter, except during the seconds of complete totality. A telescope concentrates sunlight to an intense focus — looking through one without a proper solar filter causes immediate, permanent retinal damage with zero warning or pain (the retina has no pain receptors). A full-aperture solar filter (like the Celestron EclipSmart series) attaches to the front of the telescope and is the only safe method. Eyepiece-end solar filters sold as accessories are considered dangerous by astronomers and should not be used.

Totality duration in Spain varies by location along the path. On the central line near Zaragoza and Valencia, totality lasts approximately 1 minute 45 seconds to 2 minutes. The longest totality along the entire eclipse path is approximately 2 minutes 18 seconds, occurring near the Faroe Islands. By comparison, the April 8, 2024 eclipse had a maximum of 4 minutes 28 seconds — the 2026 event is shorter, but still fully features the corona, prominences, and chromospheric effects.

During totality, with the solar filter removed, a telescope shows: (1) The solar corona — the Sun's wispy white outer atmosphere extending several solar diameters from the limb; (2) Pink solar prominences — huge arcs of plasma extending off the solar limb, visible even in a 50mm telescope; (3) The chromosphere — a thin red arc visible for a second or two at second and third contact; (4) Baily's Beads — points of sunlight shining through valleys on the lunar limb, just before and after totality. Lower power (25mm eyepiece at ×20–40) is usually better for totality because it widens the field to capture more corona extent.

Eclipse glasses from previous eclipses are safe to reuse if they are in perfect condition — no scratches, punctures, cracks, tears, or wrinkles in the filter material. Hold them up to a bright light (not the Sun) and inspect closely. If the filter material is damaged in any way, discard them and buy new ones. ISO 12312-2-certified glasses don't have an inherent expiration date, but physical damage to the filter material is the key concern. When in doubt, replace them — the price of a new pair is negligible compared to the risk.

Yes. During the partial eclipse, looking at the Sun without ISO-certified eclipse glasses causes eye damage regardless of how much is covered. Even at 99% coverage, the remaining 1% of direct sunlight is enough to cause harm. ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses are essential for everyone watching, anywhere in Europe. If you have a telescope, add a proper full-aperture solar filter. The partial eclipse is still spectacular — at 90% coverage in the UK and France, the sky noticeably dims and the temperature drops. A filtered telescope reveals the Moon's limb advancing across the solar disc in remarkable detail.

Yes — as a partial solar eclipse only. Totality is not visible from any US location. A partial eclipse is visible from 27 states plus Alaska. The best coverage in the contiguous US is in Maine (~21% max coverage). Alaska sees up to ~28% coverage in Anchorage. Most of the western and southern US (California, Texas, Florida) will not see the eclipse at all. ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses are required at all times for US observers — there is no moment of totality when glasses can safely be removed.

27 states plus Alaska see the partial eclipse: Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Times range from morning in Alaska (7:34 am AKDT) to afternoon in the Northeast (ending ~2:52 pm EDT). See the full state-by-state times table in the US visibility section above.

Safe eclipse glasses must be certified to ISO 12312-2:2015(E) international standard. This means the glasses reduce sunlight intensity by a factor of at least 100,000× and block harmful infrared and ultraviolet radiation. Look for the ISO 12312-2 marking printed on the frame. The American Astronomical Society (AAS) maintains a list of approved vendors at eclipse.aas.org. CE-certified glasses meeting EN ISO 12312-2 are equally safe. Avoid any glasses not explicitly marked with these certifications — regular sunglasses, even very dark ones, provide zero protection against solar UV and IR.