Can You See the Eclipse in the US? Aug. 12 Totality Crosses Greenland, Iceland and Spain

Can you see the eclipse in the US? Not from mainland America — the 2026 solar eclipse is today, Wednesday, August 12. A total solar eclipse will sweep across Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain, with a narrow corridor of full darkness lasting roughly one to two minutes in cities on the path. Across the United Kingdom, the same event appears as a deep partial eclipse — with up to 96% of the Sun covered in the southwest — unfolding in the early evening between about 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. BST.

Editor’s note: This article draws on NASA eclipse data, BBC Sky at Night Magazine guidance, and UK weather and public-safety advisories reported in August 2026.

When and where does totality occur?

The Moon will pass directly between Earth and the Sun, casting a narrow shadow across the Northern Hemisphere. The path of totality — where the Sun is fully covered and the corona becomes visible — tracks across Arctic Russia, eastern Greenland, western Iceland (including Reykjavík), and then northern and eastern Spain, ending near the Balearic Islands. A sliver of northwestern Portugal also lies inside the corridor.

This is the first total solar eclipse visible from mainland Europe since August 11, 1999. For observers inside the path, the experience differs sharply by longitude:

Location	Approx. totality (local time)	Duration
Reykjavík, Iceland	~5:48–5:49 p.m.	~1 min
Zaragoza, Spain	~8:29–8:30 p.m. CEST	~1 min 24 s
Bilbao, Spain	~8:27 p.m. CEST	~1–2 min
Valencia, Spain	~8:33 p.m. CEST	~1–2 min

In Greenland and Iceland, totality arrives in the late afternoon or early evening. In Spain, the Sun is eclipsed in the late evening, shortly before sunset — creating what astronomers call a “sunset eclipse.”

What will the UK see on August 12?

The UK sits just north of the Spanish totality band — close enough for exceptional partial coverage, but not close enough for totality on British soil. The path of totality passes a few hundred miles to the southwest, skirting the Isles of Scilly on its way toward the Iberian Peninsula.

Coverage decreases slightly from southwest to northeast, but the entire country sees a very deep partial eclipse:

Location	Maximum obscuration	Approx. max eclipse (BST)
Isles of Scilly	~96.5%	~7:13 p.m.
Land’s End, Cornwall	~95.8%	~7:13 p.m.
Cardiff	~93.2%	~7:13 p.m.
Belfast	~93.1%	~7:08 p.m.
London	~91.4%	~7:13 p.m.
Manchester	~91.4%	~7:10 p.m.
Edinburgh	~90.7%	~7:05 p.m.
Shetland (Unst)	~87.9%	~7:03 p.m.

The last comparably deep partial eclipse visible from the UK was on March 20, 2015, when parts of Scotland saw up to 98% coverage while totality passed over the Faroe Islands. The next total solar eclipse visible from British soil is not until September 23, 2090.

UK timing: first contact to last contact

The partial eclipse unfolds slowly over roughly two hours:

• First contact (Moon begins crossing the Sun): just before 6:00 p.m. BST across most of the UK
• Maximum eclipse: between about 7:05 p.m. and 7:13 p.m. BST, depending on location
• Last contact: around 8:00–8:07 p.m. BST in western areas; in parts of the southeast, the Sun may set before the eclipse fully ends

At maximum, the Moon crosses the Sun from right to left, producing an inverted crescent — often described as a “frown” shape — with the horns pointing downward.

A low, western-sky eclipse

What makes the August 2026 event unusual for UK observers is its low altitude. Maximum eclipse occurs with the Sun already well into the western sky, between roughly 9° and 13° above the horizon depending on location.

That geometry creates striking photographic opportunities but also practical challenges:

• An unobstructed view to the west-northwest is essential — hills, buildings, trees, or coastal cliffs can block the deepest phase
• Because the Sun sits so low, clouds hundreds of miles away can ruin the view even when skies overhead appear clear
• In Dover, maximum eclipse occurs with the Sun only about 9° up; by last contact it may be just 1–2° above the horizon

BBC Sky at Night Magazine recommends treating this like a sunset observation: scout a favourite western viewpoint in advance, and check the horizon the evening before.

Unlike totality — where observers must hit a narrow time window — a partial eclipse lasts roughly two hours, making a brief clear gap more likely even if clouds are patchy.

Eye safety: glasses required throughout the UK

This is not a safe naked-eye event anywhere in the United Kingdom. Because the Sun is never fully covered, there is no moment when unfiltered direct viewing is safe.

Rule	Detail
Protection	ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses or approved solar filters
When to wear	Entire partial phase — from first bite to last
Never use	Regular sunglasses, smoked glass, phone screens, or unfiltered cameras pointed at the Sun
Risk	Solar retinopathy — retinal damage without pain; symptoms may appear hours later

Parents should supervise children closely and reject scratched, counterfeit, or unlabeled filters. Pinhole projections and certified solar telescopes are safe alternatives for group viewing at schools, parks, and public events organized by astronomy societies.

If you notice loss of vision, spots, blurred vision, or distorted images in the hours after viewing, seek an ophthalmologist immediately.

Weather outlook for the UK

Clear skies are the deciding factor. Long-term statistics suggest no UK location has much better than a roughly 30% chance of clear skies in mid-August — and low-altitude eclipses depend on conditions along the entire western horizon, not just overhead.

The Met Office has noted that western parts of the country — including Cornwall, Devon, and Wales — offer the deepest coverage and often clearer Atlantic-facing horizons, though summer showers remain possible. Reliable cloud-cover forecasts for eclipse evening are typically available only 3–4 days beforehand, with last-minute shifts still possible.

Cloud cover does not make direct viewing safe — looking at the Sun through thin cloud still risks permanent eye damage.

Totality in Spain and Iceland

Travelers seeking the full experience — corona, brief nightfall, temperature drop — must enter northern Spain or western Iceland inside the totality path.

Spanish cities on the path include Zaragoza, Bilbao, Santander, and Valencia. Madrid and Barcelona lie just outside totality but still see ~99.97% and ~99.8% partial coverage — visually similar to the UK’s deepest partial, but still not totality.

Iceland offers totality across the western part of the country, including Reykjavík, though weather and remoteness add planning complexity. Greenland receives totality in its eastern regions, drawing smaller numbers of dedicated eclipse chasers.

From southwestern England, northern Spain is within a few hours by air or ferry. The next total solar eclipse visible from mainland Europe after 2026 is not until the 22nd century for most locations.

Perseid meteor shower the same night

The Perseid meteor shower peaks on the night of August 12–13, 2026 — the same evening as the eclipse. With the Moon just past new phase, skies will be moonless after sunset, offering ideal conditions for meteor watching.

Under dark skies, the Perseids can produce 20–40 meteors per hour from UK locations, with rates increasing after midnight as the radiant in Perseus rises higher. No telescope is needed — simply find a dark site away from urban lighting and watch as much sky as possible.

The combination of a deep partial eclipse at dusk and a meteor shower after dark makes August 12 one of the most rewarding observing days for UK skywatchers in years — weather permitting.

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Discussion

1. Will you watch from the UK or travel to Spain or Iceland for totality?

Southwestern England offers up to 96% coverage with no travel required, but totality lasts only minutes and requires crossing into the path. How much does the corona and sudden darkness matter to you versus crowd size, cost, and weather risk?

2. Where are you scouting for a clear western horizon?

A coastal viewpoint in Cornwall or Wales may offer the deepest coverage and the best sunset geometry — but low-altitude eclipses are vulnerable to distant cloud. Have you checked your western sightline yet?

Share where you’ll watch from and whether your eclipse glasses carry visible ISO 12312-2 certification.

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This article is news and general safety information, not personal medical advice. If you notice vision changes after viewing the Sun, seek professional eye care immediately.