Partial Solar Eclipse Visible in North America Wednesday

North America may have hosted recent spectacular total solar eclipses, but this Wednesday offers a chance to witness a partial solar eclipse, particularly in the northernmost regions of the United States and Canada. While the moon's coverage of the sun will be a mere "sliver" compared to the dramatic totality experienced in 2017 and 2024, it still presents an opportunity for skywatchers. Totality for this event began near the North Pole and will traverse Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and parts of Portugal, offering brief periods of daytime darkness.

Shifting Celestial Views

This celestial event marks Europe's first experience with totality since 1999. Spain, along with North Africa and the Middle East, will have a more extended opportunity to view totality next August. For those in the U.S. hoping for a total solar eclipse, the next coast-to-coast event is not scheduled until 2045. The memorable Great American Eclipse of 2017 provided over two minutes of totality from Oregon to South Carolina, followed by an even more impressive spectacle in 2024 that stretched diagonally across the continent. Skygazers are reminded to use certified eclipse glasses to protect their eyes during any solar observation.

Several U.S. and Canadian cities are positioned to observe this partial solar eclipse on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, weather permitting. NASA data indicates varying degrees of sun coverage for each location. For instance, Anchorage, Alaska, can expect approximately 28% coverage, with the event beginning at 7:36 a.m. local time and concluding at 9:09 a.m. In Bangor, Maine, viewers will see about 24% coverage, starting at 12:54 p.m. and ending at 2:49 p.m.

Other notable locations include Detroit, with a modest 3% coverage, observable between 1:03 p.m. and 2:08 p.m. Montreal, Quebec, will experience 18% coverage from 12:50 p.m. to 2:38 p.m. New York City is set to see 9% coverage, beginning at 1:07 p.m. and finishing at 2:38 p.m. Philadelphia anticipates 7% coverage, visible from 1:11 p.m. to 2:35 p.m. Further north, St. Johns, Newfoundland and Labrador, is slated for a more substantial 53% coverage, occurring between 2:28 p.m. and 4:37 p.m. Toronto, Ontario, will witness 8% coverage from 12:55 p.m. to 2:23 p.m., and Washington, D.C., is expected to have 4% coverage, observable from 1:17 p.m. to 2:27 p.m. In Winnipeg, Manitoba, the partial eclipse will cover 5% of the sun, visible from 11:25 a.m. to 12:40 p.m.