Total Solar Eclipse — August 2026

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, partially or fully blocking the Sun's light. This can only happen during a new moon, when the Sun and Moon are in conjunction as seen from Earth. The alignment must be precise — the Moon's orbit is tilted about 5 degrees to Earth's orbit around the Sun, which is why eclipses don't occur every month.

The shadow of the Moon has two parts: the dark, central umbra where the Sun is completely blocked (total eclipse), and the lighter penumbra where the Sun is only partially blocked (partial eclipse). During a total solar eclipse, the Moon's umbra traces a narrow path across Earth's surface — the path of totality. Outside this path, observers see only a partial eclipse. The Moon's apparent size in the sky is almost exactly the same as the Sun's — a remarkable cosmic coincidence that makes total solar eclipses possible.

Solar eclipses occur in predictable cycles governed by the Saros cycle — a period of approximately 18 years, 11 days, and 8 hours. Each Saros cycle produces a series of eclipses with similar geometry. The 2026 August 12 total solar eclipse belongs to Saros series 126, which began in 1179 and will produce 72 eclipses before ending in 2459. The next total solar eclipse after August 2026 will be on 2 August 2027, visible from Spain, North Africa, and the Middle East.