What Time Is the Solar Eclipse on August 12, 2026? USA Viewing Times, Peak Time & Where to Watch

The exact time depends on where you are located.

In the United States, the partial solar eclipse begins as early as 7:34 a.m. AKDT in Alaska and continues into the afternoon across parts of the eastern United States. There is no totality visible anywhere in the United States.

Here are some important U.S. viewing times:

All times are local. NASA's eclipse timetable shows that Alaska gets the strongest eclipse coverage in the U.S., while cities farther south and east see only a small portion of the Sun covered.

No.

This is an important distinction because the August 12 event is a total solar eclipse, but totality will not be visible from the United States.

The Moon's darkest shadow will pass through parts of Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, the Atlantic Ocean, Spain, and northwestern Portugal. People located along this narrow path will see the Moon completely cover the Sun for a short period of time.

In the U.S., observers will see a partial solar eclipse, meaning the Moon will cover only part of the Sun.

For example, New York City will see approximately 9% of the Sun covered, while Fairbanks, Alaska, will experience about 37% coverage.

For people in New York City, the partial solar eclipse begins at approximately 1:07 p.m. EDT.

The eclipse reaches its maximum at approximately 1:54 p.m., when about 9% of the Sun will be covered.

The partial eclipse ends at approximately 2:38 p.m. EDT.

That means the best time to look for the eclipse in New York is around 1:54 p.m.

In Washington, D.C., the partial eclipse begins at approximately 1:17 p.m. EDT.

Maximum eclipse occurs around 1:53 p.m., with roughly 4% of the Sun covered.

The event ends at approximately 2:27 p.m.

Because the coverage is relatively small in Washington, D.C., the eclipse may be subtle and difficult to notice without proper solar-viewing equipment.

Boston will experience a more noticeable partial eclipse than many other major cities in the eastern United States.

According to NASA, the eclipse begins at approximately 1:01 p.m. EDT, reaches maximum at 1:55 p.m., and ends around 2:46 p.m.

At maximum eclipse, approximately 16% of the Sun will be covered.

If you want to experience totality, you will need to be inside the eclipse's narrow path of totality.

Some of the best-known locations include:

• Iceland
• Greenland
• Northern Spain
• Northwestern Portugal
• Northern Russia
• Parts of the North Atlantic Ocean

In Reykjavík, Iceland, totality begins at approximately 5:48 p.m. local time and lasts for about one minute. In León, Spain, totality begins at approximately 8:28 p.m. local time and ends at about 8:30 p.m.

Spain is particularly interesting because the eclipse occurs very close to sunset in parts of the country, creating the possibility of a dramatic eclipsed sunset.

The exact duration depends on your location.

For observers in the United States, the partial eclipse can last from roughly an hour to several hours depending on location.

The total phase of the eclipse is much shorter. NASA notes that totality lasts less than two minutes for most people along the path, although some locations near the centerline can experience totality for a little longer.

That's one reason total solar eclipses are such extraordinary events: the period when the Sun is completely covered is extremely brief.

Looking directly at the Sun can cause serious eye injury. Regular sunglasses are not safe for viewing a solar eclipse.

If you're watching the partial eclipse, use certified solar viewing glasses or a handheld solar viewer designed specifically for observing the Sun. NASA recommends solar viewers that meet the ISO 12312-2 international standard.

There is also an important warning for anyone using cameras, binoculars, or telescopes:

Do not look at the Sun through binoculars, a telescope, or a camera optical viewfinder while wearing ordinary eclipse glasses. Specialized solar filters designed for the specific optical equipment must be attached correctly to the front of the device.

Another safe option is indirect viewing. A simple pinhole projector can project an image of the Sun onto a nearby surface without requiring you to look directly at the Sun.

Yes. If you're outside the path of totality—or if clouds block your view—online coverage is a good alternative.

NASA provides information and coverage for the August 12 eclipse, making it possible to follow the event even if you cannot travel to Iceland, Greenland, or Spain.

For viewers in the United States, online coverage can also provide a much better view of totality than the small partial eclipse visible from most U.S. locations.

The question is trending because eclipse visibility varies dramatically by location.

Someone in Alaska may see the eclipse in the morning, while someone on the East Coast will see it around the early afternoon. Meanwhile, viewers in Spain and Iceland can experience totality later in the day. NASA's official schedule confirms that eclipse times are highly location-dependent.

So if you're planning to watch the eclipse, don't rely on a single nationwide time. Your city determines when the eclipse starts, reaches its maximum, and ends.

• Date: August 12, 2026
• Day: Wednesday
• Global event: Total solar eclipse
• United States: Partial solar eclipse
• Best U.S. coverage: Alaska
• Highest U.S. coverage listed by NASA: Fairbanks, Alaska, at about 37%
• New York maximum: Around 1:54 p.m. EDT
• Boston maximum: Around 1:55 p.m. EDT
• Washington, D.C. maximum: Around 1:53 p.m. EDT
• Totality in the U.S.: Not visible
• Totality locations: Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, Spain, northwestern Portugal and the Atlantic region

The August 12, 2026 solar eclipse is a remarkable astronomical event, but the viewing experience will be very different depending on where you live.

For most Americans, the event will be a partial solar eclipse, with the strongest coverage occurring in Alaska. On the East Coast, cities such as Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. will see the eclipse around the early afternoon.

If you're searching “what time is the solar eclipse on August 12?”, the most important thing to remember is simple: check the time for your specific city, and always use proper eye protection when viewing the partial phases.