Total Solar Eclipse of August 12, 2026: Path of Totality, US Viewing Times, and How to Watch Live

Skywatchers across the Northern Hemisphere are turning their eyes upward today as a total solar eclipse sweeps across key regions of the globe. While the path of totality offers a breathtaking spectacle to select locations in Europe and the Arctic, observers in the United States will experience only a subtle partial eclipse.

Where is the Path of Totality?

The path of totality—the narrow corridor where the Moon completely blocks out the Sun’s light—originates near the North Pole before heading south. According to NASA, the total eclipse travels through:

Greenland and Iceland
Northern Russia and the northern Atlantic Ocean
The Iberian Peninsula, traversing large portions of Spain and a small section of Portugal

Outside this direct path, a much broader geographic region will see a partial solar eclipse. This includes most of Canada, nearly all of Europe, northwestern Africa, and the northern states of the U.S.

U.S. Viewing Times and Visibility Details

For observers in the United States, the celestial event unfolds during late morning and early afternoon hours. Based on astronomical calculations from Time and Date:

Partial Eclipse Start: Begins around 9:34 a.m. MT / 10:34 a.m. CT (11:34 a.m. EDT).
Partial Eclipse End: Concludes around 12:52 p.m. MT / 1:52 p.m. CT (2:52 p.m. EDT).

Because no part of the U.S. lies within the main path of totality, the dimming effect will be relatively minor across the country.

Which U.S. States Can See the Eclipse?

Visibility in the U.S. depends heavily on how far north you are located:

Alaska: Sees the highest degree of coverage in the nation, with over 20% of the Sun obscured at its peak.
New England and the Northeast: States such as New York, Maine, and Massachusetts will see maximum coverage ranging between 10% and 20%.
Southern States (e.g., Texas): Texas will not see the partial eclipse, as the Moon’s shadow tracks too far north to be visible from southern latitudes.

How to Watch the Livestream Online

If you are located outside the partial visibility zone or want to view the total eclipse in its full glory, several free online broadcasts are available:

Space Agencies: NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) are streaming live high-definition feeds from observation points across Spain and Iceland.
Major Outlets: News outlets including USA TODAY are providing live video coverage on YouTube starting early morning (6:00 a.m. MT / 7:00 a.m. CT).