Overview
- The total solar eclipse is happening today, Wednesday August 12, 2026, with a narrow path of totality crossing Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia and parts of northern Spain and Portugal while much of Europe and parts of North America see a deep partial eclipse.
- Authorities are warning that looking at the Sun during any partial phase can cause painless, permanent retinal damage and are urging people to use ISO 12312‑2 certified eclipse glasses or safe indirect methods such as pinhole projectors.
- UK timings are published for local viewing with first contact around the early evening and maximum coverage between roughly 7:05pm and 7:16pm depending on location, and the eclipse will end later in the evening as the Sun sets.
- Major organisations including NASA, ESA and the Royal Observatory are livestreaming the eclipse and scientific teams are flying a WB‑57 research aircraft and launching high‑altitude balloons to study the corona and short‑term atmospheric effects.
- Practical pressures reported on the day include shortages and counterfeit eclipse viewers, crowding at prime vantage points, and grid operator advice to limit plug‑in appliance use as solar generation temporarily drops.