Total Solar Eclipse Expected on Aug. 12, Partial Visibility Across U.S.
A total solar eclipse will occur on Aug. 12, visible only from parts of Europe, Greenland and the Atlantic, while the United States will experience a partial eclipse and the Perseid meteor shower will peak that night.
A total solar eclipse is scheduled for Aug. 12, with the path of totality crossing Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, Spain, a portion of Portugal and the Atlantic Ocean, according to NASA. The United States and southern Canada will see only a partial eclipse, where the Moon covers a small segment of the Sun's disk.
The event will begin around 11:34 a.m. Eastern Time. Viewers in the U.S. will need certified eclipse glasses to observe the partial phase safely, as looking directly at the Sun can cause permanent eye damage. NASA advises that only during totality— which will not occur in the U.S.— is it safe to view the Sun without protection.
The night following the eclipse coincides with the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, which occurs during a new moon and offers optimal viewing conditions.
States expected to experience the partial eclipse include Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and others in the region.
NASA recommends using eclipse glasses that meet the ISO 12312-2 standard. The American Astronomical Society suggests a three-step test to verify the safety of viewers before use.