Partial solar eclipse visible across 26 U.S. states on Aug. 12
A partial solar eclipse will be observable in 26 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. on Aug. 12, with NASA providing live coverage and safety guidance, while a viral conspiracy claiming loss of gravity has been debunked.
A partial solar eclipse will sweep across the northern United States and Alaska on Aug. 12, offering viewers a brief dimming of daylight as the Moon clips the Sun. NASA listed local start, maximum and end times for major cities, with peak coverage ranging from about 3% in Detroit to 37% in Fairbanks, Alaska. The event will be most visible in New England, the Upper Midwest and parts of Alaska, according to weather forecasts.
NASA will stream live coverage on its website and YouTube channel beginning at 1:15 p.m. ET, featuring telescope views, footage from a high-altitude research aircraft and expert commentary. The agency also reiterated that the eclipse will not affect Earth's gravity, dispelling the viral "Project Anchor" conspiracy that claimed the planet would briefly lose gravity on the same day.
Photographers advised using solar filters, stable mounts and proper exposure settings to capture the eclipse, whether with dedicated cameras or smartphones. For those without certified eclipse glasses, NASA and other sources recommend simple pinhole projectors made from household items to view the event safely.
While the United States will see only a partial eclipse, totality will be experienced in parts of Europe, Greenland, Iceland and a small area of Spain, where the Moon will completely cover the Sun for a few minutes.