Parts of the world will witness a unique solar eclipse event on August 12, 2026, when the moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun.
In some locations, the moon will totally hide the sun in less than two minutes, resulting in a total solar eclipse.
According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the eclipse will be visible across areas of Europe, Greenland, Iceland, Russia, North America, and Africa, though what people view will vary depending on their location.
Here are the main facts about the August 12 total solar eclipse, including what it is, where it will be visible, and how to watch it safely.
What is a Solar Eclipse?
A solar eclipse is a celestial phenomenon in which the Sun, Moon, and Earth align and the Moon passes directly between the earth and the Sun.
As the moon travels across the sun, it prevents some or all of the sun’s light from reaching Earth, causing the sky to darken.
The type of eclipse seen by humans varies according to their location. The moon conceals the sun fully in some regions, but only partially in others.
4 Types of Solar Eclipse
Solar eclipses are classified into four types: total, partial, annular, and hybrid.
Total Eclipse
A total solar eclipse happens when the moon totally obscures the sun, briefly transforming day into night. This is the rarest and most dramatic type of eclipse because the sun’s dazzling surface is completely obscured for a brief time.
Partial Eclipse
A partial solar eclipse happens when the moon covers only a portion of the sun. Instead of entirely disappearing, the sun appears to have had a small chunk removed. During a partial solar eclipse, the moon does not completely hide the sun.
Annular Eclipse
An annular solar eclipse happens when the moon is farther away from Earth and appears slightly smaller than the sun. As a result, it cannot entirely obscure the Sun, leaving a dazzling ring of sunlight, known as the “ring of fire,” visible around the Moon.
Hybrid Eclipse
A hybrid solar eclipse is the most uncommon type of solar eclipse. Depending on where you look, it looks like a total solar eclipse or an annular solar eclipse.
However, the solar eclipse of August 12, 2026 will be total in some regions of the Earth and partial in others.
Where will the August 12 eclipse be visible?
According to NASA, the solar eclipse on August 12, 2026, will be visible in areas of Europe, North America, Africa, Greenland, Iceland, and Russia. However, what people see will vary depending on their location.
- Total solar eclipse: A total solar eclipse will be visible only in a small band that runs through northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain.
People in these areas will first witness the moon slowly glide over the sun, resulting in a partial eclipse. After around an hour, the moon will totally cover the sun, resulting in a total solar eclipse. As the moon travels away, the sky will briefly darken until the sun gradually reappears.
Although the eclipse will last between one and a half to two hours, the moment when the sun is entirely obscured, known as totality, will last less than two and a half minutes.
- Partial solar eclipse: People outside of places where the moon totally covers the sun will only see a partial solar eclipse, in which the moon blocks only a portion of the sun.
The partial eclipse will be visible in much of Europe, North America, and northwest Africa, including Morocco, Algeria, and Senegal.
However, the amount of sun coverage varies by region.
For example, in Dakar, Senegal, the moon will obscure up to 37% of the sun, making it look as if a small chunk is missing. London will have up to 91% coverage, leaving only a small portion of the sun visible.
How Can the Solar Eclipse be Viewed?
Proper eye protection is required when viewing a solar eclipse, as gazing directly at the sun without it can result in serious and irreversible eye damage.
NASA warns that it is never safe to look directly at the sun during a partial solar eclipse without certified eclipse glasses or a handheld solar viewer. This is because a portion of the sun is visible throughout the event, and its rays are still dangerous.
People in areas where the total solar eclipse will be visible may remove their eclipse glasses only during totality, which is the brief moment when the moon totally covers the sun.
When the sun reappears, they must quickly put on their eclipse glasses before staring at it again.
Those who do not have eclipse glasses can observe the event indirectly by utilizing a pinhole projector, which casts an image of the eclipse onto a surface without requiring them to look directly at the sun.
However, regular sunglasses, cameras, binoculars, telescopes, and phone cameras should not be used to view the eclipse.
Has Nigeria Witnessed a Solar Eclipse?
Yes. Nigeria previously witnessed a total solar eclipse.
The most recent was a total solar eclipse on March 29, 2006, when the moon totally covered the sun for around four minutes.
The eclipse was visible in several states, including Benue, Katsina, Zamfara, Jigawa, and Oyo.
The next total solar eclipse in Nigeria is projected to occur on March 20, 2034. Before then, the country will witness another solar eclipse on February 6, 2027.
Nigerians will witness an annular or partial solar eclipse on that day, depending on where they live. Those in the path of annularity will see an annular solar eclipse, in which the moon casts a spectacular ring of sunshine around itself.
Outside that route, people will only observe a partial solar eclipse, with the moon covering only a fraction of the sun.
