The sky is about to get darker as the total solar eclipse is happening Wednesday. This occurs when the moon passes directly between Earth and the sun, completely covering the sun’s bright surface.
During totality, the sky can become dramatically darker and the sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona, becomes visible.
The most recent total solar eclipse visible from the contiguous United States was April 8, 2024, while the famous coast-to-coast U.S. eclipse before that was Aug. 21, 2017.
To safely observe a solar eclipse, you must use specially designed solar filters or eclipse glasses that meet international safety standards. These filters block out harmful ultraviolet, visible and infrared radiation, allowing you to view the eclipse without risking
eye damage.
Here’s everything to know and whether Arizona will be able to see it.
Is there a solar eclipse in August?
Yes, on Aug. 12, a total solar eclipse will be fully visible across parts of Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Portugal and northern Russia, with the best views stretching across portions of Europe and northwestern Africa.
What time is the solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026?
The solar eclipse will begin at 9:34 a.m. and end at 11:46 a.m. Arizona time. Sadly, Arizona won’t be able to catch a glimpse of the eclipse, but you can live stream it on Space.com's YouTube channel.
Will we see the solar eclipse in the USA?
Arizona won’t be able to see the eclipse.
Only a handful of states will see the solar eclipse. Here is the full list:
- Alaska.
- Connecticut.
- Delaware.
- Illinois.
- Iowa.
- Indiana.
- Kentucky.
- Maine.
- Maryland.
- Massachusetts.
- Michigan.
- Minnesota.
- Montana.
- New Hampshire.
- New Jersey.
- New York.
- North Carolina.
- North Dakota.
- Ohio.
- Pennsylvania.
- Rhode Island.
- South Dakota.
- Vermont.
- Virginia.
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia.
- Wisconsin.
Where is the next solar eclipse visible?
The next solar eclipse, which will be an annular solar eclipse, will be on Feb. 6, 2027. It will be visible in parts of South America and Africa.
The next total solar eclipse will occur on August 2, 2027. Its path of totality will sweep across southern Spain, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East.
Got a story you want to share? Reach out at Tiffany.Acosta@gannett.com. Follow @tiffsario on Instagram.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Can you see solar eclipse in Arizona? What to know, future eclipses
