A total solar eclipse will grace the skies above some countries as the moon and sun align on Wednesday, Aug. 12. The celestial phenomenon, however, will only be partially visible in the United States.
Areas of Greenland, Iceland, Portugal, Russia and Spain will witness Wednesday's total solar eclipse, according to NASA. In the United States, however, the moon will not completely block the sun during the event, allowing some a glimpse at a partial eclipse, not a total one. NASA says the sun will look like a cookie with a small bite taken out of it in the United States.
NASA says a partial solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, but the three are not perfectly lined up. Instead, only part of the sun will appear to be covered,
creating a crescent shape.
Here's what to know about the forecasted weather in the U.S. on Aug. 12.
Aug. 12 weather forecast for partial solar eclipse
According to The Weather Channel, the best viewing weather for the partial eclipse in the U.S. will be in most of New England, northern Alaska and parts of the Upper Midwest.
Americans in parts of the mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes, parts of Montana, parts of the northern Plains, and southern Alaska will get a cloudier view, according to the weather forecaster.
The following states, along with Washington, DC, will be able to see the partial solar eclipse on Aug. 12, according to previous USA TODAY reporting and National Eclipse, which provides eclipse information:
- 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, DC
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
How to watch the total solar eclipse
NASA will offer live coverage of the total solar eclipse on Aug. 12 on its website and YouTube channel. The organization said its coverage will feature "telescope views, footage from a WB-57 high-altitude research aircraft chasing the Moon’s shadow (and) expert commentary."
NASA's coverage is expected to go live at 1:15 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Aug. 12.
USA TODAY will also offer live coverage of the eclipse on its website and social media channels.
Contributing: Saman Shafiq, Melina Khan, Saleen Martin and Julia Gomez, USA TODAY
Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: See where skies will be clear on Aug. 12 for the eclipse
