A Spectacle That Unites the World
The perfect alignment of the Moon, the Sun, and Earth will turn day into night along a narrow strip of the Northern Hemisphere. On August 12, 2026, one of the most anticipated astronomical events of the decade will take place, with the path of totality crossing eastern Greenland, western Iceland, northern Spain, and northeastern Portugal.
According to the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA, Europe hasn't witnessed a total solar eclipse since 1999. To understand this phenomenon, it's important to know that the Sun is 400 times larger than the Moon, but also 400 times farther away, making both celestial bodies appear the same size in our sky.
Times and Visibility Locations
The eclipse doesn't have a uniform time; it varies depending on Earth's rotation and the lunar shadow:
| Location | Local Time of Totality |
|---|---|
| Iceland (Reykjavik) | 5:48 PM |
| Greenland | 4:15 PM |
| Northern Russia (Laptev Sea) | Around noon |
| Spain (Madrid and central area) | 8:27 – 8:32 PM |
| Northwestern Portugal (Porto) | 7:36 PM |
What About Argentina?
The eclipse will not be visible from Argentina, not even partially, as the shadow is concentrated in the Northern Hemisphere.
Although the global maximum will occur at 2:47 PM (Argentine time), the sky in our country will behave like any normal afternoon.
Don't worry! NASA and ESA will provide live broadcasts. NASA starts its coverage at 2:15 PM Argentine time on its NASA Live platform, and ESA will broadcast from the Javalambre Astrophysical Observatory in Spain.
Eye Safety: Priority Number One
Directly observing the Sun can cause irreversible damage to the retina. Only use solar glasses or viewers that meet the international standard ISO 12312-2. Regular sunglasses, even if stacked, are not safe.
In Spain, consumer authorities have withdrawn seven models of glasses from the market due to injury risk: Lionstar, ECP Eye Care Professional, Pelispan, Homanaje, Orro, Opticalia, and Mó. Only during the brief seconds of totality can you remove the glasses, but you must put them back on at the first flash, known as the diamond ring effect.
Upcoming Events for Argentine Skies
For local enthusiasts, the wait won't be long. The next eclipse visible from Argentina will be a partial lunar eclipse on the night of August 27–28, 2026. For the next solar eclipse, we'll have to wait until February 6, 2027, which will be an annular eclipse crossing Patagonia.
Additionally, this event coincides with the Perseid meteor shower, which will peak between the night of August 12 and the early morning of August 13, visible in the northern part of our country.