For as long as humans have looked toward the sky, unusual celestial events have inspired awe, curiosity, and more than a little speculation. Few are as striking as a solar eclipse, when the Moon slips between Earth and the Sun and briefly transforms daylight into something that feels almost otherworldly.
This Wednesday, August 12, the world will get its next major celestial spectacle: a total solar eclipse, the only one of its kind in 2026. While the eclipse will sweep across Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, Spain, and a small part of Portugal, California won’t fall within its path. Still, Angelenos can catch the rare celestial event from home…
When is the August 2026 Solar Eclipse?
Credit: Thomas Roell via Shutterstock.
The eclipse will unfold between approximately 8:34 a.m. and 12:58 p.m. Pacific Time, reaching its maximum around 10:46 a.m. PT.
The total phase will last less than two and a half minutes at its longest, with the Moon’s shadow traveling across a path that begins near the North Pole and eventually reaches Europe. At the center of the path, totality can last up to 2 minutes and 18 seconds.
Where to stream the 2026 August solar eclipse
No eclipse over California doesn’t have to mean no eclipse for Californians. NASA will stream the event live, giving viewers outside the path of totality a front-row digital seat to the action. The agency’s coverage will include views from locations along the eclipse path as well as scientific commentary and observations from researchers.
NASA’s official broadcast begins at 10:15 a.m. PST, with totality beginning in Iceland at approximately 10:45 a.m. PT and later reaching Spain.
When is the next total solar eclipse in California?
California will have a much longer wait for its next total solar eclipse. The next one to cross the Golden State is set for August 12, 2045, nearly two decades after this year’s event.
And this one is expected to be quite a spectacle, as it will travel across a much wider portion of the U.S., with its path of totality crossing the state. At its longest point, totality is expected to last just over six minutes.
More celestial events to catch this month
The eclipse isn’t the only reason to keep an eye on the sky this month. August 2026 has several other noteworthy astronomical events lined up.
- 💫 Perseid meteor shower: The Perseids peak overnight on August 12–13, coinciding with the New Moon. That means unusually dark skies should make conditions favorable for spotting shooting stars, particularly after midnight and before dawn. The shower is active through August 24.
- 🔭 Venus at greatest eastern elongation: On August 15, Venus reaches its greatest apparent distance from the Sun in the evening sky, making it especially prominent after sunset.
- 🌓 Partial lunar eclipse: The month ends with another eclipse. On the night of August 27–28, California will be able to see a partial lunar eclipse, with the partial phase beginning around 8:12 p.m. PT and continuing until about 10:13 p.m.
