August features two notable eclipses: a total solar eclipse on Aug. 12—totality crossing parts of Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, Spain and a small section of Portugal—and a deep partial lunar eclipse on Aug. 27–28 that will cover about 96% of the Moon at peak. The solar eclipse begins around 11:34 a.m. ET on Aug. 12 (maximum ~1:46 p.m. ET); the lunar eclipse peaks near 12:12 a.m. ET on Aug. 28. Observers in several U.S. states can view a partial solar eclipse with ISO 12312-2–compliant glasses; only those in the path of totality may safely remove eye protection during totality.
Two Eclipses in August: Total Solar Eclipse on Aug. 12 and a Nearly Total Lunar Eclipse on Aug. 27–28
The Moon appears from behind the Tokyo Skytree during a total lunar eclipse in the middle of the night above the Japanese capital early on September 8, 2025. Stargazers enjoyed a "Blood Moon" overnight on September 7 during a total lunar eclipse visible across Asia and swathes of Europe and Africa.(JIJI Press/AFP via Getty Images)
August delivers two must-see celestial events for skywatchers: a total solar eclipse on Wednesday, Aug. 12, followed two weeks later by a partial (nearly total) lunar eclipse on the night of Aug. 27–28.
When and Where
Total Solar Eclipse — Wednesday, Aug. 12: The event begins at about 11:34 a.m. ET, with maximum eclipse near 1:46 p.m. ET (Time and Date). Totality — the brief interval when the Moon fully blocks the Sun — will be visible along a narrow path crossing parts of Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, Spain and a small area of Portugal. Observers in many U.S. states will see a partial solar eclipse.
Partial Lunar Eclipse — Night of Thursday, Aug. 27 into Friday, Aug. 28: The partial lunar eclipse begins around 9:23 p.m. ET on Aug. 27 and reaches its maximum at about 12:12 a.m. ET on Aug. 28 (Time and Date). At peak, roughly 96% of the Moon will be covered, making this an especially deep partial eclipse (Forbes). The lunar event will be visible from North America, South America, Europe, Africa and much of the East Pacific (NASA).
U.S. Partial Solar Visibility
Residents in the following states are expected to see the partial phase of the Aug. 12 solar eclipse (earlier USA TODAY reporting and National Eclipse):
- Alaska
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Indiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Safety Tips
Never look directly at the Sun without proper protection. For partial phases of a solar eclipse use certified solar viewers or eclipse glasses that comply with the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard. Only during the brief period of totality (where it occurs) is it safe to view the Sun without filters — and totality will not occur for observers in the continental U.S. for this eclipse.
Why Eclipses Occur
Eclipses happen when the Sun, Moon and Earth line up. A total solar eclipse takes place at new moon, when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun and can fully block the Sun along a narrow ground track. A lunar eclipse happens at full moon when Earth passes between the Sun and Moon, casting Earth’s shadow onto the lunar surface. The Moon itself does not produce light; it only reflects sunlight back to Earth.
Sources: NASA, Time and Date, Forbes, National Eclipse, USA TODAY.
The Moon appears at the very top of the Tokyo Skytree during a total lunar eclipse in the middle of the night above the Japanese capital early on September 8, 2025.(JIJI Press/AFP via Getty Images)
The "Blood Moon" rises in the sky during a total lunar eclipse, in Baghdad, Iraq September 7, 2025.(Thaier Al-Sudani, REUTERS)
The "Blood Moon" rises over the West Bank, as seen from the Negev desert, Israel September 7, 2025.(Amir Cohen, REUTERS)
A full moon, also known as the "Blood Moon", is pictured in the night sky in Jalandhar on September 7, 2025.(SHAMMI MEHRA, AFP via Getty Images)
This photograph shows a full moon also known as "Blood Moon" during a lunar eclipse with a statue of the ancient Greek goddess Irene holding a child in the foreground, in central Athens, on September 7, 2025.(ANGELOS TZORTZINIS, AFP via Getty Images)
People are seen on a floor of the Shanghai World Financial Centre as a full moon, also known as the "Blood Moon," rises above skyscrapers during a total lunar eclipse in the financial district of Lujiazui in Shanghai on September 7, 2025.(HECTOR RETAMAL, AFP via Getty Images)
A full moon is seen during a "Blood Moon" total lunar eclipse in Dresden, Germany, September 7, 2025.(Matthias Rietschel, REUTERS)
A full moon, also known as the "Blood Moon," rises above skyscrapers during a total lunar eclipse in the financial district of Lujiazui in Shanghai on September 7, 2025.(HECTOR RETAMAL, AFP via Getty Images)
A phase of a total eclipse of the moon is seen behind the Triumphal Chariot at the top of the Arch of the General Staff in Saint Petersburg on September 7, 2025.(OLGA MALTSEVA, AFP via Getty Images)
This photograph shows a view of a full moon also known as "Blood Moon" with leaves in the foreground during a phase of a total lunar eclipse in Jakarta on September 8, 2025.(YASUYOSHI CHIBA, AFP via Getty Images)
A full moon, also known as the "Blood Moon," rises above Doha on September 7, 2025.(MAHMUD HAMS, AFP via Getty Images)
Beach-goers rest on a shore of the Black Sea with a full moon also known as "Blood Moon" during a phase of a total eclipse in the background in Odesa, on September 7, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.(OLEKSANDR GIMANOV, AFP via Getty Images)
A jet flies past the full moon just after lunar eclipse in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, on September 7, 2025.(KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV, AFP via Getty Images)
The Blood Moon is seen during a total lunar eclipse above the monument of the Gemidzhii in Skopje on September 8, 2025.(ROBERT ATANASOVSKI, AFP via Getty Images)
People are seen on the Bund promenade along the Huangpu river as a full moon, also known as the "Blood Moon," rises above the night sky during a total lunar eclipse in Shanghai on September 7, 2025.(HECTOR RETAMAL, AFP via Getty Images)
Beach-goers rest on a shore of the Black Sea with a full moon also known as "Blood Moon" during a phase of a total eclipse in the background in Odesa, on September 7, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.(OLEKSANDR GIMANOV, AFP via Getty Images)
A combination picture shows the full moon moving through the shadow of the earth during a "Blood Moon" lunar eclipse, in Berlin, Germany September 7, 2025.(Annegret Hilse, REUTERS)
The moon appears during a lunar eclipse in the sky, behind the the Saladin Citadel, in Cairo, Egypt September 7, 2025.(Mohamed Abd El Ghany, REUTERS)
The Full Moon rises in the sky before a "Blood Moon" total lunar eclipse, in Jerusalem September 7, 2025.(Ronen Zvulun, REUTERS)
A full moon is seen during a "Blood Moon" total lunar eclipse over the Residenz (residence) in Munich, Germany, September 7, 2025.(Kai Pfaffenbach, REUTERS)
A "Blood Moon" rises over the Church of the Nativity at night, during a total lunar eclipse, in Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank September 7, 2025.(MUSSA ISSA QAWASMA, REUTERS)
A full moon rises in the sky during a "Blood Moon" total lunar eclipse, as seen from the Sopa Lodge in the Samburu National Reserve in Northern Kenya, in Samburu, Kenya September 7, 2025.(Thomas Mukoya, REUTERS)
A view of the total solar eclipse at Miami Whitewater Forest in Miami Township in Ohio on Monday, April 8, 2024.
Dana the dog wears glasses as people watch an annular solar eclipse, in Las Horquetas, Santa Cruz, Argentina, October 2, 2024.
Visualization from NASA shows the extent of the August 2026 solar eclipse and the path of totality (in red).
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