A Total Solar Eclipse Is Coming to Parts of the U.S. This Wednesday. Here’s Where to See It
A solar eclipse is one of the biggest skywatching events to reach the U.S. this year, with viewing plans now taking shape across several states. This Wednesday, Aug. 12, a total solar eclipse will be visible from a narrow path in parts of the United States, while a wider area will get a partial eclipse, according to NASA. The agency’s eclipse maps show the best views will be concentrated in parts of Alaska, while other U.S. locations will see only a smaller bite taken out of the sun.
What happens Wednesday
NASA said the Aug. 12, 2026 eclipse will be total only along a limited path, meaning viewers inside that corridor will see the sun fully covered for a short period. Outside that path, the eclipse will still be visible as a partial eclipse across a much broader region. The exact duration of totality varies by location, according to NASA’s published eclipse track.
The biggest verified detail for U.S. viewers is geography. NASA’s eclipse maps place the path of totality over parts of northern and western Alaska on Wednesday, Aug. 12. In those areas, the moon will fully cover the sun for a brief window, while communities outside the path will not get full darkness.
This is the second total solar eclipse to draw national attention in the U.S. in recent years, after the April 8, 2024 event crossed 15 states. NASA said eclipse timing and visibility depend on the moon’s orbital position and the observer’s exact location. That means even nearby towns in Alaska can have very different views of the same event.
Where the U.S. viewing is expected to be best
For most readers in the Lower 48, the confirmed news is that this will not be a coast-to-coast total eclipse like the one in 2024. NASA’s maps show the strongest U.S. viewing on Aug. 12 will be in Alaska, including remote sections of the state that fall inside the totality track. The agency has not described any contiguous U.S. state as being in the path of totality for this eclipse.
Partial eclipse views are expected in additional places, but exact percentages differ by city. The National Weather Service has not released one single national city-by-city visibility list for every U.S. location tied to this event. State and local forecasts closer to Wednesday will matter because cloud cover can block the view even where the eclipse is astronomically visible.
In practical terms, Alaska residents and travelers inside the mapped corridor have the clearest shot at totality if skies cooperate. People elsewhere in the U.S. may still see a partial eclipse, depending on location and local weather forecasts. NASA said certified solar viewing glasses are required for all partial phases.
Why this eclipse is limited and what people should expect
The reason this eclipse reaches only part of the U.S. comes down to orbital alignment and the narrow width of the moon’s shadow. NASA said total solar eclipses happen when the moon passes directly between Earth and the sun, but the shadow path on Earth is relatively small. That is why totality often covers only a thin corridor on any given date.
Weather is the other key factor, especially in Alaska in mid-August. The National Weather Service said cloud cover, fog, and fast-changing coastal conditions can affect visibility in many Alaska locations, even on days with otherwise stable forecasts. A place inside the eclipse path can still miss the best view if clouds move in at the wrong time.
For residents, that means the event is confirmed, but the final viewing experience will depend on two separate facts: location and sky conditions. NASA’s maps establish where totality is possible on Aug. 12, and local forecast offices will determine whether the sun is actually visible at eclipse time. As of this week, the timing and path are set, while local weather details are still evolving.
