Solar Eclipse to Peak in August 12-13: When to Watch in the US and Canada

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Skywatchers across the United States (US) and Canada have two major celestial events to look forward to within 24 hours on August 12-13, 2026.

According to Forbes, on Wednesday, August 12, a partial solar eclipse will be visible across much of North America as a total solar eclipse crosses a narrow path over Greenland, Iceland and Spain. After darkness falls, the annual Perseid meteor shower will reach its peak overnight into Thursday, August 13, under nearly moonless skies.

The combination makes August 12-13 one of the most notable nights of skywatching this summer. Here is when and where to watch both events and how to view them safely.

Key Facts

- A partial solar eclipse will be visible across Alaska, 26 U.S. states and every Canadian province and territory on Wednesday, August 12.

- The deepest eclipse in the contiguous U.S. will be seen from northern Maine, where the Moon will cover up to 28 percent of the Sun. Canada gets a much better show, with Nunavut seeing up to 61 percent obscuration and Newfoundland and Labrador more than 50 percent.

- Anyone watching the eclipse must wear ISO 12312-2-certified eclipse glasses at all times. Binoculars, cameras and telescopes require securely fitted solar filters over the front of the optics.

- Just hours after the eclipse ends, the annual Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak beneath almost perfectly moonless skies. Between about 2:00 and 4:00 a.m. local time on Thursday, August 13, observers under dark skies could see 60 to 100 meteors per hour, including bright fireballs. However, some “shooting stars” will also be visible before midnight.

When and Where to Watch the Partial Solar Eclipse in North America

North America will miss the path of totality, but millions of people will still see the Moon take a noticeable bite out of the Sun.

The farther northeast in the United States, the deeper the eclipse will be. Alaska will also have an excellent view, while eastern Canada will experience the deepest partial eclipse anywhere on the continent.

When and Where to Watch the Partial Solar Eclipse in the U.S.

Across the contiguous United States, the partial solar eclipse begins at 10:27 a.m. MDT in Montana and North Dakota. It ends at 2:52 p.m. EDT in Maine, with the deepest eclipse visible across northern New England.

Only a handful of U.S. cities will experience a partial eclipse of about 10 percent or greater, enough to make the event noticeable through eclipse glasses.

Here are some of those cities, including how much of the Sun will be eclipsed at the peak of the event and the time of the peak:

- Fairbanks, Alaska — 37% (8:27 a.m. AKDT)

- Anchorage, Alaska — 28% (8:18 a.m. AKDT)

- Presque Isle, Maine — 28% (1:50 p.m. EDT)

- Bangor, Maine — 23% (1:53 p.m. EDT)

- Portland, Maine — 19% (1:53 p.m. EDT)

- Augusta, Maine — 18% (1:52 p.m. EDT)

- Montpelier, Vermont — 17% (1:49 p.m. EDT)

- Manchester, New Hampshire — 16% (1:53 p.m. EDT)

- Boston, Massachusetts — 16% (1:55 p.m. EDT)

- Providence, Rhode Island — 15% (1:55 p.m. EDT)

- Albany, New York — 13% (1:47 p.m. EDT)

- New Haven, Connecticut — 12% (1:54 p.m. EDT)

- New York City — about 10% (1:54 p.m. EDT)

When and Where to Watch the Partial Solar Eclipse in Canada

Every Canadian province and territory will see at least part of the August 12 partial solar eclipse.

The event begins in western Canada shortly after 8:30 a.m. local time and continues into the late afternoon in Atlantic Canada, ending in Newfoundland and Labrador at 4:38 p.m. NDT.

The deepest views will be in Nunavut and eastern Canada.

Here are some notable places in Canada that will see the eclipse, including how much of the Sun will be eclipsed at the peak of the event and the time of the peak:

- Iqaluit, Nunavut — 61% (1:24 p.m. EDT)

- St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador — 53% (3:34 p.m. NDT)

- Moncton, New Brunswick — 32% (2:55 p.m. ADT)

- Halifax, Nova Scotia — 31% (3:00 p.m. ADT)

- Churchill, Manitoba — 27% (12:02 p.m. CDT)

- Québec City — 24% (1:46 p.m. EDT)

- Whitehorse, Yukon — 23% (9:26 a.m. MST)

- Montréal — 18% (1:45 p.m. EDT)

- Ottawa — 15% (1:42 p.m. EDT)

When to Watch the Perseids in the U.S. and Canada

The second celestial event begins after dark.

The Perseid meteor shower will peak overnight from August 12 to 13 beneath nearly moonless skies. Under clear, rural conditions, observers could see between 60 and 100 meteors per hour, with activity increasing after midnight and reaching its peak at about 2:00 a.m. local time.

The Perseids are produced by tiny fragments shed by Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. The particles enter Earth's atmosphere at about 37 miles (59 kilometers) per second and burn up, creating the streaks of light commonly known as shooting stars.

Although the meteors appear to originate from the constellation Perseus, they can streak across almost any part of the sky.

For the best viewing experience, head to a location away from city lights, allow your eyes 20 to 30 minutes to adjust naturally to the darkness and look upward. No telescope or binoculars are required.

When and Where Is the Total Solar Eclipse?

The August 12 solar eclipse will be total only along a narrow path crossing eastern Greenland, western Iceland and northern Spain.

Within this path, the Moon will completely cover the Sun for up to 2 minutes and 18 seconds.

Millions more people across Europe will experience a deep partial eclipse, including about 91 percent coverage in London, 92 percent in Paris, 85 percent in Berlin and 87 percent in Vienna.

North America lies outside the path of totality. However, the Moon's outer shadow will sweep across much of Canada, Alaska and the northeastern United States, producing the partial eclipse visible across the region.

How to Watch the Solar Eclipse Safely

Looking directly at the Sun during a partial eclipse can cause permanent eye damage. Proper solar eclipse glasses should therefore be worn whenever viewing the Sun.

Only glasses meeting the ISO 12312-2 safety standard should be used. Ordinary sunglasses are not sufficient.

Anyone using binoculars, cameras or telescopes must also use securely fitted solar filters designed for the front of the equipment. Looking at the Sun through unfiltered optical equipment can cause severe eye injury.

Unlike the partial eclipse, people located within the narrow path of totality can remove their eclipse glasses during the brief period when the Moon completely blocks the Sun. They must put them back on as soon as any part of the Sun becomes visible again.

When Is the Next Total Solar Eclipse in the U.S.?

The next total solar eclipse visible from the United States will occur on March 30, 2033, when totality crosses northern Alaska, including Nome. The eclipsed Sun will appear low above the horizon, with totality lasting about two and a half minutes.

The next total eclipse to reach the contiguous United States will come on August 23, 2044, crossing parts of Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota before continuing into Canada.

Just under a year later, on August 12, 2045, a much broader total eclipse will sweep from California to Florida, bringing up to about six minutes of totality across parts of the central United States.

For skywatchers in the U.S. and Canada, however, August 12-13, 2026, offers a different kind of double feature: a partial solar eclipse during the day followed by the peak of the Perseid meteor shower after midnight.

Read: Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks August 12-13 With New Moon Boost

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