TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Australians will not be able to see the Aug. 12, 2026 total solar eclipse directly, but they can watch the rare celestial event online when the Moon's shadow crosses Greenland, Iceland, Spain and part of Portugal.
The eclipse will be the first total solar eclipse visible from mainland Europe since 1999. For Australian viewers, the event will take place during the early hours of Thursday, Aug. 13, with NASA and TimeandDate offering live streams.
Here is what Australians need to know about the eclipse, including when to watch it, where totality will be visible and when Australia will get its next chance to see a total solar eclipse.
What Is a Total Solar Eclipse?
A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between Earth and the Sun, completely blocking the Sun's visible disk for observers within a narrow path called the path of totality.
During totality, daylight can briefly turn into twilight as the Moon's shadow moves across the Earth's surface. The Sun's outer atmosphere, or corona, becomes visible as a glowing halo around the darkened Moon.
Unlike an annular, or "ring of fire," eclipse, in which a ring of sunlight remains visible around the Moon, a total solar eclipse completely covers the Sun.
Can Australians See the 2026 Total Solar Eclipse?
No. The Aug. 12 total solar eclipse will not be visible directly from Australia because its path of totality is on the other side of the world.
However, Australians can watch the event through live broadcasts. According to Marie Claire, NASA will stream the eclipse online, while TimeandDate will also provide live coverage with commentary and local-time information.
How Australians Can Watch the Eclipse
- NASA: Live coverage begins at about 3:15 a.m. AEST on Aug. 13, with the greatest eclipse occurring at about 3:45 a.m. AEST.
- TimeandDate: Live streaming with real-time commentary and countdowns for different locations.
- Catch-up viewing via European Space Agency: Australians who do not want to watch in the early morning can watch the event afterward.
ELLE reported that NASA, the European Space Agency and TimeandDate are among the organizations providing live coverage of the eclipse.
Because Australians are watching a broadcast rather than looking directly at the Sun, eclipse glasses are not required for viewing the livestream.
When Is the Eclipse Happening?
The eclipse takes place on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, but it will be early Thursday morning in Australia.
According to Marie Claire Australia, the greatest eclipse — when the Moon covers the largest portion of the Sun along the eclipse's path — occurs at 5:45 p.m. UTC, equivalent to about 3:45 a.m. AEST on Aug. 13.
Totality will last for as long as 2 minutes and 18 seconds, with the longest duration occurring near Iceland.
Where Will the Total Solar Eclipse Be Visible?
The path of totality stretches across the Arctic and North Atlantic before reaching southern Europe. NASA's eclipse map shows totality crossing Greenland, Iceland and Spain, with a small portion of Portugal also inside the path.
Countries and Regions Seeing Totality
- Greenland: Parts of the island will experience totality.
- Iceland: One of the best locations for viewing, with totality lasting up to 2 minutes and 18 seconds.
- Spain: Totality will cross northern and central parts of the country before sunset, including areas around León, Valladolid, Zaragoza and Valencia, as well as the Balearic Islands.
- Portugal: A small area in northwestern Portugal will fall within the path of totality.
- Russia: Remote areas of northern Russia will also experience totality.
Countries and Regions Seeing a Partial Solar Eclipse
- United Kingdom and Ireland: More than 90% of the Sun will be covered in some locations.
- Mainland Europe: France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Scandinavia and parts of Eastern Europe will see a deep partial eclipse.
- North America: Parts of eastern and northern Canada, Alaska and the northeastern United States will see a partial eclipse.
- North and West Africa: Parts of Morocco, Algeria, Senegal and Cape Verde will experience a partial eclipse.
Why Is This Eclipse Significant?
The 2026 event is particularly notable because it will be mainland Europe's first total solar eclipse in 27 years.
For Australians, however, the significance is different: the country is missing this eclipse but is approaching a much more spectacular event of its own.
When Is Australia's Next Total Solar Eclipse?
Australia's next total solar eclipse will occur on July 22, 2028.
Unlike the 2026 event, the 2028 eclipse will cross the Australian mainland. Its path will enter through the Kimberley in Western Australia, continue through the Northern Territory and southwestern Queensland, and then cross New South Wales, including Sydney.
Sydney will experience its first total solar eclipse since 1857, with totality lasting up to 3 minutes and 45 seconds. After that, Sydney will not experience another total solar eclipse until 2858.
For Australians unable to travel to the path of totality in 2026, the Aug. 13 livestream therefore offers a preview of what is coming in 2028 — when the spectacle will finally pass directly across the country, and if you are curious about the solar eclipse event happening on the US and Canada, you can check out it here.
Read: UK to See Best Solar Eclipse Since 1999 as Moon Covers Up to 96% of Sun
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