Total Solar Eclipse 2026 today:Why India will miss the rare celestial event; next total eclipse to be expected in 2034

The skies over Europe will briefly turn dark on August 12 as a rare total solar eclipse crosses parts of the continent. While the event will be visible in full from parts of Spain, Iceland and Greenland, India will be left out as the eclipse takes place during the country’s nighttime. NASA says the eclipse will pass through Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, Spain and a small part of Portugal. Several other regions, including parts of Europe, Africa, Canada and the United States, will see a partial solar eclipse. What is a solar eclipse? A solar eclipse happens when the Moon moves between the Sun and Earth. The Moon then blocks some or all of the Sun’s light from reaching parts of Earth. When the Moon completely covers the Sun, it is called a ‘total solar eclipse’. For people inside the path of totality, daylight can briefly turn into darkness and the Sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the corona, becomes visible. NASA says the corona is normally difficult to see because the bright surface of the Sun overwhelms it. A total eclipse creates a rare opportunity for scientists to study this outer atmosphere. August 12 solar eclipse: When will it happen? The eclipse will begin at around 9:04 pm IST on August 12. The maximum phase will occur at around 11:16 pm IST, with the event continuing into the early hours of August 13. The exact timing and appearance will vary depending on where an observer is located. The Moon’s shadow will move across a huge stretch of the planet, but totality will be very brief. NASA says the longest period of totality during this eclipse will be about 2 minutes and 18 seconds. In many locations along the path, the total phase will last less than two minutes. Will the solar eclipse be visible in India?
The August 12 total solar eclipse will not be visible from India. The main reason is simple: the eclipse will occur when it is nighttime in India. Although the eclipse begins at around 9:04 pm IST, the Sun will already be below the horizon across the country. So, even if the weather is perfectly clear, people in India will not be able to see the eclipse in the sky. Also read: Google Pixel 11 smartphone series to launch on 13 August: From Pixel Watch 5 to Pro Fold; here’s what to expect from the hardware launch event

Millions will see at least a partial eclipse People do not have to be inside the path of totality to experience the eclipse. A much larger area will see a partial solar eclipse, where the Moon covers only part of the Sun. This will include much of Europe, parts of northwestern Africa, most of Canada, and parts of the United States. NASA’s eclipse map shows that the amount of the Sun covered will depend heavily on location. People closer to the path of totality will see a much larger portion of the Sun disappear. In some parts of western Europe and Africa, the eclipse will continue as the Sun approaches the horizon. This could create a striking sunset eclipse, with the partially covered Sun setting in the evening sky. Why is NASA studying the eclipse?
NASA-funded teams will study how the eclipse affects both the Sun and Earth’s atmosphere. NASA plans to use a WB-57 research jet flying at about 50,000 feet to capture images of the solar corona. The aircraft will fly along the eclipse path at high speed, allowing scientists to observe the corona for nearly three minutes, longer than people watching from the ground can normally see it. NASA is also supporting balloon experiments in Iceland and Spain to study changes in Earth’s atmosphere during the sudden transition from daylight to darkness. Researchers will examine factors including atmospheric conditions and ozone levels. Also read: Astronauts lose about 70% of their eyesight in space: What is SANS syndrome, and could it cause permanent eye damage?

When will India see a total solar eclipse? For Indian skywatchers, the wait for a total solar eclipse visible from the country will continue.
The August 12, 2026 eclipse will remain a global spectacle, but India will experience it only while the Sun is below the horizon. Until another total eclipse is visible from Indian territory, skywatchers will have to depend on future eclipse events and live broadcasts to witness totality. The next total solar eclipse after August 2026 will occur on August 2, 2027, and NASA says totality will be visible across parts of southern Spain, North Africa, Saudi Arabia and Yemen.