Saw the Partial Solar Eclipse!

The week of August 9th gave northern New Englanders a special astronomical treat - a Partial Solar Eclipse! On August 12, 2026, Maine was treated to see this event during the middle of the day. Back on April 8th, 2024, we experienced 95% totality of the Total Solar Eclipse. Fortunately, Tom kept a pair of the Eclipse viewing glasses so we were able to step outside and see the image of almost 20% of the Moon obscuring the Sun. (Although I had the stomach flu for 5 days at that point, I needed to see it!)

IF MAINE SAW ONLY 20% WHERE WAS THE PATH OF TOTALITY (100%)? The solar eclipse begins in extreme northern Russia, crosses the Arctic Ocean, tracks along eastern and western Greenland, sweeps across western Iceland, and ends across northern and central Spain with a small sliver touching northeastern Portugal.

PARTIAL ECLIPSE REGIONS:  Europe: Most major European cities (like London, Paris, and Madrid) experience a massive partial eclipse ranging from 90% to near-total coverage.North America: Parts of northeastern North America and eastern Canada see a minor partial eclipse.  

(Image of what we saw from Maine around 1:30 p.m. ET) 

Partial solar eclipse visible across Maine

The partial eclipse was visible In Portland, the eclipse will begin at 12:57 p.m. and end at 2:27 p.m.

Associated Press, August 12, 2026

PORTLAND, Maine — A rare partial solar eclipse will be visible across Maine on Wednesday afternoon.

(Photo: Fortunately, there were few clouds to block our view for the couple of minutes!) 

The eclipse's path of totality will pass through parts of Europe, including Spain, on Aug. 12. Parts of Greenland, western Iceland and a corner of Portugal will also experience totality.

In the United States, a partial eclipse will be visible in parts of Alaska, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania, as well as Washington, D.C.

Some of the best viewing in the U.S. will be in Maine, where only a small “bite” will be taken out of the solar disk (20% to 40%) as the moon appears to just clip the sun.

(Our friends Angie and Les sent this photo from Europe where her sister captured this view from England)

In Bangor, the partial eclipse will begin at 12:54 p.m. and end at 2:49 p.m. In Portland, it will begin at 12:57 p.m. and end at 2:27 p.m.

The eclipse will begin around midday in the northern United States and continue into the afternoon in areas farther east.