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.

How to See the Eclipse: Create a Pinhole Viewer, Watch On-line, etc

Since the first total Eclipse that traverses the U.S. from west to east happens today (and it's the first time in 99 years), here are some resources to help you experience it.
This graphic shows the BEST TIMES to experience the eclipse across the USA
The eclipse enters the United States at 10:15 a.m. PDT off the coast of Oregon and exits the U.S. at approximately 2:50 p.m. EDT in South Carolina.
WATCH IT LIVE  online at: https://www.nasa.gov/eclipselive. 

Eclipse path of totality across the USA on August 21, 2017

 FOR EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW: https://www.nasa.gov/eclipse

RULES: Never look directly at the Sun without proper eye protection. You can seriously hurt your eyes and even go blind.

Projecting the Sun through a box projector, or using binoculars or telescope, or simply 2 pieces of card is a safe and easy way to view a solar eclipse.

DIY: Simple Card Projector:  The simplest and quickest way to safely project the Sun is with a projector made from only 2 pieces of card or paper.

You Need:  2 pieces of stiff white cardboard, e.g. 2 paper plates; alternatively, 2 sheets of plain white paper;  a thumbtack, a sharp pin, or a needle

What to Do:

Using 2 pieces of cardboard or paper you can project an image of the Sun that does not hurt your eyes.

©timeanddate.com

1. To make a quick version of the pinhole projector, take a sheet of paper and make a tiny hole in the middle of it using a pin or a thumbtack. Make sure that the hole is round and smooth.
2. With your back towards the Sun, hold 1 piece of paper above your shoulder allowing the Sun to shine on the paper.
3. The 2nd sheet of paper will act as a screen. Hold it at a distance, and you will see an inverted image of the Sun projected on the paper screen through the pinhole.
4. To make the image of the Sun larger, hold the screen paper further away from the paper with the pinhole.

A box projector works on the same principles, it requires a little more time and a few extra items to construct, but it is more sturdy.

 

Who is Eclipso & 2 Types of Eclipses

DC Comics' Eclipso trade paperback

I recently finished enjoying a trade paperback collection of classic comics about an interesting character- a villain and hero in one called Eclipso. It's a black and white collection of his origin and exploits from 1963 to 1966. Since his transformation is triggered by an eclipse, we'll explain the two types here, too.

BOOK  SUMMARY: DC Showcase Presents: Eclipso:  One of the strangest comics villains ever stars in this volume collecting HOUSE OF SECRETS #61-80! On an expedition in the South Pacific, scientist Bruce Gordon's dark side is unleashed after being exposed to a black diamond. Transformed into the powerful Eclipso by any event resembling an eclipse, he embarked on an evil rampage as his good side attempted to reassert control. 

Solar eclipse

WHAT IS A TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE? A total solar eclipse can happen only at new moon, when the moon passes directly between the sun and Earth. Why aren’t there eclipses at every full and new moon?




WHAT IS A LUNAR ECLIPSE?   A

lunar eclipse

lunar eclipse happens when the Earth, sun and moon align in space, with Earth in the middle. Why aren’t there eclipses at every full and new moon?
Credit: EarthSky.org