A long-awaited astronomical spectacle, a total solar eclipse, will be visible in several parts of the Northern Hemisphere on August 12, 2026. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) confirmed that it will broadcast the event live, ensuring that people around the world can follow the phenomenon up close.
The space agency’s coverage will include images captured along the entire eclipse path, as well as exclusive interviews with scientists and experts in the field.
On the same topic: Where to watch today’s total solar eclipse: follow the live broadcast by NASA
Eclipse visibility locations and viewing opportunities
The totality of the solar eclipse can be observed in some specific regions of the globe. Prime locations include Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, areas of the Atlantic Ocean, much of Spain and a small portion of Portugal.
In addition to the totality band, observers in other regions of the Northern Hemisphere will have the chance to witness a partial solar eclipse. This includes parts of the United States from Alaska to North Carolina, most of Canada, much of Europe, and northwest Africa.
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Follow the live stream and key times
NASA will make the eclipse broadcast available in real time, allowing the global public to experience the progression of the phenomenon. Coverage will be broadcast through its various digital platforms, with the following schedule, Brasília time:
- 2:15 pm:Start of official eclipse broadcast
- 2:45 pm:Beginning of totality in Iceland
- 3:28 pm:Beginning of totality in Spain
NASA experiments to study the solar corona
During the eclipse period, NASA planned to carry out several scientific experiments in the range where totality will be observed. A team of scientists, with funding from the agency, will employ a high-altitude research plane, the WB-57, to follow the Moon’s shadow. The main objective is to investigate the complex dynamics of the solar corona, the outermost layer of the Sun’s atmosphere, which is normally obscured by the star’s intense brightness and can only be viewed during a total eclipse. Understanding the corona is vital for predicting space weather events that could affect Earth.
Scientific balloons will explore impacts on Earth’s atmosphere
In an initiative supported by NASA, the National Eclipse Ballooning Project will send students from American universities to Iceland and Spain. They will launch science balloons before, during and after the eclipse. The research aims to understand how the temporary darkening of the sky, caused by the passage of the Moon, affects the layers of the Earth’s atmosphere. This analysis is crucial to improving climate models and knowledge about the interaction between the Sun and our planet. The data collected can reveal valuable information about rapid energy changes and their atmospheric reflections.
Understand the importance of eclipses for science
Total solar eclipses are unique opportunities for science, as they allow the observation of phenomena that would otherwise be impossible to study. By blocking direct sunlight, the Moon reveals the solar corona and atmospheric interactions in a privileged way. The missions and projects developed by NASA and other institutions during these events contribute significantly to advancing our knowledge about the Sun, space and how these elements influence life on Earth.