NASA to broadcast the rare total solar eclipse on August 12

In two weeks, a total solar eclipse will pass over the North Atlantic and northern Spain, marking the first time since 1905 that the country's mainland will fall within the path of totality. The August 12 eclipse will also bring deep partial coverage to much of Europe and the northeastern part of North America. The event coincides with the peak of the Perseid meteor shower and a parade of six planets, creating a rare triple celestial combination.

The path of the eclipse

The Moon's shadow will begin its path over northern Russia, pass through the Arctic, eastern Greenland, and western Iceland, then cross the Atlantic Ocean and reach northern Spain and a small part of Portugal. The longest total phase will be 2 minutes and 18 seconds at a point near the west coast of Iceland.

In Spain, the total eclipse will begin around 20:28 local time in León and will reach Valencia by 20:32, with the Sun very low over the western horizon, shortly before sunset. This makes the observation particularly spectacular, albeit with a limited time window.

NASA has announced a live broadcast, which will begin at 13:15 Eastern Time. The total phase over Iceland will occur at 13:45, and over Spain at 14:28. The agency will also use the high-altitude WB-57 research aircraft to study the solar corona and will support student teams that will launch scientific balloons in Iceland and Spain. The European Space Agency will take advantage of the phenomenon to test how well computer models of the Sun's magnetic environment match real-world data.

Where it will be visible partially

Residents of London will see the Moon cover about 91% of the solar disk, and in Cornwall and southwest Wales, the coverage could reach 95% - the highest level since the total solar eclipse over Britain in 1999. In the United States, partial coverage will range from about 37% in Fairbanks, Alaska, to just a few percent in cities like New York and Washington.

Tourist interest

The eclipse has already sparked a tourism boom. According to the online travel agency eSky, sales of package tours with flights and accommodation to Spain have increased by 69% compared to last year, and bookings for Iceland by 76%. Amadeus data shows a 25% increase in flight bookings for both countries in August 2026. Hotel bookings in smaller Spanish towns along the path of totality have jumped by 383%.

However, forest fires in central Spain could hinder observation. The fire in the province of Ávila has destroyed over 50,000 hectares since July 22 - the Spanish Minister for the Ecological Transition described it as "the largest forest fire in the country's modern history" - while the fire in Guadalajara has scorched over 32,000 hectares.

AccuWeather senior meteorologist Jason Nicholls told TIME that he "does not see signs of significant rainfall in Spain over the next two weeks," warning that the risk of forest fires will remain extreme until the day of the eclipse.

Triple celestial show

On August 12, observers will not just see the solar eclipse. On the same night, during a new moon, the peak of the Perseids will occur, with 50 to 100 meteors per hour expected. The Perseus constellation, from which astronomers say the meteors originate, will be near Mars and Uranus, so viewers will be able to follow both the meteor shower and the parade of six planets simultaneously.

The planetary parade will include Mercury, Jupiter, Mars, Uranus, Saturn, and Neptune. They will be visible in the pre-dawn hours from August 12 to approximately August 17.

"Three significant celestial events within 24 hours is a relatively rare phenomenon," notes CNET. "So, if you are up for an adventure, this is an excellent reason to look up at the sky."