Here's what to expect from 5 stages of the total solar eclipse 2026

The total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026, will unfold across five distinct phases, beginning with first contact and culminating in totality. During first contact, observers along a narrow path will experience a partial solar disk as the moon begins its transit across the sun’s face. As the eclipse progresses, the percentage of obscuration increases dramatically, reaching full coverage at approximately one hour and forty-degrees after maximum obscuration. The period of totality itself represents the peak of the event, offering an opportunity to safely view the diamond ring effect and coronal ejections from the sun. Finally, the eclipse concludes with myristic phase, where the bright spot remains visible before the last sliver of sunlight reappears.