Photos, memes, and conspiracies out of the 2026 solar eclipse

ChloeAugust 12, 20263 min read

For the first time in 27 years, the people of mainland Europe were able to watch the moon pass perfectly in front of the sun and blot out its earthbound rays. That means members of Gen Alpha, and many young Gen Z space enthusiasts, just experienced their very first total solar eclipse.

Totality, the moment when the sun is fully obscured by the moon, reached Iceland around 1:49 p.m. ET. The shadow will continue west toward Spain next, which should witness a corona, the glowing solar band surrounding the sun, only visible during totality, around 2:30 p.m. ET.

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People outside of the European mainland — and that is really just Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, northern Spain, and a portion of Portugal — may be able to glance outside and see what is known as a partial solar eclipse. In this case, a crescent-shaped shadow over the sun for a brief period of time in the afternoon.

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The shadow should be visible in 26 states and Washington, D.C., and the farther north you are, the better the show. Space nerds with FOMO can also tune into NASA’s live broadcast, featuring space scientists diving deep into what eclipses can tell us about our own atmosphere and why solar eclipses over Europe are so rare (its all that water!).

A black orb surrounded by glowing white light.

The total eclipse captured over the coast of Greenland.
Credit: Owen Humphreys – PA Images / Contributor / PA Images via Getty Images

The beginning of the solar eclipse over London.
Credit: Aaron Chown – PA Images / Contributor / PA Images via Getty Images

But it isn’t just the moon’s path that makes today’s sky special. Those that follow the stars noted that this morning ushered in a perfect alignment of six planets, the beginning of a new moon phase, and a late night meteor shower for those with clear skies. Maybe today is a lucky one.

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Where are our government-issued eclipse glasses?!

You can’t have an eclipse without eclipse glasses. Literally. You should not look up at a solar eclipse without protective eye coverings, a fact that often creates a mad dash to local libraries and science institutions. Those who can’t snag a free pair have to navigate the wild west of the eclipse glasses online market. Not even an Amazon Prime subscription can save you if you wait too long, so maybe its time our leaders step up?

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A woman holds a sign in front of crowd. It reads "solar eclipse glasses? I have cash!"

Credit: Henry Nicholls / Contributor/ AFP via Getty Images

Solar eclipse hype = fake?

Does it feel like an eclipse is happening every other month these days? Well, that’s not really true (total eclipses are more rare than you think), but you’re certainly not alone.