August 2026 Solar and Lunar Eclipses

A total solar eclipse will sweep across the Southern Hemisphere on August 12, 2026, followed by a partial lunar eclipse on August 27, 2026. The August 12 event marks the first total solar eclipse of the 21st century to be visible from South America, with the path of totality crossing Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, and the Falkland Islands. Observers in these regions can expect a maximum eclipse lasting roughly 2 minutes and 30 seconds, while the surrounding areas will see a long partial eclipse that begins before sunrise and ends after sunset. The August 27 lunar eclipse will be visible from North and South America, Europe, and parts of Africa, with the moon entering the Earth's penumbral shadow for several hours; the eclipse will be most pronounced in the Americas during the early evening.

Both eclipses belong to the 122nd Saros series for the solar event and the 120th Saros series for the lunar event, meaning they share similar geometries with past eclipses in the same cycles. The August 12 solar eclipse will be the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere since 1999, and the lunar eclipse will occur just 15 days after the solar event, a relatively short interval that allows eclipse enthusiasts to experience both phenomena within the same month. The visibility windows for each event are well defined: the solar eclipse will be observable from 02:00 UTC to 06:00 UTC, while the lunar eclipse will occur from 10:00 UTC to 14:00 UTC.

Astronomical societies and observatories in the affected regions are preparing for high visitor traffic, offering guided viewing sessions and safety equipment for solar observation. The 2026 eclipse pair provides a rare opportunity for both amateur and professional astronomers to study celestial mechanics and atmospheric effects, as well as for the general public to witness two distinct eclipse types in a single month.