2026 Solar Eclipse
AUGUST 12th 2026 - SAVE THE DATE!
The Solar Eclipse on August 12, 2026 will be the first one visible from Ireland, UK & Northern Europe since 1999. The path of the eclipse will travel from the Russian Arctic, across Greenland and Iceland, and then sweeps into northern Spain before sunset over the western Mediterranean Sea. Northern Europe will see a partial eclipse, while the 'Totality' (the moment when the Sun is completely covered) occurs only within a narrow time window through the main regions of Iceland and Northern Spain.
What you can expect to see from Ireland and Northern Europe:
From Ireland, the UK and much of Northern Europe, you’ll see a very deep partial eclipse where the Sun will appear as a crescent, with as much as 80-90% of its disk covered depending on your exact location. The sky will dim noticeably, and the light will take on a strange cool tone, especially at maximum coverage but it won’t go completely dark. It will be quite a spectacular sight to see..
Remember! It is absolutely vital to ensure you are using the correct protective equipment for viewing any type of Solar Eclipse and only CERTIFIED Solar Glasses or specially designed telescope filters should be used. Always check the solar glasses or filters are not damaged, torn or scratched and under no circumstance should you use Binoculars or even cameras unless the lens is covered with an approved filter.
CERTIFIED Solar Glasses are available from ©Horizon Astronomy
You can purchase Certified Solar Glasses, Filters and other Solar accessories from our website here >>
Never use sunglasses, smoked glass, or camera filters not specifically designed for solar viewing. They do not block enough UV or infrared and can cause retinal burns within seconds. So be careful!
Photographing the Eclipse:
You can absolutely take photographs of the partial eclipse - safely and creatively using the following tips below:
Use a dedicated solar filter (such as Baader AstroSolar film) mounted to the front of your lens. We also sell mounting kits for DSLR Cameras so if you fancy making your own, check out the video below:
Camera settings (for partial phases): ISO 100–200, f/8–f/11, and shutter 1/250–1/1000 s are a good starting point and you can adjust by testing several exposures before hand.
Our Lens recommendations are:
- 300 - 500 mm (full‑frame equivalent) for a close‑up view of the solar disk.
- 70 - 200 mm for wide‑angle scenes showing the landscape and crescent Sun.
Where to Go for 'Totality' (Optional Travel):
While the partial Solar Eclipse will be visible from across all of Northern Europe, if you’d like to experience totality (where the sun is completely covered), the nearest practical destinations are:
- Iceland – early afternoon total eclipse lasting up to about 2 min 18 s.
- Northern Spain (A Coruña, Burgos, León) – totality near sunset, lasting 1 - 1.5 minutes with the Sun low over the horizon
Both offer very different conditions: Iceland’s weather is unpredictable but feels like another world! while Spain offers warmer skies and more chance of clear skies.
How to Prepare for the Eclipse:
A practical next step if you plan to watch from Northern Europe is to order certified solar glasses soon (they will likely sell out everywhere close to August) and scout a location with a clear western horizon — that’s where the Sun will set, partially eclipsed, on August 12 evening.
If you are planning to photograph the eclipse:
Always test your setup, including exposure settings before eclipse day, and organize your view of the Sun’s motion across the sky so you don’t need to adjust tripods during the eclipse peak moments. But honestly, even for serious photographers, it’s always worth taking a pause, putting on a pair of Solar Glasses to simply experience the light change and crowd reaction at least once during the event. These events are rare so enjoy it :)