Some U.S. states will be able to see partial solar eclipse this week: What to know

Digital Editor

Look to the skies. Millions of Americans will be able to see a rare partial solar eclipse this week.

The partial eclipse will be visible across parts of the northern U.S. Wednesday, stretching from Alaska to North Carolina, according to NASA.

How much of the sun is blocked by the moon will depend on location. About 37% of the sun will be covered in Fairbanks, Alaska, compared with 24% in Bangor, Maine, and 9% in New York City.

Above video | A map of the total solar eclipse in August 2026

The celestial event won’t be as dramatic as the 2024 total solar eclipse, when the path of totality crossed 15 U.S. states as well as parts of Canada and Mexico. This time, totality will be visible from Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, the Atlantic Ocean, Spain and a small corner of Portugal.

But still, some in the U.S. will see a small “bite” taken out of the solar disk as the moon appears to just clip the sun. The further northeast you are, the deeper the eclipse will appear.

Here’s what you should know.

Where and when can I watch?

No part of the U.S. is in the path of totality. NASA’s map shows the partial eclipse reaching Alaska and portions of the northern and eastern United States, with the amount of the sun covered generally increasing toward the Northeast.

Areas with at least some visibility include: Alaska; parts of the Pacific Northwest and northern Rocky Mountain region; portions of the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes; much of the Northeast and New England; and portions of the Mid-Atlantic, with visibility extending southward along parts of the East Coast toward North Carolina.

Below are some details for select cities where the eclipse is visible. All times are local.

If your state is not impacted, you can still watch the eclipse. NASA will host a livestream with views from across the path of totality. You can watch NASA’s full live stream here.

Just how partial are we talking?

Again, it depends on where you live. The Hearst Television Data Team pieced together the following map to illustrate what viewers can expect to see.

What happens during an eclipse?

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between Earth and the sun, temporarily blocking some or all of the sun’s light.

During a total solar eclipse, the moon completely covers the sun for viewers in a narrow area known as the path of totality.

The sky can darken dramatically, temperatures may drop and the sun’s outer atmosphere, called the corona, becomes visible. People outside the path of totality may see a partial eclipse, with only part of the sun obscured by the moon.

Do I need glasses?

Even during a partial solar eclipse, it is never safe to look directly at the sun without proper eye protection.

Except during the brief total phase of a total solar eclipse, when the moon completely blocks the sun’s bright face, it is not safe to look directly at the sun without specialized eye protection for solar viewing. Click here for eclipse eye safety from NASA.