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Partial solar eclipse from the Boston area on August 12, 2026

August

On August 12 the moon covers about a sixth of the sun as seen from the Boston area, and certified eclipse viewers are required for every direct look.

Why this time of year

From the Boston area the partial eclipse begins at 1:01 pm on August 12, reaches maximum near 1:55 pm with about 16 percent of the sun covered, and ends at 2:46 pm.

How to notice it

  1. Get eclipse viewers that meet the ISO 12312-2 standard ahead of time; that certification is the thing to look for.
  2. Check the cloud forecast that morning; broken clouds can still give you windows.
  3. Glasses on before every look; watch the small dark bite grow from just after 1 pm and reach its deepest near 1:55 pm.
  4. Between looks, notice whether the afternoon light seems any different; with a sixth of the sun covered the change is subtle.

Try this with kids: Through your eclipse glasses, can you tell which side of the sun the bite is on?

a partial eclipse means the moon covers only part of the sun, so daylight never fully dims

Safety

  • Looking at the sun without certified eclipse viewers is never safe, at any moment of the eclipse; ordinary sunglasses, no matter how dark, do nothing to protect eyes.
  • Use viewers meeting the ISO 12312-2 standard, and never point binoculars, a telescope, or a camera at the sun without a solar filter made for the front of the optics.

Sources

  • science.nasa.govEclipse is total over Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, Spain; partial across the northern US including New England; Boston sees 1:01 pm to 2:46 pm with 16 percent coverage; safe viewers comply with ISO 12312-2; regular sunglasses no matter how dark are not safe; no optics without a front solar filter.
  • skyatnightmagazine.comBoston maximum eclipse at 13:55 EDT with 16 percent of the sun covered; more than 10 percent obscuration only northeast of a New York City to Rochester line.
  • science.nasa.govPartial in parts of the US from Alaska to North Carolina; use certified eclipse glasses any time any part of the sun is visible; regular sunglasses are not safe.

In the guide for August

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