On the evening of Wednesday 12th August 2026, the Moon will pass directly between the Earth and the Sun causing a shadow to be cast on the Earth. Due to the relative motions of the Moon and the Earth, this shadow will start in northern Russia, pass over Greenland, western Iceland and across northern Spain. For a location on the path of the shadow, the Sun will be completely covered by the Moon for between 1 minute and 2 minutes 18 seconds, a total solar eclipse. The UK is not on the path but will witness a partial solar eclipse between 6:17pm and 8:07pm. It is the biggest eclipse visible in the UK until 23rd September 2090.

A number of resources have been collated here to help explain the eclipse to students: