2026's only total solar eclipse underway with lucky US skywatchers seeing partial coverage

Check out the view of the partial solar eclipse from the National Weather Service in Caribou, Maine.

Caribou saw peak totality of 29% at 1:50 p.m.

Bangor, Maine, saw 24% totality during the solar eclipse at 1:53 p.m. ET. This clip shows the partial eclipse shortly before peak.

Credit: Caribou Cabins in Tok, Alaska/Facebook

Check out this photo of the partial eclipse from Tok, Alaska.

Fairbanks, Alaska, is expected to see the highest percentage of totality in the U.S., at 37%.

It's a big day in the astronomy world, with an eclipse by day and the Perseids meteor shower by nigh. Janet's Planet CEO Janet Ivey joins FOX Weather and breaks down everything you need to know to make the most of this cosmic double-feature.

A picture of the sun through eclipse glasses. Source: Getty Images

For every moment of a solar eclipse except the brief seconds of totality, eye protection is needed. Looking at a partial solar eclipse through a camera lens, binoculars or sunglasses will not protect your eyes from the sun and can cause serious damage to your eyes.

To watch an eclipse safely, you must look through safe solar viewing glasses also known as “eclipse glasses” or a safe handheld solar viewer at all times. Eclipse glasses are not regular sunglasses; regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not safe for viewing the Sun, NASA said.

Getty Images

A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes in front of the sun and casts its shadow on Earth. This is what viewers in the path of totality can expect to see as totality is about to happen.

Skywatchers are in for quite a treat today with a selection of jaw-dropping celestial events - ranging from this morning's planetary parade, to the solar eclipse, to tonight's Perseid meteor shower. Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson joined FOX Weather to discuss it all:

Where to catch the partial solar eclipse in the United States

While the path of totality is in Europe, observers in the northern and eastern United States - from Alaska down through North Carolina - will see a minor partial eclipse around midday.

Today’s total solar eclipse will sweep through Iceland, Greenland, and northern Spain, with a tiny sliver of Portugal also seeing totality. The rest of Europe will see a dramatic partial eclipse during the early evening.

The path of totality through Europe

Observers in the northern and eastern United States (from Alaska down through North Carolina) will see a minor partial eclipse around midday.