One year ago, a total solar eclipse illuminated North America, bringing sudden darkness and a breathtaking view of the solar corona. Now, with just over 16 months until the next event on August 12, 2026, we’ll examine how this upcoming eclipse will differ from the one a year ago.
The 2024 eclipse path passed over 44 million people, while the 2026 path will cover around 15 million people, primarily through Greenland, Iceland, and Spain. The direction of the eclipse paths also differs, with 2026 starting from east to west instead of west to east like in 2024.
This change is due to two main factors: the moon’s orbit passing above or below the Earth-sun plane during an eclipse, which affects the path’s progression, and the northern hemisphere summer causing the North Pole to be pointed towards the sun. As a result, the 2026 eclipse will move over the top of Earth, missing the North Pole by 60 miles.
The time of day for totality also varies significantly between the two eclipses. The 2024 eclipse had high totality in the sky across North America, while the 2026 eclipse in Spain and Mallorca will occur close to sunset, making it harder to find a clear vantage point.
In terms of duration, the 2026 eclipse is expected to be shorter due to its higher latitudes and later timing. The longest duration of this eclipse will be around 2 minutes and 18 seconds in high Arctic regions, while in more populated areas like Spain, it will last only about 1 minute and 44 seconds.
Total solar eclipses are relatively rare, but not as uncommon as people may think. In fact, a total solar eclipse occurs somewhere in the world approximately every 1.5 years. However, seeing one in your lifetime requires some luck, especially if you live in areas with limited opportunities for totality.
Source: https://www.space.com/stargazing/eclipses/1-year-since-the-great-north-american-eclipse-heres-how-the-2026-total-eclipse-will-compare