Two eclipses happen in August. Here's who can see them

August should provide plenty of opportunities for sky-gazers, including a total solar eclipse and a partial lunar eclipse.

On Wednesday, Aug. 12, a total solar eclipse will be visible from Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia, and parts of Portugal. Residents in some states in the U.S. will be able to see a partial eclipse using specialized eclipse glasses.

A total solar eclipse usually only happens about once every 18 months, per Time and Date. The last total solar eclipse was on April 8, 2024.

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While the U.S. won't be able to see the total solar eclipse in 2026, sky watchers will be able to catch the partial lunar eclipse two weeks later, on Thursday, Aug. 27, according to NASA. The partial lunar eclipse will also be visible in Europe, Africa and Western Asia.

Here's what to know about the two August eclipses.

The Moon appears from behind the Tokyo Skytree during a total lunar eclipse in the middle of the night above the Japanese capital early on September 8, 2025. Stargazers enjoyed a "Blood Moon" overnight on September 7 during a total lunar eclipse visible across Asia and swathes of Europe and Africa. (JIJI Press/AFP via Getty Images) The Moon appears at the very top of the Tokyo Skytree during a total lunar eclipse in the middle of the night above the Japanese capital early on September 8, 2025. (JIJI Press/AFP via Getty Images) The "Blood Moon" rises in the sky during a total lunar eclipse, in Baghdad, Iraq September 7, 2025. (Thaier Al-Sudani, REUTERS) The "Blood Moon" rises over the West Bank, as seen from the Negev desert, Israel September 7, 2025. (Amir Cohen, REUTERS) A full moon, also known as the "Blood Moon", is pictured in the night sky in Jalandhar on September 7, 2025. (SHAMMI MEHRA, AFP via Getty Images) This photograph shows a full moon also known as "Blood Moon" during a lunar eclipse with a statue of the ancient Greek goddess Irene holding a child in the foreground, in central Athens, on September 7, 2025. (ANGELOS TZORTZINIS, AFP via Getty Images) People are seen on a floor of the Shanghai World Financial Centre as a full moon, also known as the "Blood Moon," rises above skyscrapers during a total lunar eclipse in the financial district of Lujiazui in Shanghai on September 7, 2025. (HECTOR RETAMAL, AFP via Getty Images) A full moon is seen during a "Blood Moon" total lunar eclipse in Dresden, Germany, September 7, 2025. (Matthias Rietschel, REUTERS) A full moon, also known as the "Blood Moon," rises above skyscrapers during a total lunar eclipse in the financial district of Lujiazui in Shanghai on September 7, 2025. (HECTOR RETAMAL, AFP via Getty Images) A phase of a total eclipse of the moon is seen behind the Triumphal Chariot at the top of the Arch of the General Staff in Saint Petersburg on September 7, 2025. (OLGA MALTSEVA, AFP via Getty Images) This photograph shows a view of a full moon also known as "Blood Moon" with leaves in the foreground during a phase of a total lunar eclipse in Jakarta on September 8, 2025. (YASUYOSHI CHIBA, AFP via Getty Images) A full moon, also known as the "Blood Moon," rises above Doha on September 7, 2025. (MAHMUD HAMS, AFP via Getty Images) Beach-goers rest on a shore of the Black Sea with a full moon also known as "Blood Moon" during a phase of a total eclipse in the background in Odesa, on September 7, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (OLEKSANDR GIMANOV, AFP via Getty Images) A jet flies past the full moon just after lunar eclipse in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, on September 7, 2025. (KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV, AFP via Getty Images) The Blood Moon is seen during a total lunar eclipse above the monument of the Gemidzhii in Skopje on September 8, 2025. (ROBERT ATANASOVSKI, AFP via Getty Images) People are seen on the Bund promenade along the Huangpu river as a full moon, also known as the "Blood Moon," rises above the night sky during a total lunar eclipse in Shanghai on September 7, 2025. (HECTOR RETAMAL, AFP via Getty Images) Beach-goers rest on a shore of the Black Sea with a full moon also known as "Blood Moon" during a phase of a total eclipse in the background in Odesa, on September 7, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (OLEKSANDR GIMANOV, AFP via Getty Images) A combination picture shows the full moon moving through the shadow of the earth during a "Blood Moon" lunar eclipse, in Berlin, Germany September 7, 2025. (Annegret Hilse, REUTERS) The moon appears during a lunar eclipse in the sky, behind the the Saladin Citadel, in Cairo, Egypt September 7, 2025. (Mohamed Abd El Ghany, REUTERS) The Full Moon rises in the sky before a "Blood Moon" total lunar eclipse, in Jerusalem September 7, 2025. (Ronen Zvulun, REUTERS) A full moon is seen during a "Blood Moon" total lunar eclipse over the Residenz (residence) in Munich, Germany, September 7, 2025. (Kai Pfaffenbach, REUTERS) A "Blood Moon" rises over the Church of the Nativity at night, during a total lunar eclipse, in Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank September 7, 2025. (MUSSA ISSA QAWASMA, REUTERS) A full moon rises in the sky during a "Blood Moon" total lunar eclipse, as seen from the Sopa Lodge in the Samburu National Reserve in Northern Kenya, in Samburu, Kenya September 7, 2025. (Thomas Mukoya, REUTERS) See stunning images of the 2025 'Blood Moon' and total lunar eclipse 1 of 23 The Moon appears from behind the Tokyo Skytree during a total lunar eclipse in the middle of the night above the Japanese capital early on September 8, 2025. Stargazers enjoyed a "Blood Moon" overnight on September 7 during a total lunar eclipse visible across Asia and swathes of Europe and Africa. (JIJI Press/AFP via Getty Images)

When is the total solar eclipse?

The solar eclipse will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 12, beginning at around 11:34 a.m. ET, according to Time and Date. The maximum eclipse will occur at 1:46 p.m. ET.

When is the partial lunar eclipse?

The eclipse will begin on Thursday, Aug. 27, at 9:23 p.m. ET, according to Time and Date. It will reach maximum eclipse, when the moon will be the most covered, on Friday, Aug. 28, at 12:12 a.m. ET.

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Because it is a partial lunar eclipse, only 96% of the moon will be covered, reported Forbes.

A view of the total solar eclipse at Miami Whitewater Forest in Miami Township in Ohio on Monday, April 8, 2024.

Who can see the solar eclipse?

The following states will be able to see the partial solar eclipse on Aug. 12, according to USA TODAY's previous reporting and National Eclipse, an organization that provides information on upcoming eclipses:

Alaska Connecticut Delaware Illinois Iowa Indiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Montana New Hampshire New Jersey New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Dakota Vermont Virginia West Virginia Wisconsin

Totality, or when the moon passes directly between the Earth and the sun, completely blocking the sun's face, will only be visible in parts of Greenland, Iceland, the Atlantic Ocean, northern Russia, Spain and a small part of Portugal, according to NASA.

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Remember, special glasses should be worn when viewing solar eclipses. The only time it is safe to look at the sun during a solar eclipse is during totality, which will not occur in the U.S.

Solar eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers can be purchased, but should comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard, according to NASA.

Dana the dog wears glasses as people watch an annular solar eclipse, in Las Horquetas, Santa Cruz, Argentina, October 2, 2024.

Who will be able to see the lunar eclipse?

Unlike the solar eclipse, North and South America will be able to see the lunar eclipse, according to NASA. While only a small portion of the world gets to see the total solar eclipse, half of Earth will be able to see the lunar eclipse.

The partial lunar eclipse will be visible in these continents, per NASA:

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North America

South America

Europe

Africa

East Pacific

Lunar eclipse vs. solar eclipse: What's the difference?

Eclipses occur when the sun, moon and Earth align, according to NASA. However, the order in which they align determines whether it will be a lunar eclipse or a solar eclipse.

Solar eclipse

A total solar eclipse only occurs during a new moon. The sun and moon have to align on the same side of the Earth. When it happens, the moon moves between the Earth and the sun and completely blocks the sun's light from reaching Earth.

When the sun is completely blocked by the moon, it is known as the period of totality. During this time, the sky darkens, and viewers can remove their eclipse glasses to view our planet's moon blocking our star.

Visualization from NASA shows the extent of the August 2026 solar eclipse and the path of totality (in red).

Lunar eclipse

A lunar eclipse occurs on the night of the full moon. During the eclipse, Earth moves between the moon and the sun and casts a shadow onto the moon, per NASA.

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This happens because the moon does not produce its own light. When the moon looks big, beautiful and bright, it's actually acting like a ginormous mirror and reflecting the sun's light down to Earth.

Contributing: Saleen Martin, USA TODAY

Julia Gomez is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers space phenomena, scientific studies and natural disasters. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Two eclipses happen in August. Here's who can see them