Millions are preparing today, Wednesday, August 12, 2026, to witness a total solar eclipse, when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun in near-perfect alignment, completely blocking the sun's disk from specific areas of the Earth's surface.
The eclipse occurs in conjunction with the new moon phase, when the moon is between the Earth and the sun, but the tilt of its orbit means that in most months its shadow passes over or under the Earth without blocking the sun.
A striking image combining a partial solar eclipse with people observing it from the front, while sunspots appear on the sun's disk.
On this date, the moon's shadow will pass over a narrow path approximately 293 kilometers wide, known as the path of totality, which crosses Spain, Iceland, and Greenland. Meanwhile, hundreds of millions of people outside this path will be able to witness a partial eclipse, while those geographically unable to see it directly can follow the event online.
The phenomenon is divided into five main stages, beginning with the first contact between the moon and the sun and ending with its complete exit from its disk.
Arab countries that will witness a partial eclipse
Parts of North Africa are preparing to witness a partial solar eclipse on Wednesday, August 12, with the timing of its appearance and the degree of obscuration of the sun's disk varying from country to country, as shown in the following table.
Parts of it fall within the scope of partial visibility, especially in the north.
"Bite" of the moon and the beginning of the transformation
The first phase begins with what is known as "first contact," when the moon appears to take its first "bite" of the sun's disk. According to the article, this phenomenon will first be visible over the US state.
Then, for about an hour and a half, the moon gradually moves in front of the sun, causing the illuminated disk to shrink gradually, and the scene transforms from a full sun to a bright crescent. During the half hour preceding the total eclipse, the temperature may drop and the light will become dimmer, and small crescents of light may appear on Earth through gaps between leaves or perforated objects.
Experts warn against looking directly at the sun during the partial eclipse phases, as this could lead to permanent vision loss, even for a short period. Therefore, special eclipse glasses should be used, or safe observational methods such as projecting the sun's image onto white paper through mirrors or telescopes.
The diamond ring and "Billy" beads precede the darkness
The second phase comes just before the start of the total eclipse, and in it one of the most exciting phenomena appears, the diamond ring, when a last sliver of sunlight remains visible behind the moon, while the outer atmosphere of the sun begins to appear.
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