Research Desk
Space & Science
Verified reporting on astronomy, space exploration, physics and the natural world — assessed against primary research, institutional sources and confirmed observational data.
Why the August 12, 2026 Total Solar Eclipse Is Unusual: Spain's 121-Year Wait, a Near-Perigee Moon and What Comes Next
The August 12, 2026 total solar eclipse is unusual for reasons that go well beyond where to stand. It will be Spain's first total solar eclipse since 1905, the Moon will be near perigee and therefore appear larger than average, totality will last approximately two minutes, and the next total eclipse in 2027 will be nearly three times longer at up to 6 minutes 23 seconds.
What NASA Wants You to Watch During the August 12 Total Solar Eclipse: Not Just the Sky, but the Animals
NASA is using the August 12, 2026 total solar eclipse for more than astronomy. Alongside tracking the eclipse itself, NASA is running a citizen-science effort asking the public to observe how animals respond when daylight suddenly collapses into temporary darkness. The project turns tomorrow's only total solar eclipse of 2026 into both a celestial event and a live behavioral experiment.