SOLAR ECLIPSE · WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2026
Barely. 6.9% of the Sun, and you won't notice it without glasses.
The August 12, 2026 solar eclipse is technically visible from Philadelphia, but barely: at maximum, 6.9% of the Sun is covered at 1:53 PM EDT, and daylight will look completely normal; even a 50% eclipse leaves the day looking ordinary. With eclipse glasses you can watch a small bite between 1:11 PM and 2:34 PM.
EYE SAFETY: READ BEFORE YOU LOOK
A partial eclipse is never safe to look at unprotected
- Never look at the partially eclipsed Sun with bare eyes.Sunglasses are not protection, not even several pairs stacked, no matter how dark.
- Use ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses or a handheld solar viewer, checked for scratches or damage before every use.
- Never point a camera, telescope, or binoculars at the Sun while wearing eclipse glasses: concentrated sunlight destroys the filter and your eyes. Optics need their own solar filter mounted on the front of the instrument.
- No glasses? Pinhole projection is the safe indirect method: cross your fingers into a waffle and watch the crescent Suns on the ground, even the gaps between tree leaves act as natural pinholes.
SAME NIGHT
Make it a double feature
Maximum eclipse is 1:53 PM; after dark that same night, the Perseid meteor shower (the year's best) peaks over Philadelphia under a moonless sky.
Perseids over Philadelphia that night →Common questions
Where should I look?
Face south-southwest (SSW): the Sun stands 62.8° above the horizon at maximum eclipse, at 1:53 PM local time. Never look at it without ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses; ordinary sunglasses are not protection, no matter how dark.
What time exactly is the eclipse in Philadelphia?
First contact is at 1:11 PM, maximum eclipse at 1:53 PM, and last contact at 2:34 PM local time on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, 84 minutes from start to finish.
Do I need eclipse glasses?
Yes. For every second of it. Even at maximum, 93.1% of the Sun's surface is still blazing over Philadelphia, far more than enough to damage your eyes. Use ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses or a handheld solar viewer.
Will clouds block it?
The latest forecast shows 3% cloud cover over Philadelphia at maximum eclipse (1:53 PM). Forecasts firm up as the day approaches; check back the evening before for the final call.