2026 archive

The 12 August 2026 eclipse has passed

The information below describes the 2026 event. For the next total solar eclipse, use our guide to 2 August 2027: the path and timings are different.

Letterkenny, Ireland

Photo: AnGael / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Partielle Sonnenfinsternis · 12 August 2026

Where to watch the 2026 solar eclipse in Letterkenny

Letterkenny sees a deep partial eclipse on 12 August 2026 — about 94.0% of the Sun covered at around 19:07 IST, with the Sun a comfortable ~16° above the horizon.

Partielle Finsternis Get certified eclipse glasses
Maximum~19:07 ISTUlster · Ireland · 12 Aug 2026
Dauer~1h 53m of partial eclipseThis is the full partial eclipse from first to last contact. There is no totality here — the Sun is never completely covered, so there is no corona and no moment when it is safe to look without protection.
Sonnenhöhe~16° above the WNW horizonhigh enough that cloud, not terrain, is the risk
Bedeckungsgrad94.0% (partial)Letterkenny is OUTSIDE the path of totality. About 94.0% of the Sun is covered at maximum — a deep partial eclipse, but not a total one. The corona never appears and the sky does not go dark.
Heiterkeitschance Cloud is very likely · ≈42%Ireland in August is cloudy more often than not and conditions change fast. The high Sun means a moderate gap suffices.
Countdown bis zum Maximum
—Tage —Std. —Min. —Sek.

Letterkenny sees a deep partial eclipse on 12 August 2026 — about 94.0% of the Sun covered at around 19:07 IST, with the Sun a comfortable ~16° above the horizon.

Below: Letterkenny's exact timings, the best open viewpoints, why your eclipse glasses never come off here, and where the real totality is.

Die Zeitleiste

Wann die Finsternis stattfindet

~18:09 ISTPartielle Phase beginnt — erster "Biss" aus der Sonne
~19:07 ISTPartiell — ~1h 53m of partial eclipse. Brille nur bei totaler Finsternis ablegen.
~21:10 ISTEclipse ends ~20:02 IST

The eclipse runs from about 18:09 to 20:02 IST, with maximum at around 19:07 and the Sun ~16° above the west-northwest horizon. The eclipse finishes before sunset at 21:10 IST, so you are not racing the horizon here.

Wo man sich aufstellen sollte

Die besten Beobachtungsplätze

Grianán of Aileach

Elevated · ancient fort

Best panorama in Donegal

The ring fort on its hilltop gives a huge open panorama over Lough Swilly and Foyle — height and history together.

Fanad Head

Headland · Atlantic

Open ocean horizon

The lighthouse peninsula reaches into open sea with unobstructed views west.

Malin Head

Headland · Ireland's most northerly

Wildest open horizon

The northernmost point of Ireland, with ocean horizons across a wide arc.

Lough Swilly shore

Lakeside · open water

Low open sightline

The sea lough gives flat, open horizons with easy road access.

South for deeper coverage

More of the Sun covered

Kerry ~97%

Donegal sees the least Irish coverage in these guides; the south-west sees more.

Local astronomy societies and science centres often organise safe public viewing with filtered telescopes — worth checking closer to the date.

Plan your trip

Where to stay near the eclipse

Accommodation around the viewing area for eclipse night (11–13 Aug 2026). Compare hotels and rentals live on the map below.

Die Wetterprognose

Wird der Himmel klar sein?

Ireland in August is cloudy more often than not and conditions change fast. The high Sun means a moderate gap suffices.

The deciding factor here is simply whether the sky is clear at the right moment. Check the forecast in the final 48 hours and, if you can, keep the option of moving to a gap in the cloud.

Den Tag planen

Ihre Checkliste für den Finsternistag

  • Certified ISO 12312-2 / CE eclipse glasses — one pair per person
  • Glasses stay ON for the entire eclipse — there is no safe moment here
  • A reasonable view west — the Sun is ~16° up, so gaps in cloud are enough
  • Arrive before 18:09 to catch first contact
  • Check the cloud forecast in the final 48 hours
  • Never look through a camera, phone or binoculars without a proper solar filter
  • Pinhole projection is a safe way for groups to watch together
  • If you want totality, it is northern Spain — not here

Sicher beobachten

Wie auch immer Sie beobachten — tun Sie es sicher

Alle Absolute-Eclipse-Produkte sind unabhängig zertifiziert und in der EU hergestellt. Hier gibt es keinen sicheren Moment ohne Augenschutz — zertifizierte Sehhilfen die ganze Zeit tragen.

  • ISO 12312-2 zertifiziert
  • CE · EU 2016/425 PSA
  • Hergestellt und versandt in der EU

Beobachten Sie in einer Gruppe? Familien- & Einzelhandelspacks → Zertifizierter Lagerbestand wird knapper, je näher der 12. August rückt.

Schnelle Antworten

Letterkenny Sonnenfinsternis FAQ

Will Letterkenny see a total solar eclipse on 12 August 2026?
No. Letterkenny is outside the path of totality and sees a partial eclipse, with about 94.0% of the Sun covered at maximum. It is a striking sight through eclipse glasses, but the corona does not appear and the sky does not go dark. The path of totality crosses northern Spain.
What time is the eclipse in Letterkenny?
The partial phase begins at about 18:09 IST and maximum — 94.0% coverage — comes at roughly 19:07 IST. The eclipse finishes before sunset at 21:10 IST, so you are not racing the horizon here.
Do I need eclipse glasses in Letterkenny?
Yes, for the entire eclipse without exception. Because the Sun is never fully covered, there is never a safe moment to look with the naked eye. Even at 94.0% coverage the remaining sliver is dangerously bright. Certified ISO 12312-2 / CE glasses stay on from start to finish.
Where should I watch from in Letterkenny?
With the Sun about 16° above the horizon at maximum, a break in the cloud matters more than a perfect horizon — though higher, open ground still gives the best view.
Will the weather be clear in Letterkenny on eclipse day?
Ireland in August is cloudy more often than not and conditions change fast. The high Sun means a moderate gap suffices.

Den Pfad weiter erkunden

Nahegelegene Regionen zur Beobachtung

Quellen: timeanddate.com · nationaleclipse.com · eclipsophile.com (Wetter) · Gobierno de Aragón · BBC Sky at Night. Zeiten sind lokal (MESZ).