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Could the northern lights be visible during the total solar eclipse on Aug.12? Maybe
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On Aug. 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse will sweep across Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain, briefly turning day into twilight. As the moon covers the sun, the corona will appear. Some skywatchers wonder whether the northern lights could also make an appearance during totality.
Totality dims the sky to roughly the brightness of civil twilight. Since Greenland and Iceland lie within the auroral zone, the question is natural. Experts say it is possible but extremely unlikely.
Tom Kerss, an independent astronomer and chief aurora chaser for Hurtigruten, told Space.com that sky brightness during totality is comparable to civil twilight. "It's uncommon to see auroras during this time, but by no means impossible," he said. Last year, he photographed the northern lights in Norway at twilight, showing that bright auroras can be visible before full darkness.
However, the aurora's position in the sky matters. Kerss noted that the sun's corona would almost certainly outshine auroras near it, but other parts of the sky away from the eclipse could host visible auroral structures. So while it is physically possible, the odds are stacked against it.
For any realistic chance, Earth would need a severe geomagnetic storm. Kerss explained that a G4 or G5 storm, the highest categories, would likely be required. During such storms, auroras become brighter and more widespread.
Pål Brekke, a solar physicist at the Norwegian Space Agency, echoed Kerss. He attempted to spot auroras during the 2015 total solar eclipse over Svalbard but found the sky never got dark enough. "The sky never got that dark — we could hardly see any planets and no stars," he said, partly due to snow reflecting light.
The timing also works against observers, as totality occurs in the afternoon over Greenland and Iceland, placing them under the daytime portion of the auroral oval. Brekke noted that daytime auroras are driven by different mechanisms than nighttime ones. Without a major solar storm, northern lights during the eclipse will likely remain unseen.
Despite the slim chances, the eclipse itself promises a spectacular show. Skywatchers should focus on the corona and perhaps set aside hope for auroras. As Kerss said, it's uncommon but not impossible.
