The first images of the total phase of a solar eclipse were captured in Greenland

The first photographs of the total phase of the solar eclipse on August 12, 2026, were captured over the Skorsby-Sunnen Fjord in Greenland. The images were taken from the deck of the MS Spitsbergen, which was participating in an HX Expeditions cruise to observe the eclipse.

During the total phase, the Moon blocked most of the Sun’s light, revealing its corona—the Sun’s outer atmosphere. In the photos, the corona glows around the Moon’s silhouette against the twilight backdrop that sets in during the total phase.

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Before the total phase, the Moon gradually transformed the Sun into a bright crescent and then obscured it. According to Space.com, the weather in Skorsby-Sunne was favorable for the expedition participants’ observations.

The first images of the full phase were taken by Space.com editor Daisy Dobriyevich, who was aboard the MS Spitsbergen. At the time of publication, the Moon’s umbra continued to move across Europe; according to the publication’s forecast, it was expected to disappear from view near the northern coast of Africa at 18:34 GMT.