Total Solar Eclipse & New Moon in Leo

Two more celestial events will add special symbolism to this day.

Before dawn, a Planet Parade — a planetary alignment of Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, Uranus, Saturn, and Neptune — will stretch across the morning sky along the ecliptic, as if gathering our different inner strengths and directing them toward one shared goal.

On the night of August 12–13, the Perseids will light up the moonless sky, as if reminding us that true light becomes especially visible in moments of inner stillness, which we may initially mistake for uncertainty or darkness.

The Total Solar Eclipse will pass over Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, the North Atlantic, Spain, and a small part of Portugal.

A partial eclipse will be visible across the northern United States—from Alaska to North Carolina—as well as most of Canada and Europe, and northwestern Africa. In western parts of Europe and Africa, the Sun will set while still partially eclipsed, creating the opportunity to witness a sunset eclipse.

In northern Russia, totality will occur around midday. In Greenland and Iceland, it will take place in the late afternoon or early evening. In Spain and northwestern Portugal, it will occur shortly before sunset.

In most locations, totality will last less than two minutes. Near the center of the eclipse path—over Greenland, northern Russia, and the North Atlantic—it will last up to 2 minutes and 18 seconds.

The Moon’s surface is covered with mountains, craters, and valleys, which makes its edge uneven. A few seconds before totality, sunlight will pass through the lunar valleys, creating a chain of bright points known as Baily’s Beads.

Baily’s Beads during the Total Solar Eclipse on August 21, 2017. Photo: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani.

When only one bright point remains against the solar corona, the famous “Diamond Ring” effect appears. Both phenomena repeat in reverse order as totality ends.

They will be visible only within the path of totality: in northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, over the North Atlantic, in Spain, and in northwestern Portugal.

Observers may look directly at the eclipse without eye protection only during the brief period of totality, when the Moon completely covers the Sun’s bright disk.

Before and after totality, everyone viewing the Sun must use proper eclipse eye protection.

MoonX invites you to watch this magical event live. Look out for a notification and a special banner on the home screen so you do not miss the beginning of the broadcast.

Globally, the Total Solar Eclipse will begin at 15:34 UTC, with the maximum phase—when the Moon covers the greatest portion of the Sun—occurring at 17:46 UTC. Exact times will vary depending on your location.

A solar eclipse is an intensified New Moon that opens a new cycle, whose meaning unfolds gradually over the following weeks and months. It will open the Eclipse Corridor from August 12 to 28, ending with a Partial Lunar Eclipse in Pisces.

This Total Solar Eclipse and New Moon will take place in Leo—the sign of creativity, love, children, confidence, and the joy of being yourself while staying connected to your inner child.

Because the eclipse occurs near the South Node, the new cycle begins with a process of release. It invites us to recognize the identities and patterns through which we have learned to seek love, attention, or validation.

The mean and true calculations place the South Node on opposite sides of a sign boundary: at 0°19′ Virgo using the mean node and at 29°47′ Leo using the true node. Symbolically, this creates a bridge between the closing phase of the Virgo–Pisces cycle and the emerging Leo–Aquarius axis.

Leo represents individual creativity, personal presence, and the courage to express yourself. Aquarius reflects belonging, collaboration, and the contribution we make to something larger than ourselves.

The first eclipse on the Leo–Aquarius axis occurred in February 2026, beginning a broader cycle that will continue unfolding through January 2028.

This axis invites us to create a healthier relationship between individuality and belonging—between the desire to be seen and the willingness to build something meaningful together.

How can you shine brightly while remaining true to yourself and creating something meaningful with others—not only for recognition?

Has the role of a strong leader, an ideal partner, a talented professional, or someone who always has everything under control become too limiting or shaped by outside expectations?

The planetary aspects and placements during this period show which qualities can help us navigate it and what deserves particular attention.

A broad, supportive trine between the Sun and Moon and Saturn Retrograde in Aries brings stability and practical direction to the eclipse. Leo awakens the desire to express yourself, Aries gives you the courage to take the first step, and Saturn helps turn inspiration into a decision that can stand the test of time.

Because Saturn is retrograde, the new direction may be connected to something that has already appeared in your life. You may return to an abandoned project, a long-held dream, or a goal you once set aside because you lacked experience, time, or confidence.

You do not have to start from zero. Use everything you have already learned to build this new chapter in a more mature and sustainable way. Results may take time, yet they have the potential to last.

On the day of the eclipse, Mercury and Jupiter are in Leo and moving toward a conjunction. This highlights themes of ideas, learning, visibility, creativity, and the ability to inspire others.

Write down your thoughts, return to creative plans, discuss future possibilities, and notice which words create the strongest inner response.

Mercury’s opposition to Pluto may deepen conversations and reveal hidden motives. Speak honestly, without turning communication into a struggle for influence or an attempt to control another person’s reaction.

Mercury’s harmonious aspects with Uranus and Neptune help combine logic with intuition, reveal unexpected solutions, and offer a new language for expressing complex thoughts and emotions. An important idea, message, or conversation during this period may point toward the direction of the new cycle.

The Total Solar Eclipse on August 12, 2026, belongs to Saros Series 126. Eclipses within the same Saros repeat approximately every 18 years and 11 days and share a similar astronomical pattern.

The previous eclipse in this Saros occurred on August 1, 2008, also in Leo. Think back to which themes of love, children, creativity, recognition, leadership, or self-expression were important to you at that time.

In 2026, a similar storyline may return on a new level—not as a repetition of the past, but as an opportunity to make a more mature choice, release an old role, and express yourself in a new way.

Check whether your Sun, Moon, or Ascendant—your Big Three—is in Leo, Aquarius, Taurus, or Scorpio. The eclipse themes may be especially noticeable if these points fall between approximately 15° and 25° of the sign.

Leo: Personal Renewal

The eclipse takes place in your sign and may begin a new chapter in how you relate to yourself, your desires, and the way you express yourself in the world. An old image or role may begin to feel too limiting.

Aquarius: Relationships and Collaboration

The eclipse opposition may highlight the balance between personal freedom and closeness with others. Relationships, partnerships, and shared projects may call for greater honesty and more equal participation.

Taurus: Stability and Change

The eclipse square may bring attention to themes of home, family, security, and your familiar way of life. Change does not have to be sudden—the key is to notice where stability has already become a limitation.

Scorpio: Goals and Recognition

The eclipse may bring a reassessment of career ambitions, leadership, and your relationship with success. It may be time to become more visible or choose a goal that reflects your true values.

During these days, pay attention to recurring themes, conversations, and emotional reactions. Write down your ideas, but do not rush to turn every insight into a final decision.

It may be helpful to:

— return to creativity without demanding a perfect result;

— reconsider goals related to visibility and recognition;

— notice what brings you genuine joy;

— begin with small, reversible steps;

— make room for rest, celebration, and romance.

Avoid impulsive decisions driven by the desire to gain immediate attention, provoke a reaction, or prove your worth.

Take two sheets of paper and a pen.

On the first sheet, complete the sentence:

“To receive love, attention, or recognition, I have become used to…”

Write down the roles and patterns of behavior you no longer wish to maintain. After the practice, tear up or discard this sheet as a symbol of release.

On the second sheet, answer:

“When I no longer need to prove anything, I want to…”

Choose one desire and shape it into a gentle intention:

“In this new cycle, I create more space for…”

Keep this sheet until the Lunar Eclipse in Pisces on August 28. Then read it again and notice what has changed, which answers have become clearer, and which step you are ready to take.

May this Eclipse Corridor help you gently release other people’s expectations, hear your true desires, and choose what restores your joy, courage, and genuine interest in life. ✨