Based on experience with 2017 and 2024, r/solareclipse is about to be SWAMPED. Traffic will pick up this weekend, then go exponential next week. Many of the questions will be basic, and some of you may feel annoyed that people waited until the last minute to ask...

I invite you to remember that you too were once in a place of not knowing, and to answer these newbie questions with grace and civility and move on.

Keep in mind the mission of this subreddit and the first sidebar rule:

Mission: A place to share information that helps fellow redditors optimize their experience of a Total Solar Eclipse (TSE).

Rule 1: Be excellent to each other!

Thank you all in advance, on behalf of myself and Naz (the other mod), for sharing what you've learned with the newbies who will soon be among us.

😎 🌘🌑🌼🌑🌒 🔭

P.S. since both announcements are used for Megathreads, please upvote this post for visibility.

This megathread is designed to streamline coordination of eclipse viewing sites. Please leave replies regarding potential sites, towns of interest, or chances to meet up/carpool under the pinned comment for the city or area you'll be viewing from and members will facilitate discussion of potential road closures, public transit, and other facts of relevance to particular sites suitable for eclipse viewing.

It's strongly encouraged to check official governmental sources first, and utilize designated viewing sites where possible, to allow for efficient emergency management and traffic control.

(thanks go to u/darwinpatrick for creating this)

No SPAM posts! (Sales, Promotion, And Marketing). SPAM is removed immediately and spammers are banned permanently.

(this applies to ALL of r/solareclipse)

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As with 2017 and 2024, r/solareclipse will become crazy as eclipse day approaches. This megathread is intended to reduce the number of re-posts by answering commonly asked questions in one location.

If an answer isn't here, use Reddit's search feature with the "limit my search to r/solareclipse" box checked. (e.g. Mallorca or Majorca)

Please comment below to help others.

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VIEWING SITE

One must be within the path of totality to experience a TSE (99.99% is not enough). Duration and the "360° sunset" vary within the path.

Xavier Jubier's TSE 2026 Google Map

[Time and Date Eclipse Map] (https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/map/2026-august-12)

Duration of Totality vs Distance Across the Path

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LOCATION

Protip: Local subreddits can be an excellent place to ask questions about a specific location. (e.g. r/GoingToSpain, r/askspain, r/VisitingMallorca, etc)

2026 Eclipse Weather/Cloud Cover ☀️🌤🌧

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CAMPING

Hipcamp

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TRAVEL

Driving - subreddit search

Traffic - subreddit search

TL;DR: Traffic will filter in for days beforehand, and will be insane as everyone leaves

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SAFETY

Different Ways to Safely View a Solar Eclipse - NASA Goddard

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CHECKLIST

Eclipse checklist - thread

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PHOTOGRAPHY

How to Shoot Solar-Eclipse Images & Videos

Camera settings for photographing the eclipse - thread

Capturing a Solar Eclipse with a GoPro

Solar Eclipse Simulator - thread (enter location, click on eclipses)

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😎 🌘🌑🌼🌑🌒 🔭 2024 Eclipse Megathread

Such a great show. I'd like to create a playlist.