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Topic 265 · Science, Technology & Space

Eclipses of 2026: 12 August solar, 3 March lunar

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Revise the 12 points first Book 1 RATNA
  1. Core Trigger: A total solar eclipse on Wednesday, 12 August 2026 was the first to cross mainland Europe since 1999.
  2. Path: Totality crossed Siberia, the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain and the Balearic Islands.
  3. Authorities: NASA published the path and timings; IMD's Positional Astronomy Centre, Kolkata, issued India's 3 March lunar eclipse timings.
  4. Key Numbers: Eclipse magnitude was 1.0386, band width 294 km, Saros series 126.
  5. Data Point: Longest totality lasted 2 minutes 18.2 seconds, about 45 km off Iceland's coast.
  6. Observers: Roscosmos cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov photographed the eclipse from the International Space Station.
  7. India Link: The 12 August eclipse was invisible in India; the 3 March 2026 blood moon was visible from most of it.
  8. Venue: Iceland's first total eclipse since 1954 is its only one this century; the next is in 2196.
  9. Cause: A solar eclipse occurs at new moon when the Moon passes between Sun and Earth.
  10. Types: There are four kinds of solar eclipse: total, annular, partial and hybrid.
  11. Safety Rule: Except at totality, view the Sun only through eclipse glasses or a pinhole projector.
  12. Definition: The path of totality is the strip where the Moon fully covers the Sun; a total lunar eclipse needs the umbra.
Question 1 of 10

The total solar eclipse of 12 August 2026 was the first to cross mainland Europe since which year?

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Answer: (C) 1999

Core Trigger: A total solar eclipse on Wednesday, 12 August 2026 was the first to cross mainland Europe since 1999.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 265, point 1

Question 2 of 10

Which Spanish archipelago lay on the path of totality?

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Answer: (D) Balearic Islands

Path: Totality crossed Siberia, the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain and the Balearic Islands.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 265, point 2

Question 3 of 10

Which IMD centre in Kolkata issued India's timings for the 3 March 2026 lunar eclipse?

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Answer: (A) Positional Astronomy Centre

Authorities: NASA published the path and timings; IMD's Positional Astronomy Centre, Kolkata, issued India's 3 March lunar eclipse timings.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 265, point 3

Question 4 of 10

The 12 August 2026 eclipse belongs to which Saros series?

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Answer: (B) Saros 126

Key Numbers: Eclipse magnitude was 1.0386, band width 294 km, Saros series 126.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 265, point 4

Question 5 of 10

How long did the longest totality of the 12 August 2026 eclipse last?

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Answer: (C) 2 minutes 18.2 seconds

Data Point: Longest totality lasted 2 minutes 18.2 seconds, about 45 km off Iceland's coast.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 265, point 5

Question 6 of 10

Which is/are correct? (1) The 12 August 2026 eclipse was visible across India. (2) The 3 March 2026 lunar eclipse was visible from most of India.

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Answer: (B) Only 2

India Link: The 12 August eclipse was invisible in India; the 3 March 2026 blood moon was visible from most of it.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 265, point 7

Question 7 of 10

Iceland's total eclipse of 12 August 2026 is its first since which year?

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Answer: (D) 1954

Venue: Iceland's first total eclipse since 1954 is its only one this century; the next is in 2196.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 265, point 8

Question 8 of 10

A solar eclipse occurs at which lunar phase?

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Answer: (A) New moon

Cause: A solar eclipse occurs at new moon when the Moon passes between Sun and Earth.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 265, point 9

Question 9 of 10

How many kinds of solar eclipse are there?

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Answer: (B) Four

Types: There are four kinds of solar eclipse: total, annular, partial and hybrid.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 265, point 10

Question 10 of 10

Which is/are correct? (1) Except at totality, view the Sun only through eclipse glasses or a pinhole projector. (2) A total lunar eclipse needs the penumbra.

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Answer: (A) Only 1

Safety Rule: Except at totality, view the Sun only through eclipse glasses or a pinhole projector.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 265, point 11

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