Raleigh, NC – North Carolina residents will have chances to watch eclipses in 2026, but astronomy experts say the most dramatic views this year will favor the Central and Western United States, placing much of the Southeast — including North Carolina — just outside the prime viewing zone.
According to astronomical forecasts, four eclipses will occur in 2026, including two solar and two lunar eclipses. While North Carolina will see portions of several events, timing means viewers locally will miss the longest and most vivid moments of the year’s biggest eclipse.
🌕 March 3, 2026 — Total Lunar Eclipse (Best Viewed West of North Carolina)
This is the top eclipse event of 2026 for U.S. residents, but North Carolina sits near the eastern edge of optimal viewing.
According to eclipse timing data, the Moon will enter Earth’s darkest shadow during the early morning hours Tuesday, March 3. Viewers in the Central and Western U.S. — including Chicago, St. Louis, Dallas, Denver, Phoenix, and the West Coast — will see the eclipse in full, featuring a long-lasting deep red “Blood Moon.”
In Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Fayetteville, and Wilmington, the Moon will be low in the western sky as the eclipse peaks. Residents may see partial phases and possibly the start of totality, but the deepest color and longest duration will occur farther west.
👉 Lunar eclipses are safe to view without special glasses.
🌞 August 12, 2026 — Solar Eclipse (Partial in North Carolina)
A major total solar eclipse will cross Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain, drawing global attention. In North Carolina, the event will appear only as a partial solar eclipse.
During the late morning hours, the Sun will look slightly obscured statewide. Certified solar eclipse glasses are required for safe viewing.
🌕 August 27–28, 2026 — Partial Lunar Eclipse
A second lunar eclipse later in the summer will also be visible across North Carolina, though only modest shadowing of the Moon is expected, making it a quieter skywatching event.
🧭 North Carolina & U.S. Eclipse Takeaway
- ⭐ Best U.S. viewing: March 3 lunar eclipse (Central & Western states)
- 👀 North Carolina viewing: Partial to early total phases
- ☀️ Solar eclipse: Partial locally; totality occurs overseas
