Hartford, CT / Providence, RI – Residents across Connecticut and Rhode Island will have a few chances to watch eclipses in 2026, but astronomers say the best views this year will be found well west of Southern New England, leaving local viewers on the edge of peak visibility.
According to astronomical forecasts, four eclipses will occur in 2026, including two solar and two lunar eclipses. While both states will see portions of several events, timing means the most vivid eclipse moments won’t fully align with local skies.
🌕 March 3, 2026 — Total Lunar Eclipse (Best Viewed West of CT & RI)
This is the most anticipated eclipse of the year for U.S. residents, but Connecticut and Rhode Island sit near the eastern limit of optimal viewing.
According to eclipse timing data, the Moon will move into Earth’s darkest shadow during the early morning hours Tuesday, March 3. Cities across the Central and Western U.S. — including Chicago, St. Louis, Dallas, Denver, Phoenix, and the West Coast — will experience the eclipse in full, with a long-lasting deep red “Blood Moon.”
In Hartford, New Haven, Stamford, Bridgeport, Providence, Warwick, and Cranston, the Moon will be low in the western sky as the eclipse reaches its peak. Viewers 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 CT & RI)
A major total solar eclipse will sweep across Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain, drawing global attention. In Connecticut and Rhode Island, the event will appear only as a partial solar eclipse.
During the late morning hours, the Sun will appear slightly obscured across both states. 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 Southern New England, though only modest shadowing of the Moon is expected, making it a quieter skywatching event.
🧭 Connecticut & Rhode Island Eclipse Takeaway
- ⭐ Best U.S. viewing: March 3 lunar eclipse (Central & Western states)
- 👀 Local viewing: Partial to early total phases only
- ☀️ Solar eclipse: Partial locally; totality occurs overseas
