Charleston, WV – West Virginians will have several chances to watch eclipses in 2026, but astronomy experts say the most dramatic views this year will favor the Central and Western United States, leaving the Mountain State just outside the prime viewing zone.
According to astronomical forecasts, four eclipses will occur in 2026, including two solar and two lunar eclipses. While West Virginia will see portions of multiple events, timing and geography mean residents will miss the longest and most vivid phases of the year’s biggest eclipse.
🌕 March 3, 2026 — Total Lunar Eclipse (Best Viewed West of West Virginia)
This is the top eclipse event of 2026 for Americans, but West Virginia 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 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 Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, Parkersburg, Wheeling, and Beckley, the Moon will be low in the western sky as the eclipse peaks. Residents may catch 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 West Virginia)
A major total solar eclipse will sweep across Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain, drawing global attention. In West Virginia, 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 West Virginia, though only modest shadowing of the Moon is expected, making it a quieter skywatching event.
🧭 West Virginia & U.S. Eclipse Takeaway
- ⭐ Best U.S. viewing: March 3 lunar eclipse (Central & Western states)
- 👀 West Virginia viewing: Partial to early total phases
- ☀️ Solar eclipse: Partial locally; totality occurs overseas
