Nashville, TN – Skywatchers across the Tennessee Valley will be well positioned to see the most dramatic eclipse of 2026, with viewing conditions expected to be significantly better than the East Coast and competitive with much of the Midwest.
According to astronomical forecasts, four eclipses will occur in 2026, including two solar and two lunar eclipses. For residents of Tennessee, northern Alabama, and southern Kentucky, the March total lunar eclipse stands out as the year’s most impressive and accessible sky event.
🌕 March 3, 2026 — Total Lunar Eclipse (Strong Viewing in the Tennessee Valley)
The headline sky event of 2026 will be a total lunar eclipse, and the Tennessee Valley sits near the eastern edge of the prime viewing corridor.
According to eclipse timing data, the Moon will enter Earth’s darkest shadow during the early morning hours Tuesday, March 3. Viewers in Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Huntsville, Decatur, Florence, Bowling Green, and Paducah are expected to see most — and in many locations all — of totality, including a noticeable deep red “Blood Moon.”
Unlike coastal regions, the Moon will remain comfortably above the horizon across much of the Tennessee Valley during peak moments, allowing for longer viewing and better visibility.
👉 Lunar eclipses are safe to view without special glasses.
🌞 August 12, 2026 — Solar Eclipse (Partial in the Tennessee Valley)
A major total solar eclipse will cross Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain later in the year. Across the Tennessee Valley, the event will appear only as a partial solar eclipse.
During the late morning hours, the Sun will look slightly obscured across Tennessee, Alabama, and Kentucky. 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 the Tennessee Valley, though only modest shadowing of the Moon is expected.
🧭 Tennessee Valley Eclipse Takeaway
- ⭐ Best local event: March 3 total lunar eclipse
- 👀 Viewing quality: Strong — better than Southeast Coast, just east of peak
- ☀️ Solar eclipse: Partial only
