12 · 08 · 2026
Why 99.97% is not almost totality
The final fraction of visible Sun creates a discontinuity, not a gentle progression. At 99.97%, a sliver of the photosphere is still exposed. At 100%, direct photospheric light reaches zero.
Interactive mapA tiny solar sliver is still intensely bright
At 99.68%, 0.32% of the bright surface remains. At 99.97%, 0.03% remains—about 10.7 times less—but eye protection must still stay on and the corona does not appear.
Totality is a different phenomenon
At totality the bright solar surface is fully covered, daylight collapses, the corona can appear and observers inside the path may remove certified eclipse glasses only for the total phase.
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FAQ
Is 99.97% good enough?
It is an exceptionally deep partial eclipse, but it does not reproduce totality. If safely possible, move inside the path rather than stopping just outside it.