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The total solar eclipse on Aug. 12 will reveal something nobody has ever seen before
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"If you were to see a total eclipse during solar maximum, the solar corona looks almost like a five-pointed cartoon star," said French.
Not solar maximum — but not quietThe 2026 eclipse will not occur at solar maximum.
(Image credit: Getty Images)A comparison with past eclipsesA useful comparison may be the total solar eclipses near the previous solar maximum.
They're often mistaken for solar flares by beginners, such as after the 2024 total solar eclipse .
The 2019 total solar eclipse on July 2, 2019, just before the last solar minimum in December 2019.