"This is the first total solar eclipse visible from mainland Spain since 1905."
August 12, 2026: A Total Solar Eclipse Across the Arctic and Europe
A total solar eclipse is scheduled to occur on August 12, 2026. During the event, the moon will pass between the sun and Earth, fully blocking sunlight in some areas. The path of totality will span approximately 8,300 kilometers (5,157 miles), starting over the Arctic coastline and passing near the North Pole. A partial eclipse will be visible across parts of Europe, Africa, and North America.
Viewing Locations and Duration
- Totality will be visible in parts of Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain, and northeastern Portugal, weather permitting.
- The duration of totality will vary significantly by location: over two minutes in Greenland and approximately 20 seconds in northern Spain.
- The European Space Agency (ESA) will provide a livestream of totality from Spain's Astrophysical Observatory of Javalambre in Teruel.
Safety Information
Viewing the sun directly without specialized protection is unsafe, except during the brief period of totality.
- Observers are advised to use certified eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers that meet international safety standards. Regular sunglasses are insufficient.
- Optical devices, including cameras, telescopes, and binoculars, require solar filters and should not be used in conjunction with eclipse glasses.
Scientific Use
Scientists plan to use the eclipse for several research purposes:
- Studying the sun's corona.
- Replicating a 1919 experiment that confirmed Einstein's theory of general relativity by measuring how the sun's gravity bends light from distant stars.
- Launching high-altitude balloons to capture images of the eclipse and the lunar shadow.
- Citizen scientists are invited to build instruments to measure atmospheric changes during the event.
"This is the first of three solar eclipses that Spain is expected to experience by 2028."
Historical and Future Context
- This is the first total solar eclipse visible from mainland Spain since 1905.
- The event is the first of three solar eclipses that Spain is expected to experience by 2028, according to the European Space Agency. The last total solar eclipse observable from mainland Europe occurred in 2006.
Future total solar eclipses include:
- August 2, 2027: Visible from southern Spain, North Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen.
- March 30, 2033: Visible in Alaska (United States) only.
- August 22, 2044: Visible from North Dakota and Montana (contiguous United States).
- August 12, 2045: A coast-to-coast total solar eclipse visible from California to Florida.