Rare Total Solar Eclipse to Grace Europe on August 12, 2026
On August 12, 2026, a rare total solar eclipse will occur, marking mainland Europe’s first such event since 1999. The Moon will align perfectly between Earth and the Sun, casting a shadow along a narrow path of totality stretching over 5,000 miles from northeastern Russia to the Balearic Islands. Key locations for viewing include Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain, where observers within the 180-mile-wide band of totality will witness the Moon completely block the Sun, revealing its glowing corona. Outside this path, only a partial eclipse will be visible. The event will last a maximum of two minutes and 18 seconds, with the longest viewing time occurring over the ocean near Iceland. Timing will vary by location, with Greenland experiencing the eclipse in the afternoon, Iceland later in the day, and Spain closer to sunset. 
