A significant celestial event will unfold on August 12, 2026, when the moon passes directly between Earth and the sun, creating a solar eclipse visible to hundreds of millions of people across multiple continents. The phenomenon will begin at 15:34 GMT, with the moon’s shadow traveling from the Arctic region through Greenland, Iceland, and Spain. Those fortunate enough to stand in the path of totality will experience complete darkness for up to two minutes and 18 seconds as the sun becomes completely obscured.
Approximately 15 million people living in Spain, Iceland, Greenland, Russia, and Portugal will witness totality, making this event particularly significant for mainland Europe, which has not experienced a total solar eclipse since 1999. Spanish cities including Leon, Valladolid, Zaragoza, Teruel, and Valencia sit squarely in the totality zone. Major population centers like Madrid and Barcelona will experience over 99 percent coverage, though they fall just outside the complete eclipse path.
The eclipse’s reach extends far beyond the totality zone. Nearly one billion people worldwide—roughly one in eight—will observe at least a partial eclipse. European cities including Paris, London, and Berlin will see between 85 and 92 percent of the sun covered, while North African locations will experience coverage exceeding 87 percent. In contrast, North America will witness only modest effects, with northeastern Canada seeing around 53 percent coverage and most United States locations experiencing minimal eclipse activity.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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