A rare total solar eclipse kicked off on Wednesday, turning daytime into fleeting night in Russia’s distant Arctic before moving toward mainland Europe. Around 1700 GMT, the Moon blocked the Sun at Russia’s northernmost point, revealing only the bright corona and casting an eerie darkness. As the shadow traveled over Greenland and Iceland, anticipation grew in Spain, where the eclipse’s narrow path traced a diagonal line from the northwest Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean, expected to fade around 1830 GMT.
Tourists flocked to quiet villages across Spain, marking the first total eclipse seen in four decades, and the first in over a century for many regions. Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital, hasn’t experienced a total solar eclipse since 1433.
Yenny Guevera, a 50-year-old Peruvian living in France, expressed excitement, saying, “It’s the first and last time I’ll ever see an eclipse.” Mercedes Bua, a 51-year-old engineer in Colmenar Viejo, north of Madrid, shared her enthusiasm: “I enjoy light and painting, so I’m eager to see what it looks like.”
Demand for special eclipse glasses soared, as millions across Europe, Canada, northern U.S., and northwest Africa will witness a partial eclipse.
Eclipses have long inspired awe, fear, and reverence, as they seem to momentarily disrupt the natural order. During the event, the Sun’s shadow — or “umbra” — causes a peculiar twilight, dropping temperatures, casting unusual shadows, and prompting animals to rest. The partial eclipse, where the Moon begins and ends crossing the Sun’s disk, lasts about an hour and 45 minutes.
British solar physicist Lucie Green, traveling to observe the eclipse from a boat near Mallorca, called it “a moving experience.” Both NASA and the European Space Agency will livestream the event, offering scientists a rare opportunity to study the Sun’s atmosphere and magnetic field, shedding light on solar winds and related phenomena.
Weather conditions might impact the viewing in Iceland’s northwest, with rain threatening to obscure the spectacle. Saevar Helgi Bragason, an astronomer in Reykjavik, admitted to AFP that he feels “both excitement and heartbreak” due to the forecast. Still, he hopes the skies will clear just enough for him to witness perhaps the briefest, most stunning, and memorable night of his life from his home.
In contrast, Spain’s weather looks promising with clear skies, though high temperatures and wildfire risks remain concerns. The country’s excitement is supported by government estimates projecting nearly 450,000 extra visitors, potentially boosting the economy by approximately 347 million euros ($400 million). Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska announced that nearly 25,000 police officers are on duty to ensure safety.
Graham Jones, a British astrophysicist and science communicator, highlighted that Spain’s narrow totality path—only a few hundred kilometers wide—is a unique aspect of this eclipse. “That’s what makes Spain special. The totality essentially crosses the entire Iberian Peninsula,” he said.
Another total eclipse will sweep across southern Spain and northern Africa in August 2027, with an annular eclipse — featuring a “ring of fire” where the Moon doesn’t fully cover the Sun — set to visit the Iberian Peninsula in 2028.