On August 12, a rare total solar eclipse will temporarily turn daylight into night across parts of northern Spain. During this event, the Moon will entirely obscure the Sun, creating a striking visual as it covers the Sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the corona. This will be the first time a total eclipse is visible from mainland Europe since 2006.
Eclipses occur when the Moon moves directly between the Sun and Earth, casting a narrow shadow. This alignment causes unusual phenomena: temperatures drop, shadows shift at odd angles, and some animals drift into sleep. Historically, ancient societies saw eclipses as ominous signs or messages from deities. According to NASA, however, these events are simply a “cosmic coincidence.” Despite the Sun being about 400 times larger than the Moon, it is roughly 400 times farther away, causing their apparent sizes to match from our perspective and allowing the Moon to completely cover the Sun for viewers in precise locations.
The eclipse’s starting point on August 12 will be a remote area of northern Russia, quickly followed by a path of totality crossing over Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and northeastern Portugal. In Spain, the total eclipse will pass roughly from Oviedo in the north to the island of Mallorca. Notably, some of the regions along the path have experienced severe wildfires recently, fires believed to have been worsened by climate change.
For observers in Spain, the total eclipse will last just under two minutes, occurring shortly before sunset. For example, Burgos will experience about one minute and 48 seconds of darkness. In Russia and Greenland, the eclipse will last slightly longer—up to around two and a half minutes—but still brief. Partial phases, which mark the start and end when the Moon begins and finishes crossing the Sun, will stretch roughly 1 hour and 45 minutes. These partial views will also be visible across most of Europe, North America, and northwest Africa.
While solar eclipses happen approximately once or twice a year, the narrow band of totality means that in some locations, an eclipse might not be visible for many centuries—up to 400 years in some cases. The next notable eclipse will occur on August 2, 2027, crossing southern Spain, North Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula with a totality lasting over six minutes. Longer eclipses aren’t expected until 2114. Spain will also see another eclipse on January 26, 2028, this time an annular eclipse, often called the “ring of fire,” traversing southern regions.
Viewing a solar eclipse safely requires eye protection. Directly looking at the Sun during an eclipse can cause serious eye damage or permanent vision loss. Experts advise using eclipse glasses that filter ultraviolet rays and meet the ISO 12312-2:2015 safety standard. Unlike pain receptors in the eyes that can detect damage, harm may only become apparent hours later. After the 2024 U.S. eclipse, there’s already been a noticeable spike in searches like “my eyes hurt,” underscoring the importance of proper eye safety.