Total solar eclipse to cross Europe and Russia on Aug 12

A total solar eclipse will sweep across parts of the Northern Hemisphere on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, offering a brief but dramatic astronomical spectacle for millions. The path of totality, where the moon completely obscures the sun, will first touch land in a remote region of northern Russia before crossing Greenland, Iceland, and then Spain and the northeastern tip of Portugal. For observers outside this narrow band, a deep partial eclipse will be visible across most of Europe, Canada, the northern United States, and northwest Africa.

The total eclipse will be fleeting, lasting under two and a half minutes at any given location. In Spain, cities like Burgos will experience totality for just one minute and 48 seconds shortly before sunset. The event will be preceded and followed by a partial eclipse phase lasting roughly one hour and 45 minutes. NASA and other experts emphasize that viewing any part of the eclipse directly without proper eye protection is dangerous and can cause permanent vision damage. They recommend using only eclipse glasses that meet the ISO 12312-2 safety standard.

In the United Kingdom, which lies outside the path of totality, observers will witness a...