MOSCOW / RankWire.AI / – On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse will pass over the Russian Arctic, before extending into the North Atlantic and further into Europe. State Space Corporation Roscosmos indicated that the eclipse starts over Russia’s remote northern areas around 17:00 GMT. The Moon’s shadow then moves across Greenland and Iceland, reaching Spain and northeastern Portugal near sunset. Totality is confined to a narrow corridor, while neighboring regions across Europe, North America, and Africa will experience a partial solar eclipse.
NASA estimates the peak of the eclipse at 17:45:53.8 UTC over the North Atlantic. There, the duration of totality lasts approximately two minutes and 18 seconds. During this maximum phase, the path of totality spans roughly 294 kilometers in width. At the moment of greatest eclipse, the Moon completely covers the Sun’s luminous disk, unveiling the solar corona— the Sun’s outer atmosphere visible only when the Moon blocks the photosphere. Outside the umbra, viewers observe only part of the Sun being obscured.
The initial totality occurs over northern Russia as the lunar shadow enters the Arctic zone. The shadow then crosses the Arctic Ocean and eastern Greenland before reaching western Iceland. The path includes Reykjavík and proceeds southward across the North Atlantic, heading toward the Iberian Peninsula. Late in the day, northern Spain experiences totality, while a small northeastern region of Portugal also falls within the totality corridor. The majority of Europe, along with northwestern Africa and parts of North America, witness a partial eclipse.
Moon’s shadow moves across Arctic and Atlantic regions
During the final land phase of totality, the eclipse crosses a vast area of northern Spain. People gather in cities, towns, and rural spots across the northern and central parts of the country. This event marks Spain’s first total solar eclipse in over a century. In many locations, the Moon fully covers the Sun just before sunset, with the low solar position placing the darkened Sun near the western horizon. This timing makes Spain one of the last major viewing sites within the eclipse’s path.
Conditions for viewing vary sharply along the route. In Reykjavík, much of the totality was obscured by clouds, limiting direct observation from the Icelandic capital. Some western parts of Iceland experienced clearer skies. Similarly, several locations in Spain had relatively clear conditions approaching sunset, allowing observers to witness the Moon entirely covering the solar disk during the central phase. Partial phases extended longer, with the Moon covering only part of the Sun before and after totality. Much wider areas outside the totality corridor remained in partial eclipse.
Total eclipse near sunset in Spain
In the partial eclipse zone, the extent of the Sun obscured by the Moon depended on location. Most of Canada and a significant part of Europe experienced partial coverage. The northern United States also fell within the broader visibility region, along with parts of northwestern Africa. Proper solar filters were essential for direct viewing outside the totality area during all partial phases. Observers could remove eye protection only during the full totality, resuming protection as soon as direct sunlight reappeared.
The European land phase concludes as the Moon’s shadow crosses the Iberian Peninsula near sunset. This eclipse links remote Arctic regions with Greenland, Iceland, and southwestern Europe along a continuous path. Inside the totality corridor are northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and a small part of Portugal. Broader regions across three continents observe the partial phases. The August 12 event follows the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse over North America, with the 2026 path mainly centered on the Arctic and North Atlantic.