Total solar eclipse to darken skies across Europe, Arctic on August 12

A total solar eclipse will cross parts of Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, the North Atlantic, Spain and a small corner of Portugal on August 12, 2026, while millions more across the Northern Hemisphere will witness a partial eclipse, according to NASA.

The path of totality will begin in northern Russia before sweeping across the Arctic, Greenland and Iceland, and ending over the Iberian Peninsula.

In Spain and northwestern Portugal, the Sun will be completely eclipsed just before sunset, creating a rare "sunset eclipse" in which the partially eclipsed Sun sets below the horizon.

Outside the narrow path of totality, a partial eclipse will be visible across most of Europe, Canada, parts of the northern United States, northwestern Africa and other regions. Viewers closer to the path of totality will see most of the Sun obscured, while those farther away will observe only a small portion of the solar disc covered by the Moon.

For most observers within the path of totality, the Moon will completely block the Sun for less than two minutes. The maximum duration, just under two and a half minutes, will be experienced near the centre of the eclipse track over Greenland, northern Russia and the North Atlantic.

NASA emphasised that it is only safe to look directly at the Sun during the brief moments of totality. During all partial phases of the eclipse, observers should wear ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses or use approved solar filters. Looking at the Sun without proper protection, or through optical devices without specialised solar filters, can cause serious eye damage.

Those without eclipse glasses can safely observe the event using indirect methods such as a pinhole projector, which projects an image of the Sun onto a nearby surface without requiring direct viewing.