Rare total solar eclipse on August 12 to be visible across Europe

Sky enthusiasts are in for a rare celestial spectacle. On August 12, a total solar eclipse will be visible from various parts of the world. This will be the first total solar eclipse visible globally since April 2024. After a long gap, the event will also be visible from mainland Europe, a sight not seen since 1999.

According to Greenwich Mean Time, the eclipse process is expected to begin at 3:34pm on Wednesday. The moon's shadow will then move rapidly across the Earth. The most spectacular phase of totality may last up to 2 minutes and 18 seconds in some regions, during which the moon will completely cover the sun's disk, plunging daytime skies into darkness.

The path of totality will begin from the Arctic region, passing over western Iceland, northeastern Portugal and northern Spain. The view will be best from several Spanish cities, including Leon, Burgos, Valladolid, Santander, Bilbao, Zaragoza, Valencia and Palma. In Spain, totality may begin around 8:27pm local time in the western part of the country, lasting up to approximately 110 seconds depending on location. Although Madrid and Barcelona will be outside the path of totality, more than 99 percent of the sun will appear covered from those cities.

Astronomers estimate that approximately 15 million people live within the path of totality, a large portion of whom are Spanish citizens. Beyond this, a partial eclipse will be visible across vast regions of the world. In total, an estimated 980 million people will have the opportunity to witness some phase of this cosmic event.

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, partially or fully blocking the sun's light. When the moon completely covers the sun's disk, it is called a total solar eclipse. Although the sun's diameter is about 400 times larger than the moon's, the sun is also about 400 times farther from the Earth, making them appear nearly the same size in the sky. This special geometric alignment makes total solar eclipses possible.

According to NASA, two to five solar eclipses occur on Earth each year, including partial, annular, total and hybrid types. However, witnessing a total solar eclipse from any specific location is extremely rare, which is why the August 12 event has already generated widespread interest among astronomers, skywatchers and the general public.