Solar Eclipse 

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Latest news on Solar Eclipse, covering the total eclipse over Spain, Iceland and Greenland, upcoming eclipse dates, path of totality maps and eclipse glasses.

A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun, briefly blocking its light. Eclipses fall into three types: total, when the Moon fully covers the Sun; annular, when a bright ring remains visible; and partial, when only part of the Sun is obscured. Their timing follows the Saros cycle, a repeating pattern that lets astronomers predict eclipses centuries in advance. A total eclipse is only visible from a narrow path of totality, while a much wider region experiences a partial eclipse.

A total solar eclipse took place on 12 August 2026, crossing the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland and the northern half of Spain, with a sliver of totality reaching northeast Portugal. Greatest eclipse fell at 17:47 UTC, with totality lasting up to two minutes and eighteen seconds, considerably shorter than the four minutes and twenty-eight seconds seen during the Great North American eclipse of April 2024. It was the first total solar eclipse visible from mainland Spain in more than a century, drawing large numbers of eclipse chasers to the region, while a partial eclipse was visible across much of Europe, North Africa, North America and the Arctic. Eclipse glasses or a solar filter were essential for safe viewing throughout, since looking directly at the Sun outside totality can cause permanent eye damage.

Solar eclipses have unsettled and fascinated people for thousands of years, inspiring stories across nearly every culture. Norse legend blamed sky wolves chasing down the Sun, while ancient Egyptians described the serpent Apep swallowing the sun god Ra. Hindu mythology tells of the demon Rahu pursuing the Sun in revenge, and Vietnamese folklore blames a giant frog. Many communities responded with noise and ritual, banging drums or pots to frighten the perceived threat away, a tradition echoed today in the excitement and shared awe of modern eclipse viewing.

The earliest confirmed eclipse records date back roughly 3,000 years, inscribed by Chinese astronomers on oracle bones, with some researchers pointing to even older Irish rock carvings. The word 'eclipse' comes from the Greek 'ekleipsis', meaning abandonment or disappearance. Babylonian astronomers first identified the cyclical nature of eclipses, laying the groundwork for the precise predictions used today. Total eclipses also give scientists a rare chance to study the Sun's outer atmosphere, or corona, which is normally hidden by its glare.

The next total solar eclipse falls on 2 August 2027, crossing Spain, North Africa, the Middle East and the Horn of Africa. It offers one of the longest periods of totality this century, exceeding six minutes in places, with an estimated 89 million people expected to witness it. An annular eclipse follows on 26 January 2028, tracking across Spain, Portugal and South America. A further total eclipse then sweeps across Australia and New Zealand on 22 July 2028, bringing nearly four minutes of totality to Sydney and the surrounding region.

Stay up to date with our Solar Eclipse feed for the latest eclipse dates, path of totality maps, viewing safety advice and coverage of upcoming total, partial and annular eclipses around the world.