Total solar eclipse to darken Spain for first time in over a century
UKPulse Health Desk
A total solar eclipse will cross mainland Spain on August 12, the first in more than 100 years, with maximum totality occurring off Iceland's west coast. A partial eclipse will be visible across much of Europe, North America and West Africa.
- Totality will last up to two minutes and 18 seconds, but by the time it reaches Spain it will have dwindled to about a minute.
- A partial eclipse will be visible as far away as Alaska and Siberia, with 94% coverage in Dublin and 83% in Oslo.
- The European Space Agency will host a live webcast from Spain's Astrophysical Observatory of Javalambre.
A total solar eclipse will bring daytime darkness to parts of the Iberian Peninsula, Greenland and Iceland on August 12, close to sunset. It is the first total solar eclipse to hit mainland Spain in more than 100 years.
Totality will last up to two minutes and 18 seconds, with maximum totality occurring off Iceland's west coast. By the time the moon's shadow reaches Portugal and Spain, totality will have reduced to about a minute, before ending in the Mediterranean.
A partial eclipse will be visible across a wide area, including Canada, the northern US, much of Europe and West Africa. Dublin will see 94% coverage, Oslo 83%, Montreal 18%, New York 9% and Norfolk, Virginia, 2%.
Special eclipse glasses are crucial, even if only a small part of the sun is covered.
The European Space Agency will host a live webcast from Spain's Astrophysical Observatory of Javalambre and a public celebration in Leon. NASA and the Virtual Telescope Project will also provide coverage.
Why this matters: This is the first total solar eclipse to cross mainland Spain in over a century, offering a rare viewing opportunity for millions of people across Europe and beyond.
What this means for you: If you are in the path of totality or a partial eclipse zone, use certified eclipse glasses to protect your eyes, even when the sun is mostly covered.