MOSCOW / RankWire.AI / – On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse traveled across the Russian Arctic before moving into the North Atlantic and onwards toward Europe. According to State Space Corporation Roscosmos, the eclipse initiated over Russia’s isolated northern territories at approximately 17:00 GMT. The shadow of the Moon advanced over Greenland and Iceland prior to reaching Spain and northeastern Portugal near sunset. Only a narrow strip experienced totality, while surrounding regions across Europe, North America, and Africa encountered a partial eclipse.
NASA estimates placed the peak of the eclipse at 17:45:53.8 UTC over the North Atlantic. The duration of totality there was roughly two minutes and 18 seconds. During this moment, the path of totality spanned approximately 294 kilometers across. The Moon entirely obscured the Sun’s luminous disk at this point, revealing the solar corona—the Sun’s outer atmosphere—visible only when the photosphere is blocked by the Moon. Viewers outside the umbra observed only partial coverage of the Sun.
Initially, the lunar shadow reached northern Russia as the eclipse’s total phase commenced in the Arctic zone. It then traversed the Arctic Ocean and eastern Greenland, advancing toward western Iceland. The route passed through Reykjavík and continued southward across the North Atlantic toward the Iberian Peninsula. Late in the day, northern Spain experienced totality, with a small section of northeastern Portugal also falling within the eclipse’s path. The majority of Europe, along with northwestern Africa and parts of North America, observed only partial phases.
Moon’s shadow crosses Arctic and Atlantic regions
During the final land-based segment of totality, the eclipse’s path crossed northern Spain. Crowds assembled in urban centers, towns, and rural sites across the country’s northern and central areas. This event marked Spain’s first total solar eclipse in more than a hundred years. In many spots, the Moon completely covered the Sun just before sunset, with the Sun’s darkened disk near the western horizon due to its low position in the sky. As a result, Spain became one of the last major viewing zones along the eclipse’s path.
Conditions for observation varied notably along the route. Much of Reykjavík was obscured by clouds during totality, hampering direct views from the Icelandic capital. Conversely, parts of western Iceland experienced clearer skies. Similar conditions occurred in Spain, where clearer skies allowed viewers to witness the Moon fully covering the solar disk during the brief central phase. Partial phases extended longer because the Moon only partially covered the Sun before and after totality. Larger surrounding regions remained outside the narrow totality corridor.
European and African regions observe partial eclipse stages
Across the partial eclipse zones, the extent of the Sun obscuration varied based on location. The majority of Canada and much of Europe experienced partial coverage. Some parts of the northern United States also lay within the broader visibility area. Northwestern Africa received partial views as well. To view the eclipse safely during partial phases, observers outside the totality zone required certified solar filters. They could remove eye protection only during totality, reapplying it as soon as direct sunlight reappeared.
As the lunar shadow crossed the Iberian Peninsula near sunset, the partial eclipse phase concluded on European land. The eclipse connected remote Arctic territory with Greenland, Iceland, and southwestern Europe through a continuous path. The totality corridor covered northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and a small part of Portugal. Broader regions across three continents experienced only partial phases. This event followed the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse over North America, with the 2026 eclipse’s path mainly focusing on the Arctic and North Atlantic regions.