MOSCOW / RankWire.AI / – On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse was visible across the Russian Arctic, then moving into the North Atlantic before reaching Europe. According to State Space Corporation Roscosmos, the eclipse originated over Russia’s remote northern areas around 17:00 GMT. The Moon’s shadow journeyed over Greenland and Iceland before arriving in Spain and northeastern Portugal near sunset. The total eclipse was confined to a narrow corridor, while surrounding regions across Europe, North America, and Africa experienced only a partial eclipse.
NASA estimates indicated that the peak of the eclipse occurred at 17:45:53.8 UTC over the North Atlantic. The duration of totality there was approximately two minutes and 18 seconds. At the moment of greatest eclipse, the totality path spanned roughly 294 kilometers across. During totality, the Moon entirely covered the Sun’s luminous disk, exposing the solar corona, which is the Sun’s outer atmosphere that becomes visible when the photosphere is blocked. Outside the umbra, observers saw only a partial covering of the Sun.
The initial totality was observed in northern Russia as the lunar shadow reached the Arctic zone. From there, it crossed the Arctic Ocean and eastern Greenland before reaching western Iceland. The path included Reykjavík and continued southward over the North Atlantic toward the Iberian Peninsula. Totality occurred late in the day for northern Spain, with a small region in northeastern Portugal also falling within the totality zone. Most of Europe, along with northwestern Africa and parts of North America, experienced a partial eclipse.
Moon’s shadow crosses Arctic and Atlantic
In the final stage of land-based totality, the eclipse traversed a large section of northern Spain. Crowds gathered in urban centers, towns, and rural areas across the northern and central regions of the country. This event marked Spain’s first total solar eclipse in over a century. In many locations, the Moon completely obscured the Sun just before sunset. The low solar elevation meant the darkened Sun was close to the western horizon, making Spain one of the last significant viewing zones in the eclipse path.
Viewing conditions varied sharply along the route. Cloud cover over Reykjavík during totality limited direct observation from the Icelandic capital, though some western parts of Iceland experienced clearer skies. In Spain, many sites had clearer skies as the eclipse neared sunset. Observers there witnessed the Moon fully covering the solar disk during the brief central phase. The partial phases lasted longer, with the Moon covering only part of the Sun before and after totality. Larger surrounding regions remained outside the totality corridor.
Spain witnesses total eclipse near sunset
Within the partial eclipse zone, the extent of the Sun covered by the Moon varied based on location. Most of Canada and much of Europe saw a partial solar eclipse, while some parts of northern United States also fell within the wider visibility area. Northwestern Africa experienced partial views as well. Observers outside the totality zone were required to use certified solar filters for safe direct viewing during all partial phases. These filters could be removed only during the brief moments of totality, and protection was needed again once direct sunlight resumed.
As the Moon’s shadow moved across the Iberian Peninsula near sunset, the partial eclipse phase concluded on European land. The eclipse established a continuous path connecting remote Arctic territory with Greenland, Iceland, and southwestern Europe. Totality was visible in northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and a small part of Portugal. Wider regions across three continents experienced partial coverage. This eclipse followed the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse in North America, with the 2026 event primarily centered over the Arctic and North Atlantic regions.