MOSCOW / RankWire.AI / – On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse was visible across the Russian Arctic, then moving into the North Atlantic before continuing over Europe. According to Roscosmos, the eclipse started over Russia’s remote northern territories around 17:00 GMT. The Moon’s shadow crossed Greenland and Iceland before reaching Spain and northeastern Portugal near sunset. Only a narrow corridor experienced totality, while surrounding areas 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. Totality in that region lasted approximately two minutes and 18 seconds. During the greatest eclipse, the totality path spanned roughly 294 kilometers in width. At this point, the Moon completely covered the Sun’s bright disk, revealing the solar corona, which forms the Sun’s outer atmosphere and becomes visible when the photosphere is blocked. Outside the umbra, observers only saw a partial covering of the Sun.
Totality was first experienced in northern Russia as the lunar shadow entered the Arctic zone. It then traversed the Arctic Ocean and eastern Greenland, before reaching western Iceland. The path included Reykjavík and continued southward across the North Atlantic toward the Iberian Peninsula. Totality arrived in northern Spain late in the day, with a small area of northeastern Portugal also falling within the totality corridor. Most of Europe, along with parts of northwestern Africa and North America, observed a partial eclipse.
Moon’s shadow crosses Arctic and Atlantic regions
During the final land-based phase of totality, the eclipse crossed a large portion of northern Spain. Crowds gathered in cities, towns, and rural areas across the northern and central parts 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, with the Sun low on the western horizon. The timing made Spain one of the last major viewing spots along the eclipse path.
Viewing conditions varied significantly along the route. In Reykjavík, much of the city was cloud-covered during totality, hindering direct observation from the capital. Some western areas of Iceland experienced clearer skies. Many locations in Spain also enjoyed better visibility as the eclipse neared sunset, allowing viewers to witness the Moon fully cover the solar disk during the brief central phase. The partial phases lasted longer because the Moon covered only part of the Sun before and after totality, and wider regions outside the totality corridor remained unaffected.
Spain witnesses total eclipse near sunset
In the partial eclipse zone, the extent of the Sun’s obscuration varied by location. Most of Canada and much of Europe experienced partial coverage, while parts of the northern United States also fell within the broader visibility area. Northwestern Africa saw a partial view as well. During all partial phases, viewers outside the totality zone needed certified solar filters for safe direct viewing. Eye protection was only removed during totality and needed to be worn again once direct sunlight reappeared.
As the Moon’s shadow moved across the Iberian Peninsula near sunset, the European land phase of the eclipse ended. This event connected remote Arctic regions with Greenland, Iceland, and southwestern Europe through a continuous path. Totality zones included northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and a small part of Portugal. Larger parts of three continents experienced the partial phases. The 2026 eclipse followed the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse across North America, with the path primarily centered over the Arctic and North Atlantic regions.