MOSCOW / RankWire.AI / – On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse swept across the Russian Arctic. From there, it advanced into the North Atlantic before heading toward Europe. State Space Corporation Roscosmos reported that the eclipse originated over Russia’s isolated northern zones at approximately 17:00 GMT. The Moon’s shadow moved across Greenland and Iceland prior to reaching Spain and northeastern Portugal near sunset. Totality was visible only along a narrow corridor. Surrounding areas across Europe, North America, and Africa experienced a partial solar eclipse.
NASA estimates placed the peak of the eclipse at 17:45:53.8 UTC over the North Atlantic. In that region, totality lasted roughly two minutes and 18 seconds. During the maximum phase, the path of totality spanned approximately 294 kilometers in width. The Moon completely concealed the Sun’s luminous disk during totality, revealing the solar corona— the Sun’s outer atmosphere that becomes visible when the Moon blocks the photosphere. Outside the umbra, observers saw only a partial coverage of the Sun.
Northern Russia was the first to experience totality as the lunar shadow entered the Arctic zone. The shadow then traversed the Arctic Ocean and eastern Greenland before reaching western Iceland. The path included Reykjavík and extended southward across the North Atlantic toward the Iberian Peninsula. In late day, northern Spain experienced totality, and a small part of northeastern Portugal also entered the totality corridor. Most of Europe, along with northwestern Africa and parts of North America, observed a partial eclipse.
Moon’s shadow crosses Arctic and Atlantic regions
During the final phase of totality, the eclipse crossed a broad section of northern Spain. Citizens gathered in cities, towns, and rural viewing sites throughout the northern and central areas. This event marked Spain’s first total solar eclipse in over a hundred years. In many locations, the Sun was fully covered just before sunset, with its darkened disk near the western horizon due to the low solar angle. This timing made Spain one of the last major viewing regions along the eclipse path.
Viewing conditions varied considerably along the route. In Reykjavík, much of the totality period was clouded out, limiting direct viewing from the Icelandic capital. Some western parts of Iceland experienced clearer skies. Many locations in Spain also enjoyed clearer weather as the eclipse neared sunset, allowing observers to witness the Moon completely obscuring the solar disk during the central phase. The partial phases extended longer, with the Moon covering only parts of the Sun before and after totality. Larger surrounding regions remained outside the totality zone.
Total eclipse observed near sunset in Spain
In the partial eclipse zones, the amount of Sun obscured varied by location. Most of Canada and a significant portion of Europe experienced partial coverage. Some parts of the northern United States also fell within the wider visibility area. Northwestern Africa saw a partial view as well. To view the eclipse safely during all partial phases, observers outside the totality zone needed certified solar filters. Only during totality could they remove their eye protection; they had to reapply it as soon as direct sunlight reappeared.
The land phase of the eclipse ended as the Moon’s shadow crossed the Iberian Peninsula near sunset. The event connected remote Arctic regions with Greenland, Iceland, and southwestern Europe in a continuous path. Inside the totality corridor were northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and a small section of Portugal. Broader regions across three continents experienced only the partial phases. This August 12 eclipse followed the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse across North America, with the 2026 event primarily centered over the Arctic and North Atlantic areas.