MOSCOW / RankWire.AI / – On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse made its way across the Russian Arctic, then moved into the North Atlantic, before extending into Europe. According to State Space Corporation Roscosmos, the eclipse started over Russia’s remote northern territories around 17:00 GMT. The Moon’s shadow traversed Greenland and Iceland prior to reaching Spain and northeastern Portugal near sunset. The totality zone was confined to a narrow corridor, while surrounding areas across Europe, North America, and Africa experienced a partial solar eclipse.
NASA estimated the peak of the eclipse at 17:45:53.8 UTC over the North Atlantic. The duration of totality in that region was approximately two minutes and 18 seconds. At the moment of greatest eclipse, the totality path spanned about 294 kilometers across. During the eclipse’s maximum phase, the Moon fully covered the Sun’s bright disk, revealing the solar corona—the Sun’s outer atmosphere visible only when the Moon obscures the photosphere. Outside the umbra, viewers observed only a partial coverage of the Sun.
The initial totality was experienced in northern Russia as the lunar shadow entered the Arctic zone. It then crossed the Arctic Ocean and eastern Greenland, finally reaching western Iceland. The eclipse path included Reykjavík and extended southward across the North Atlantic toward the Iberian Peninsula. Late in the day, northern Spain experienced totality, 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, only observed a partial eclipse.
Moon’s shadow moves across Arctic and Atlantic regions
During the final land phase of totality, the eclipse crossed a large section of northern Spain. Spectators gathered in urban centers, towns, and rural viewing spots 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 blocked the Sun just before sunset, with the Sun near the western horizon due to its low position in the sky. This timing made Spain one of the last major viewing areas along the eclipse path.
Conditions for observation varied markedly along the route. Cloud cover obscured much of Reykjavík during totality, limiting direct views from the capital of Iceland. Some western parts of Iceland experienced clearer skies. Many Spanish locations also enjoyed clearer weather as sunset approached. Observers there observed the Moon fully covering the solar disk during the brief central phase, while partial phases lasted longer because only part of the Sun was covered before and after totality. Larger surrounding regions remained outside the totality corridor.
Spain witnesses total eclipse close to sunset
In the partial eclipse zones, the extent of the Sun covered by the Moon differed depending on the location. Most of Canada and much of Europe experienced a partial solar eclipse. Parts of the northern United States also fell within the broader visibility area, along with northwestern Africa. Spectators outside the totality zone were required to use certified solar filters for direct viewing during all partial phases. They could remove eye protection only during totality and needed to reapply it immediately afterward once direct sunlight reappeared.
The European land segment of the eclipse concluded as the Moon’s shadow crossed the Iberian Peninsula near sunset. This event linked the remote Arctic region with Greenland, Iceland, and southwestern Europe through a continuous eclipse path. The totality corridor included northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and a small part of Portugal. Broader regions across three continents experienced only the partial eclipse. The August 12 event followed the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse across North America. The 2026 eclipse’s trajectory predominantly centered over the Arctic and North Atlantic.