MOSCOW / RankWire.AI / – On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse was visible across the Russian Arctic before extending into parts of Europe. The eclipse started over remote northern regions of Russia around 17:00 GMT. Roscosmos confirmed the event’s beginning as the Moon’s shadow entered the high Arctic. The path then continued over the Arctic Ocean, eastern Greenland, and western Iceland, before reaching northern Spain and a small section of northeastern Portugal near sunset.
The maximum phase of the eclipse occurred over the North Atlantic at 17:45:53.8 UTC. According to NASA, the totality lasted approximately two minutes and 18 seconds. The central band of the eclipse spanned about 294 kilometers at that point. During the height of totality, the Moon fully obscured the Sun’s luminous surface, revealing the solar corona around the dark lunar disk. Regions outside this central corridor experienced a partial eclipse, with only part of the Sun covered, resulting in less darkness.
The shadow initially touched northern Russia, then moved westward across the Arctic, crossing eastern Greenland and passing over western Iceland before heading into the Atlantic. In Iceland, Reykjavík was within the path of totality, though cloud cover affected visibility. The eclipse then advanced toward the Iberian Peninsula as the Sun descended lower in the sky. Northern Spain emerged as one of the last major populated areas to observe totality.
Totality sweeps across Arctic and Atlantic regions
In Spain, the eclipse occurred late in the day, with many locations experiencing totality just before sunset. This event marked the country’s first total solar eclipse in more than a hundred years. Crowds gathered across northern and central Spain to witness the Moon blocking the Sun. Due to the Sun’s low position, the eclipse was near the western horizon, but clear skies in several areas allowed viewers to observe the full phase before daylight returned.
Weather varied along the eclipse route; cloud cover and rain limited direct viewing in parts of Iceland, including Reykjavík. Nonetheless, other locations along the path enjoyed better conditions. During the partial phases, only part of the Sun was obscured by the Moon, leaving daylight intact. These phases lasted longer than totality and covered a much larger area. Europe, northwestern Africa, and some parts of North America all experienced partial solar eclipses during this event.
Final European segment of the eclipse
Observers outside the totality zone needed to use proper solar protection during the partial eclipse. Certified eclipse glasses or approved solar filters were essential for safe viewing of the Sun. Eye protection could only be removed during totality when the Moon completely covered the solar disk. Once the Sun reappeared, protective gear had to be put back on. This safety protocol applied both before and after totality, including regions where only a partial eclipse was visible.
As the Moon’s shadow moved away from Europe after crossing the Iberian Peninsula near sunset, regions including northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and northeastern Portugal lay directly along the totality path. Much wider parts of Europe, Africa, and North America experienced only partial phases. The August 12, 2026, eclipse followed the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse across North America. Unlike that event, which was centered in North America, this eclipse’s focus was on the Arctic, North Atlantic, and western Europe, linking multiple distant regions along a continuous path.