MOSCOW / RankWire.AI / – On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse traversed the Russian Arctic before advancing toward Europe. The phenomenon began over remote northern parts of Russia around 17:00 GMT. Roscosmos reported that the Moon’s shadow entered the high Arctic at that time. The eclipse then continued its journey across the Arctic Ocean, eastern Greenland, and western Iceland. Later, it reached northern Spain and a small section of northeastern Portugal just before sunset.
The eclipse achieved its maximum phase over the North Atlantic at 17:45:53.8 UTC. Calculations by NASA indicated that the peak totality lasted approximately two minutes and 18 seconds. The central path spanned roughly 294 kilometers at that point. During totality, the Moon completely obscured the Sun’s luminous surface, revealing the solar corona around the dark lunar disk. Areas outside the core pathway experienced a partial eclipse rather than total darkness.
Initially, the shadow hit northern Russia and subsequently moved westward across the Arctic. It crossed eastern Greenland before passing over western Iceland and continuing into the Atlantic. Reykjavik was within the path of totality, although cloud cover affected visibility in the Icelandic capital. As the Sun descended lower in the sky, the eclipse moved toward the Iberian Peninsula, with northern Spain becoming one of the final major inhabited areas to experience totality.
Totality advances over Arctic and Atlantic zones
In Spain, the eclipse was visible late in the day, with totality occurring just before sunset in many locations. This event marked the nation’s first total solar eclipse in over a century. Crowds gathered in northern and central Spain to observe the Moon fully covering the Sun. Due to the Sun’s low position, the eclipse was close to the western horizon. Clearer skies in several Spanish regions enabled viewers to witness the complete phase before daylight reappeared.
Weather conditions varied along the eclipse route. In Iceland, clouds and rain hindered direct observation in places like Reykjavík. Nonetheless, some locations along the path experienced better visibility. During the partial phases, the Moon only obscured part of the Sun, allowing daylight to persist. These phases lasted longer than totality and spanned a much broader area. Europe, northwestern Africa, and parts of North America all encountered some degree of partial eclipse.
Final European segment of the eclipse during totality
Observers outside the totality corridor required proper solar protection throughout the partial phases. Certified eclipse glasses or approved solar filters safeguarded viewers from direct sunlight. Protection could be removed only during totality, when the Moon completely blocked the solar disk. As soon as sunlight reappeared, observers had to replace their filters. The same safety precautions applied before and after totality, even in regions experiencing only partial eclipses.
After crossing the Iberian Peninsula near sunset, the Moon’s shadow exited Europe. The route of totality included northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and northeastern Portugal. In contrast, larger parts of Europe, Africa, and North America observed only partial phases. This eclipse on August 12, 2026, followed the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse across North America. Unlike that event, which was centered over North America, the 2026 eclipse focused on the Arctic, North Atlantic, and western Europe, connecting several distant regions along a continuous path.