MOSCOW / RankWire.AI / – On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse was visible across the Russian Arctic before moving into the North Atlantic and heading toward 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 prior to reaching Spain and northeastern Portugal near sunset. The total eclipse was confined to a narrow corridor, while surrounding regions across Europe, North America, and Africa experienced a partial eclipse.
NASA estimates placed the maximum eclipse at 17:45:53.8 UTC over the North Atlantic. There, totality lasted approximately two minutes and 18 seconds. At the point of greatest eclipse, the totality path was about 294 kilometers in width. During this phase, the Moon completely obscured the Sun’s bright disk, unveiling the solar corona. The corona, which is the Sun’s outer atmosphere, becomes visible when the Moon blocks the photosphere. Outside the umbra, observers saw only part of the Sun covered.
Totality was first observed in northern Russia as the lunar shadow entered the Arctic zone. The shadow then traveled across the Arctic Ocean and eastern Greenland, before reaching western Iceland. The eclipse’s path included Reykjavík and extended southward across the North Atlantic toward the Iberian Peninsula. In late day, northern Spain experienced totality, and a small section of northeastern Portugal also entered the totality zone. Most of Europe, as well as parts of northwestern Africa and North America, observed a partial eclipse.
Moon’s shadow crosses Arctic and Atlantic regions
The final land-based phase of the total eclipse traversed northern Spain, drawing crowds 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 hundred years. In many locations, the Moon fully covered the Sun just before sunset, with the Sun near the western horizon due to the low solar angle. This timing made Spain one of the last major viewing sites along the eclipse’s path.
Viewing conditions varied significantly along the route. In Reykjavík, clouds obstructed much of the view during totality, limiting direct observation from the Icelandic capital. Western Iceland experienced clearer skies in some areas. Similarly, many Spanish locations had clearer skies as sunset approached, allowing observers to witness the Moon’s complete coverage of the solar disk during the brief total phase. The partial phases extended longer outside the totality corridor as the Moon only covered part of the Sun before and after totality. The broader surrounding regions remained outside the totality zone.
Spain witnesses sunset eclipse as totality occurs nearby
In the partial eclipse zone, the extent of the Sun covered by the Moon varied by location. Most of Canada and much of Europe experienced partial phases. Additionally, parts of the northern United States fell within the broader viewing area, as did portions of northwestern Africa. Observers outside the totality zone were required to use certified solar filters for safe direct viewing during all partial phases. Eye protection could only be removed during the brief moments of totality, and had to be resumed as soon as direct sunlight reappeared.
The European land phase concluded as the Moon’s shadow crossed the Iberian Peninsula near sunset. This eclipse connected the remote Arctic territory with Greenland, Iceland, and southwestern Europe in a continuous path. Countries within the totality corridor included northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and a small part of Portugal, while wider regions across three continents experienced only partial phases. The August 12 event followed the April 8, 2024 total eclipse across North America. The 2026 eclipse path was primarily focused on the Arctic and North Atlantic regions.