A total solar eclipse is set to sweep across the Northern Hemisphere, briefly turning day into night along a narrow path that stretches from the Arctic through Iceland and down into northern Spain. As the Moon passes directly between Earth and the Sun, it will completely obscure the solar face for those positioned within the path of totality. Outside this specific band, a partial eclipse will be visible across much of Europe, northwestern Africa, and parts of North America.
According to NASA, the peak of the event will occur at approximately 17:46 UTC. The maximum duration of totality is expected to last 2 minutes and 18 seconds near 65 degrees north latitude in the North Atlantic, just west of Iceland. The path of totality, which reaches a maximum width of about 294 kilometres, will traverse remote regions of northern Russia and the Arctic, eastern Greenland, western and northern Iceland, the Atlantic Ocean, northern Spain, and a small portion of northeastern Portugal.
Cities anticipating totality include Reykjavik, Leon, Zaragoza, Bilbao, and Valencia, as well as areas of the Balearic Islands. In Spain, the phenomenon will occur low on the western horizon shortly before sunset. While nearly 1 billion people reside in regions where at least a partial eclipse may be visible, only about 15 million are located within the narrow path of totality. Coverage is expected to exceed 90 percent across much of western Europe, approaching 99 percent near Madrid and Barcelona, which sit just outside the total path.
This event marks the first total solar eclipse visible from mainland Europe since 1999 and the first to cross the Iberian Peninsula in over a century. For Iceland, it represents the only total eclipse the nation will experience this century. The event also aligns with the annual Perseid meteor shower, providing skywatchers with a secondary celestial spectacle overnight.
Total eclipses provide a unique opportunity to observe the Sun’s outer atmosphere, or corona, which is typically obscured by the Sun’s intense glare. Scientists plan to use this rare alignment to investigate solar activity that influences space weather on Earth. NASA-funded research teams intend to track the Moon’s shadow using a high-altitude research jet and scientific balloons launched from Iceland to measure how the sudden darkness impacts the atmosphere.
“From our unique perspective on Earth during a total solar eclipse, scientists can study the Sun’s corona in a way we can’t from anywhere else in the solar system,” said Kelly Korreck, the eclipse programme manager at NASA headquarters. She added that because the Sun influences daily life, satellites, and astronauts, the event serves as a vital moment to advance scientific understanding of that influence. Researcher Amir Caspi, who is involved in NASA’s eclipse studies, noted that every eclipse provides fresh data. “The Sun is always changing,” Caspi said. “Every eclipse is different. So we could see things we didn’t see before.”
Safety remains a primary concern for observers. Experts emphasize that looking directly at the Sun without certified eclipse glasses is dangerous, except during the brief window of 100 percent totality. Regular sunglasses are insufficient for protection. NASA recommends using glasses that meet the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard or employing indirect methods like a pinhole projector. During the brief seconds of full totality, when the Sun is completely covered, eye protection and camera filters can be safely removed to view or capture the glowing corona.
Photography enthusiasts are warned that pointing a smartphone or camera directly at the Sun during partial phases without protection can cause permanent sensor damage. To photograph the event, a spare ISO-certified solar filter or eclipse lens must be held over the camera lens throughout all partial phases. Telescopes and binoculars also require professional-grade solar filters to prevent equipment damage.
Iceland has prepared extensively for the event, with the Iceland Eclipse festival in Hellissandur on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula featuring live music and presentations from scientists and astronauts. Additionally, cruise operators have organized voyages along the Iceland-Spain corridor, and tourism authorities have released viewing guides as demand for local accommodations and rental vehicles has surged in recent months.
Source: TRT World
