MOSCOW / RankWire.AI / – On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse traversed the Russian Arctic before heading toward Europe. The eclipse commenced over the remote northern regions of Russia around 17:00 GMT. Roscosmos documented the beginning as the Moon’s shadow entered the high Arctic. The path then advanced over the Arctic Ocean, eastern Greenland, and western Iceland, eventually reaching northern Spain and a small section of northeastern Portugal near sunset.
The moment of greatest eclipse occurred over the North Atlantic at 17:45:53.8 UTC. According to NASA, maximum totality lasted approximately two minutes and 18 seconds. The central band measured about 294 kilometers across at that point. During totality, the Moon entirely obscured the Sun’s brilliant surface, revealing the solar corona around the dark lunar disk. Areas outside this central zone experienced a partial eclipse rather than complete darkness.
Initially, the shadow touched northern Russia and then moved westward across the Arctic. It crossed eastern Greenland, passed over western Iceland, and continued into the Atlantic Ocean. Reykjavík was within the path of totality, although cloud cover affected viewing conditions in the Icelandic capital. As the Sun lowered in the sky, the eclipse progressed toward the Iberian Peninsula. Northern Spain became one of the last significant populated regions to witness totality.
Totality passes over Arctic and Atlantic regions
Spain experienced the eclipse later in the day, with many locations witnessing totality just before sunset. This event marked the first total solar eclipse in over a hundred years for the country. Crowds gathered across northern and central Spain to observe the Moon covering the Sun. Because the Sun was low on the horizon, the eclipse appeared close to the western edge of the sky. Favorable weather in several parts of Spain allowed viewers to see the full event before daylight faded.
Weather varied along the eclipse’s route. Clouds and rain obstructed direct views from parts of Iceland, including Reykjavík. Meanwhile, other locations along the path enjoyed clearer conditions. During the partial phases, the Moon only covered part of the Sun, and daylight persisted. These phases lasted longer than totality and covered a much larger area. Europe, northwestern Africa, and parts of North America all experienced some degree of partial solar eclipse.
Final European phase arrives in Spain
Observers outside the totality zone needed to use appropriate solar protection throughout the partial eclipse. Certified eclipse glasses or approved solar filters shielded viewers from direct sunlight. Only during totality could viewers safely remove their eye protection when the Moon completely blocked the solar disk. Once the Sun reappeared, they had to put their protection back on. This safety rule applied before, during, and after totality, even in areas where only a partial eclipse was visible.
After crossing the Iberian Peninsula near sunset, the Moon’s shadow left Europe. The totality route included northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and northeastern Portugal. Larger parts of Europe, Africa, and North America experienced only the partial phase. The August 12, 2026, eclipse followed the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse across North America. Unlike that event, which centered on North America, the 2026 eclipse focused on the Arctic, North Atlantic, and western Europe, creating a continuous path linking distant regions.