The total solar eclipse happens today—here’s what you need to know
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A total solar eclipse occurred on August 12, 2026, making it the first such event visible from parts of mainland Europe in nearly three decades. Those living in northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, the North Atlantic, northern Spain, and a small area of Portugal witnessed the moon passing directly in front of the sun, blocking its light.
The moon's shadow raced across Earth at thousands of kilometers per hour, casting a shadow that stretched from northern Siberia to Spain and Portugal. The eclipse began in northern Siberia and progressed across the globe, reaching its peak in Iceland where totality lasted two minutes and 18 seconds. As the moon covered the sun, observers witnessed strange phenomena like sharp shadows, the appearance of stars and planets in the dimming sky, and the emergence of the sun's corona, typically hidden by its glare.
The eclipse concluded with the moon's shadow receding, and the celestial show gave way to the Perseid meteor shower.
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