A total solar eclipse crossed Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, Spain, and Portugal on Wednesday, Aug. 12 [1].
The event marked the first total solar eclipse visible from parts of mainland Europe in almost three decades [4]. Because of the path of the moon, the phenomenon allowed millions to witness the sun's corona, providing a rare opportunity for both scientific observation and public viewing across the Northern Hemisphere [3].
The eclipse occurred as the moon passed directly between the sun and Earth, covering the solar disc [5]. According to Business Insider, the event began at 11:34 a.m. ET, with the period of totality lasting up to approximately two minutes and 18 seconds [2].
While the path of totality was limited to specific regions, the reach of the event was vast. Scientific American reported that about one billion people experienced the eclipse, whether as a total or partial event [4]. In cities like Stockholm, Sweden, viewers observed a partial eclipse as the moon blocked a portion of the sun.
"A total solar eclipse is cutting a path across parts of Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, Spain and Portugal," CNN said [1].
Observers in the path of totality witnessed the sky darken completely for a short duration. CBS News said the event was the only total solar eclipse of 2026 [3]. The alignment of the celestial bodies created a narrow corridor of darkness that moved across the Atlantic and into Europe — a trajectory that drew crowds to viewing sites in Spain and Iceland.
Unlike the total eclipse, the partial eclipse visible across much of the rest of Europe did not require the moon to fully cover the sun. This allowed a wider geographic area to participate in the event, though only those within the specific path of totality experienced the complete disappearance of sunlight [1].
“The phenomenon began at 11:34 a.m. ET, with totality lasting up to about two minutes and 18 seconds.”
This eclipse is significant because of its rarity in mainland Europe, where total solar eclipses are infrequent. The high number of viewers—estimated at one billion—demonstrates the global scale of the event and the continued public interest in astronomical phenomena. For scientists, the duration of totality provides a critical window to study the solar corona, which is otherwise obscured by the sun's brightness.
