MOSCOW / RankWire.AI / – On August 12, 2026, Roscosmos documented the occurrence of a total solar eclipse that moved across the Russian Arctic before heading towards Europe. The eclipse commenced over isolated northern parts of Russia at approximately 17:00 GMT. The agency noted that the event started as the Moon’s shadow entered the high Arctic. Its trajectory then carried it over the Arctic Ocean, eastern Greenland, and western Iceland, ultimately reaching northern Spain and a small section of northeastern Portugal near sunset.
Maximum coverage was achieved over the North Atlantic at 17:45:53.8 UTC. NASA estimated that the total phase lasted around two minutes and 18 seconds. The central line of the eclipse measured roughly 294 kilometers at that point. During the peak of totality, the Moon completely obscured the Sun’s luminous surface, revealing the solar corona around the dark lunar disk. Regions outside the core path experienced a partial eclipse instead of full darkness.
The shadow first reached northern Russia and then continued westward across the Arctic, crossing eastern Greenland before passing over western Iceland and moving into the Atlantic. Reykjavík was situated within the path of totality, although cloud cover affected visibility in the Icelandic capital. As the Sun descended lower in the sky, the eclipse progressed toward the Iberian Peninsula. Northern Spain became one of the last major populated zones to witness totality.
Totality shifts across Arctic and Atlantic regions
In Spain, the eclipse appeared late in the day, with many locations experiencing totality just before sunset. This event marked the country’s first total solar eclipse in over a hundred years. Crowds gathered across northern and central parts of Spain to observe the Moon’s passage over the Sun. Due to the Sun’s low position, the eclipse was visible near the western horizon. Clearer weather in several areas enabled viewers to observe the full phase before daylight reemerged.
Climatic conditions varied along the eclipse route. Cloud cover and rain limited direct observation in parts of Iceland, including Reykjavík. Conversely, other sites along the path enjoyed better visibility. During the partial phases, only part of the Sun was obscured by the Moon, leaving daylight intact. These phases lasted longer than totality and covered a wider region. Europe, northwestern Africa, and sections of North America experienced some degree of partial eclipse coverage.
Final European segment experiences totality
Observers outside the totality zone required proper solar eye protection during the partial eclipse phase. Certified eclipse glasses or approved solar filters were necessary to shield viewers from direct sunlight. Eye protection could only be removed during the total phase when the Moon entirely covered the Sun’s disk. As soon as the Sun’s light reappeared, protective gear had to be put back on. This safety protocol applied before and after totality, including areas where only a partial eclipse was visible.
The shadow of the Moon exited Europe after passing near sunset over the Iberian Peninsula. The totality route included northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and northeastern Portugal. Broader regions across Europe, Africa, and North America experienced partial phases. The August 12 event followed the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse over North America. Unlike that event, which was centered on North America, the 2026 eclipse focused on the Arctic, North Atlantic, and western Europe, connecting several distant areas along a continuous track.