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First Total Solar Eclipse in Europe in 27 Years

Published January 1, 2026, 08:11

Europe is preparing to witness a total solar eclipse on March 29th, a phenomenon not seen on the European continent for 27 years, since August 1999. The eclipse will begin in northern Russia, cross the Arctic Ocean and Greenland, and reach its maximum off the coast of Iceland, before becoming visible in northern Spain, where the Moon will completely cover the Sun for about 1 minute and 50 seconds. In other parts of Europe, as well as in North America and western Africa, the eclipse will be visible as a partial one. In Greece, a very small partial eclipse is expected in some northwestern regions (Corfu, Igoumenitsa, Konitsa, Kastoria, Florina), but it will be practically unnoticeable. The last total eclipse in Spain was in 1905, and in Iceland in 1954. The next opportunity for a similar total eclipse in Europe will be on August 2nd, 2027, with the path of totality passing through Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. This eclipse offers a significant opportunity for scientists to study the solar corona, the outer atmosphere of the Sun, and better understand solar processes. Astrophysicist Fiori Metallinou from the National Observatory of Athens explains that studying the corona during an eclipse allows for the observation of its composition and the processes taking place within it, comparing the data with previous eclipses. Amateur and professional astronomers from Greece have already begun organizing trips to Spain to observe the phenomenon. Additionally, an annular solar eclipse is expected on February 17th, 2026, which will be visible in Antarctica and partially in South Africa.

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