Europe witnesses rare total solar eclipse

On August 12, day will briefly turn to night as Europe witnesses its first total solar eclipse in nearly 30 years. The path of totality will sweep from Greenland across Iceland to Spain, delivering a rare celestial spectacle to millions at the height of the summer tourist season

TOTAL ECLIPSE: Moon’s umbral shadow obscures Sun completely
MOON
Penumbra
Umbra
SUN
EARTH

Obscurity: 20%
80%
60%
40%

Start of partial eclipse

End of partial eclipse

Total eclipse
Begins 17:00GMT

Ends
18:33GMT

Max duration
2 min, 18 seconds

WHERE TO SEE TOTAL ECLIPSE IN SPAIN
Last total solar eclipse in Iberian Peninsula was in 1912

A Coruña
Totality begins 18:27GMT

Barcelona
Tarragona
Palma de Mallorca
Castelló
Zaragoza
Madrid
Santander
Bilbao
Lleida
Burgos
Gijón
León
Valladolid
Teruel
València
Totality begins 18:32GMT
SPAIN
FRANCE
PORTUGAL
ATLANTIC OCEAN
Mediterranean Sea
PATH OF TOTALITY
Path of totality
~1-2 minutes of darkness
100km
60 miles

WARNING!
Never look directly at eclipseAlways wear ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses during all partial and total phases

Do not use regular sunglasses, welder’s goggles, X-ray film, or any other non-certified eye protection

Sources: NASA, ESA, Xavier Jubier
Picture: Getty Images
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