MOSCOW / RankWire.AI / – On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse traversed the Russian Arctic before advancing towards Europe. The phenomenon commenced over remote northern Russia at approximately 17:00 GMT. Roscosmos reported that the Moon’s shadow entered the high Arctic region as the event began. The eclipse pathway then continued across the Arctic Ocean, moved over eastern Greenland, and crossed western Iceland. Eventually, it reached northern Spain and a small section of northeastern Portugal near sunset.
At 17:45:53.8 UTC, the eclipse reached its maximum phase over the North Atlantic. NASA estimates indicated that totality lasted about two minutes and 18 seconds. The central track measured roughly 294 kilometers at its widest point. During this total phase, the Moon entirely obscured the Sun’s luminous surface, revealing the solar corona around the dark lunar disk. Outside the central zone, observers experienced a partial eclipse instead of complete darkness.
Initially, the shadow touched northern Russia and then moved westward across the Arctic region. It crossed eastern Greenland before passing over western Iceland and heading into the Atlantic Ocean. Reykjavík was within the totality zone, although cloud cover hampered viewing in the Icelandic capital. As the Sun lowered in the sky, the eclipse progressed toward the Iberian Peninsula, with northern Spain becoming one of the last major populated areas to witness totality.
Totality Transits Arctic and Atlantic Regions
In Spain, the eclipse occurred late in the day, with totality happening just before sunset in many locations. This event marked the first total solar eclipse in Spain in over a century. People gathered across northern and central parts of the country to observe the Moon covering the Sun. Due to the low position of the Sun, the eclipse was seen near the western horizon. Several Spanish regions experienced clearer skies, allowing viewers to witness the full phase before daylight returned.
Weather conditions varied along the eclipse path. Cloud and rain obscured direct views from some parts of Iceland, including Reykjavík. However, other locations along the route enjoyed better visibility. During the partial phases, the Moon covered only a portion of the Sun, allowing daylight to persist. These phases lasted longer than totality and extended over a wider area. Europe, northwestern Africa, and parts of North America experienced some level of partial eclipse.
Final European Phase of the Eclipse
Observers outside the totality corridor had to use appropriate solar protection throughout the partial phases. Certified eclipse glasses or approved solar filters were essential for safe viewing. Eyes could only be unprotected during totality, when the Moon completely covered the Sun’s surface. As soon as the Sun reemerged, viewers had to restore their protective measures. The same safety precautions applied before and after totality, including areas where only a partial eclipse was visible.
After crossing the Iberian Peninsula near sunset, the Moon’s shadow exited Europe, affecting regions such as northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and northeastern Portugal along its route of totality. Much larger areas across Europe, Africa, and North America experienced partial phases. The 2026 eclipse followed the April 8, 2024, total solar event across North America. Unlike that event, which centered on North America, this eclipse primarily focused on the Arctic, North Atlantic, and western Europe, connecting distant regions through a continuous path.