Longest Solar Eclipse of the 21st Century to Darken Europe, Africa and the Middle East in August 2027

On 2 August 2027 a total solar eclipse will sweep across parts of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, offering the longest period of totality in the 21st century. The path of total darkness will stretch from the Atlantic Ocean, over Gibraltar, southern Spain and northern Africa, to the Indian Ocean. Areas where totality will be visible include Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Somalia. Near the Egyptian city of Luxor, the eclipse will reach its maximum, with total darkness lasting six minutes and 23 seconds – the longest total eclipse observable on easily accessible land since 1991. Astronomers note that the alignment of Earth, Moon and Sun will be nearly perfect, making the Moon appear larger and the Sun's disk slightly smaller. During totality, ambient temperatures can drop by about ten degrees, and stars and planets normally hidden by daylight will become visible. Scientists emphasize the rarity of such an event, with the next eclipse of comparable length not expected until 2114.