Total Solar Eclipse Crosses Europe, Spain and Portugal on Aug 12 2024

A total solar eclipse will occur on August 12 2024, with the narrow path of totality passing over the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain and the northeastern coast of Portugal. Observers in Greenland can expect just over two minutes of total darkness, while those in northern Spain may see only about 20 seconds, depending on weather. The same eclipse will be visible as a partial event across much of Europe, North Africa and North America.

The phenomenon marks the first total eclipse visible from continental Spain since 1905 and the first one to be seen across mainland Europe in two decades. The European Space Agency (ESA) will provide a live webcast from its Javalambre Astronomical Observatory in Spain for those outside the umbral path. Safety guidelines advise using proper eclipse glasses or filtered optical devices, as looking directly at the Sun can cause eye damage. Scientists plan to use the event to study the solar corona and conduct experiments reminiscent of the historic 1919 eclipse that confirmed Einstein’s theory of general relativity.