Total solar eclipse of 2027 to feature exceptional duration

A rare total solar eclipse is scheduled to occur on August 2, 2027, and is expected to be one of the longest of the 21st century. NASA estimates the phase of totality could last up to 6 minutes and 22 seconds, particularly in areas like Luxor, Egypt, near the Valley of the Kings.

The path of totality will be approximately 250 to 258 kilometers wide, passing through southern Spain, Gibraltar, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and Yemen. During the event, the Moon will be at perigee, appearing larger in the sky, which facilitates the complete coverage of the Sun.

Observers within the path of totality will be able to see the solar corona, the Sun’s outer atmosphere, which is typically invisible due to intense sunlight. While the total eclipse is restricted to a narrow strip, a partial eclipse will be visible across much of Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.