Aug. 12 – On August 12, a total solar eclipse will cross western Europe and the Arctic, with totality beginning around 5:48 P.M. local time in Reykjavík and at about 7:30 P.M. local time over Ibiza, Spain for a live Scientific American stream.
The sky’s trick will happen fast, and that’s exactly what makes it so hard to miss. On August 12, the moon will pass directly between the Earth and the sun, blocking the sun’s light over a stretch of western Europe and the Arctic.
A total solar eclipse occurs about once every 18 months, and the last one on April 8, 2024 was visible across North America. Even so, it’s still rare for any one place on Earth to see totality. One estimate suggests a specific place will experience a total solar eclipse about once every 373 years.
This time, the eclipse will be most visible from northern Spain and Portugal, eastern Greenland, western Iceland, and the Russian and Canadian Arctic. Much of Europe will still see at least a partial eclipse.
Timing depends on where you stand. In Reykjavík, Iceland, the eclipse will start at approximately 5:48 P.M. local time, with totality lasting for around 2 minutes. In Valencia, Spain, it will begin at approximately 8:32 P.M. local time, with totality lasting for around one minute.
For viewers looking for strong viewing conditions. the forecast of sorts points to places like Zaragoza. Spain. and Segovia—described as a city about an hour from Madrid. On the Balearic island of Mallorca, Sant Elm is also singled out as a particularly good spot. If you plan to chase it in person. the message is blunt: popular sites are booking up fast. so reserve transportation and accommodations as soon as possible.
In Spain, the eclipse arrives right at sunset, which means many observers will need to look toward the horizon. Even if you’re not in the prime path, some people in Canada and the U.S. may still catch a partial eclipse; the U.S. will see its next total solar eclipse in 2044.
The one thing you cannot compromise on is eye safety. Whether you want totality or a partial view. wear eye protection such as solar eclipse viewing glasses or other solar filters. Even a moment of direct sunlight can damage eyesight, including when looking through a camera lens. A pinhole projector can also be used to view the eclipse indirectly.
For those who won’t be in Europe this summer, the livestream plan is already in motion. Scientific American will be on the ground and livestreaming the event from Ibiza, Spain. Subscribing to its YouTube channel is the way to make sure you don’t miss it. The eclipse begins over Ibiza at approximately 7:30 P.M. local time, which is 1:30 P.M. EDT.
If you’re standing somewhere under a widening shadow, it will feel like the sky is holding its breath. If you’re watching from elsewhere. the same brief turning of day into something stranger will still arrive—measured in minutes. guarded by proper filters. and designed to make people look up at the exact moment the universe shifts.
August 12 total solar eclipse livestream Ibiza Reykjavík eclipse time Valencia eclipse time solar eclipse viewing glasses partial eclipse Canada US Scientific American YouTube