Total Solar Eclipse on August 2, 2027
On August 2, 2027 the new moon slides in front of the Sun — with up to 6 minutes 23 seconds of totality, the longest of the 21st century whose maximum lies over land. The umbral shadow travels from southern Spain across North Africa to the Arabian Peninsula; most of Europe experiences the event as a partial eclipse.
- Date: Monday, August 2, 2027
- Type: Total solar eclipse (new moon in front of the Sun)
- Maximum totality: 6 min 23 s — the longest over land in the 21st century
- Maximum: Upper Egypt, near Luxor (global maximum at 10:07 UTC)
- Total in: southern Spain, northern Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Somalia
- Partial in: most of Europe, Africa and the Middle East — roughly a third to half of the Sun covered in central Europe, more towards the south; not visible from North America
Data sources: NASA/EclipseWise, timeanddate, Wikipedia (as of July 2026). Coverage figures = fraction of the solar disk covered, rounded.
Where and When Is the Eclipse Total?
The path of totality begins over the eastern Atlantic and reaches Europe and Africa at the Strait of Gibraltar: southern Spain (including Cádiz and Málaga) and northern Morocco lie in the umbra. From there the shadow crosses Algeria, Tunisia and Libya into Egypt — near Luxor, totality lasts around 6 minutes 22 seconds, close to the absolute maximum. The path then crosses the Red Sea towards Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Somalia. The umbral shadow is up to about 258 km wide — unusually broad.
| Region | Visibility | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Spain (Cádiz, Málaga) | total | The most accessible zone of totality for travellers from Europe. |
| North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya) | total | Long totality and statistically excellent chances of clear skies. |
| Egypt (Luxor) | total | Close to the maximum: about 6 min 22 s of totality above the temples of Thebes. |
| Arabian Peninsula (Saudi Arabia, Yemen), Somalia | total | The final stretch over land — afterwards the shadow runs into the Indian Ocean. |
| Rest of Europe, Africa, Middle East | partial | The further south, the deeper the eclipse: from roughly 28% coverage on the Baltic coast to ~50% in Munich and ~61% in the southern Alps; smaller fractions in the UK and Scandinavia. Not visible from North America. |
The global maximum occurs at 10:07 UTC over Upper Egypt. Across Europe the partial phase plays out in the late morning — exact contact times vary by a few minutes depending on your location.
The Moon's Role: Why a Solar Eclipse Is a New-Moon Event
A solar eclipse can only happen at new moon — only then does the Moon stand between Earth and Sun. The reason there is no eclipse every month is the lunar orbit: it is tilted by about 5.1° against the plane of Earth's orbit (the ecliptic). Most months, the new moon therefore passes just above or below the Sun. Only when a new moon happens near one of the two orbital nodes — the points where the lunar orbit crosses the ecliptic — does its shadow strike the Earth.
On August 2, 2027 everything comes together: the Moon is only a few hours from perigee (its closest point to Earth) and appears especially large. The Sun, a few weeks after aphelion (Earth's farthest point from the Sun, in early July), still appears comparatively small. A large Moon in front of a small Sun casts a broad umbra — and that produces the exceptionally long totality.
How new moon, orbital tilt and illumination geometry fit together can be explored interactively in the moon phases simulator — including a top-down view of the Sun–Earth–Moon system and a view showing how the phases arise.
⚠︎ Watch Safely — This Is Non-Negotiable
Never look at the Sun without protection — not with the naked eye, and not through a camera, binoculars or a telescope. Even a few seconds can permanently damage the retina, without any pain to warn you.
- Only certified eclipse glasses that meet ISO 12312-2 or approved solar filters are safe — undamaged, and from reputable vendors.
- The partial phase (which is the entire eclipse across most of Europe) must never be watched without protection — the remaining solar crescent is exactly as dangerous as the full Sun.
- Sunglasses, smoked glass, CDs or rescue blankets are not protection.
- Binoculars, telescopes and camera lenses need a solar filter in front of the front lens — eclipse glasses behind the eyepiece are not enough.
- Only during complete totality — inside the narrow umbral path, never during a partial eclipse — may the filter be removed for those few minutes. The instant the first ray of sunlight returns: filter back on.
Travelling to the Path of Totality: Short & Practical
For observers coming from Europe, southern Spain (the Cádiz–Málaga area) is the easiest zone of totality to reach — well connected, familiar infrastructure, totality in the morning. The longest totality and the statistically best weather prospects are in Egypt (the Luxor area), with around 6 minutes 22 seconds under a usually cloudless summer sky. If you are planning the trip, book early: accommodation along the path is already in high demand for early August 2027. On site: pick a spot with a clear view of the Sun, bring eclipse glasses for everyone in your group, and experience totality with your own eyes instead of only through a camera viewfinder.
Frequently Asked Questions about the August 2, 2027 Eclipse
When exactly is the total solar eclipse of 2027?
On Monday, August 2, 2027. The global maximum of the eclipse occurs at 10:07 UTC over Upper Egypt. Across Europe the partial phase plays out in the late morning; exact contact times depend on your location.
Where is the 2027 eclipse total?
The path of totality begins over the eastern Atlantic, crosses the Strait of Gibraltar (southern Spain with Cádiz and Málaga, northern Morocco) and continues across Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt (Luxor) to Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Somalia.
Can I see the eclipse from the UK, Europe or North America?
Most of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East sees a partial eclipse — the further south, the larger the covered fraction of the Sun (roughly a third to half of the solar disk in central Europe, less in the UK and Scandinavia). The eclipse is not visible from North America. Certified eclipse glasses are mandatory for the entire partial phase.
Why does totality last so long in 2027?
The Moon is only a few hours from perigee (its closest point to Earth) on August 2, 2027 and appears especially large, while the Sun — a few weeks after aphelion in early July — appears comparatively small. The umbra is therefore broad, and totality, at up to 6 minutes 23 seconds, is the longest over land in the 21st century.
How do I watch the eclipse safely?
Never look at the Sun without protection — not with the naked eye, and not through a camera, binoculars or a telescope. Only certified eclipse glasses (ISO 12312-2) or approved solar filters in front of the optics are safe. This applies to the entire partial phase. Only during complete totality — inside the narrow umbral path — may the filter be removed briefly.
Which total solar eclipses come before and after 2027?
One year earlier, on August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse crosses Iceland and Spain and is visible as a partial eclipse across much of Europe. For North America, the next total solar eclipses after 2024 come on August 23, 2044 and August 12, 2045.
Continue with the Moon
The eclipse is a new-moon moment — everything else about the Moon lives here: the lunar calendar with all phases at a glance, the date of the next full moon, the new moon overview for 2027, tips for moon gazing — and the moon phases simulator, which shows the geometry behind phases and eclipses interactively.