Longest Land Eclipse in 100 Years Set to Cross Europe, Africa, and the Middle East
This rare eclipse will last up to six minutes and 23 seconds — more than double the average duration of most total eclipses, which usually last under three minutes. It's being hailed as a once-in-a-lifetime experience for skywatchers and astronomy lovers around the world.
What's Happening?
During a total solar eclipse, the Moon moves directly between the Earth and the Sun, casting a shadow and turning day briefly into night. What makes this one so special is its extraordinary length and wide visibility. Experts say it's the longest eclipse to be visible from land between the years 1991 and 2114.
Viewers in the eclipse's path will get an extended opportunity to see the Sun's corona — the outer atmosphere that's usually hidden — and feel the eerie calm of mid-day darkness.
Where You Can See It
The eclipse will begin over the Atlantic Ocean and sweep eastward across parts of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, before ending over the Indian Ocean.
Some of the best spots to view the eclipse include:
Southern Spain
Northern Morocco
Algeria, Tunisia, Libya
Central Egypt
Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen
Somalia
In cities like Luxor, Egypt, total darkness will last over six minutes — an ideal location thanks to its typically clear August skies.
Exact timing depends on location. For instance:
Southern Spain: Between 1:30 PM and 2:00 PM (CEST)
Libya and Egypt: Between 2:00 PM and 2:30 PM (EET)
Unfortunately, India will miss most of the show. Only parts of its far west might catch a faint glimpse of a partial eclipse around sunset.
Why This Eclipse is Unique
Several rare factors come together to make this eclipse extraordinary:
Earth will be at aphelion, its farthest point from the Sun, making the Sun appear slightly smaller.
At the same time, the Moon will be at perigee, its closest point to Earth, appearing larger than usual.
The eclipse path crosses close to the equator, causing the Moon's shadow to move slower and stretch the duration of totality.
In short, this is not just another eclipse — it's a spectacular display of cosmic timing. Whether you're a seasoned astronomer or a curious skywatcher, August 2, 2027, is a date worth circling on your calendar.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Insider
4 days ago
- Gulf Insider
Bahrain Skies To Dazzle With Rare Celestial Events
Astronomy enthusiasts in Bahrain are in for a spectacular treat, as multiple celestial phenomena are set to illuminate the night skies from the evening of Monday, August 11, until just before sunrise on Tuesday, August 12, 2025. The phenomena will be visible for 10 hours and 52 minutes, provided weather conditions allow for clear skies. Bahraini astronomer Ali Al-Hajri revealed that the rare astronomical sequence includes sightings of Mars, Saturn, the Moon, the Perseid meteor shower, and a striking conjunction of Venus and Jupiter — all in one night. The night will begin with the planet Mars appearing low on the western horizon shortly after sunset. Mars will be 95% illuminated and positioned at an altitude of 28 degrees, gradually descending as the evening progresses. The planet will be 325 million kilometers from Earth, and its light will take approximately 18 minutes and 4 seconds to reach observers. Later in the evening, stargazers will witness the Moon approaching Saturn in the eastern sky. Starting around 9:30 p.m., the two celestial bodies will be separated by approximately 10 degrees, drawing closer throughout the night. By sunrise on Tuesday, the Moon will be just 7 degrees and 27 minutes from Saturn. The Moon will be in a waning gibbous phase, 92.5% illuminated, and about 370,000 kilometers from Earth — its light reaching the planet in just over one second. Saturn, meanwhile, will be almost fully illuminated (99.9%) and located at a distance of 1.3 billion kilometers, with its light taking over one hour and 13 minutes to arrive.
Daily Tribune
4 days ago
- Daily Tribune
Bahrain skies to dazzle with rare celestial events
Astronomy enthusiasts in Bahrain are in for a spectacular treat, as multiple celestial phenomena are set to illuminate the night skies from the evening of Monday, August 11, until just before sunrise on Tuesday, August 12, 2025. The phenomena will be visible for 10 hours and 52 minutes, provided weather conditions allow for clear skies. Bahraini astronomer Ali Al-Hajri revealed that the rare astronomical sequence includes sightings of Mars, Saturn, the Moon, the Perseid meteor shower, and a striking conjunction of Venus and Jupiter — all in one night. The night will begin with the planet Mars appearing low on the western horizon shortly after sunset. Mars will be 95% illuminated and positioned at an altitude of 28 degrees, gradually descending as the evening progresses. The planet will be 325 million kilometers from Earth, and its light will take approximately 18 minutes and 4 seconds to reach observers. Later in the evening, stargazers will witness the Moon approaching Saturn in the eastern sky. Starting around 9:30 p.m., the two celestial bodies will be separated by approximately 10 degrees, drawing closer throughout the night. By sunrise on Tuesday, the Moon will be just 7 degrees and 27 minutes from Saturn. The Moon will be in a waning gibbous phase, 92.5% illuminated, and about 370,000 kilometers from Earth — its light reaching the planet in just over one second. Saturn, meanwhile, will be almost fully illuminated (99.9%) and located at a distance of 1.3 billion kilometers, with its light taking over one hour and 13 minutes to arrive.
Gulf Insider
22-07-2025
- Gulf Insider
Mark Your Calendar: Total Solar Eclipse To Stun Millions On August 2, 2027
On August 2, 2027, a rare total solar eclipse will sweep across parts of three continents, offering one of the longest periods of totality seen in over a century. Lasting up to six minutes and 23 seconds, this will be the longest eclipse visible from land between 1991 and 2114, making it a once-in-a-lifetime event for astronomers, skywatchers, and the general public alike. While most total eclipses last under three minutes, this extraordinary duration will allow for extended observation of the solar corona and a truly immersive spectacle for those positioned along its path. Where and when to watch The eclipse's path of totality — where the Moon will completely block the Sun — will begin over the Atlantic Ocean and move eastward. According to the shadow, approximately 258 kilometres wide, will pass over southern Spain, northern Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, central Egypt, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Somalia, before ending over the Indian Ocean near the Chagos Archipelago. Cities like Luxor in Egypt are expected to witness over six full minutes of total darkness. Ideal viewing locations include areas like Libya and Egypt, which typically enjoy clear and dry conditions in August — perfect for unobstructed views of the sky. Local eclipse timing varies. In southern Spain, totality is expected between 1:30pm and 2:00pm CEST. In Egypt and Libya, the peak will occur between 2:00pm and 2:30pm EET. India will largely miss the event, with only parts of its far western edge possibly seeing a faint partial eclipse near sunset. What makes this eclipse so special? Several rare astronomical factors align to make the 2027 eclipse stand out. At the time of the event, Earth will be near aphelion — its farthest point from the Sun — which causes the Sun to appear slightly smaller in the sky. Meanwhile, the Moon will be at perigee, its closest point to Earth, appearing slightly larger. Additionally, the eclipse's path runs near the equator. This causes the Moon's shadow to move more slowly across the surface of the Earth, contributing to the unusually long duration of totality. With over six minutes of totality and a broad viewing corridor across several countries, the 2027 total solar eclipse is set to be one of the century's most stunning astronomical events. Source Gulf News
