A total solar eclipse passed over parts of Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, the Atlantic Ocean, Spain, and a small corner of Portugal on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, as the Moon moved between the Sun and Earth and completely blocked the Sun's face. Millions of people across western Europe looked skyward to witness the event, according to The Atlantic.
Total Solar Eclipse Sweeps Across Parts of Europe, Atlantic, and Arctic on August 12, 2026
A total solar eclipse passed over parts of Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, the Atlantic Ocean, Spain, and a small corner of Portugal on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, as the Moon moved between the Sun and Earth and completely blocked the Sun's face. Millions of people across western Europe looked skyward to witness the event, according to The Atlantic.
According to NASA, a partial eclipse was also visible across parts of the United States, most of Canada, much of Europe, and northwest Africa during the event.
The totality phase — during which the Moon fully covers the Sun — was captured from multiple locations in Spain, including San Millán de los Caballeros and the Javalambre Astrophysical Observatory in Arcos de las Salinas, near Teruel. NASA credited photographer Bill Ingalls for imagery taken from San Millán de los Caballeros.
According to The Atlantic, observers also watched the eclipse from aboard the Ambassador cruise ship Ambition off the coast of Greenland. In Reykjavík, Iceland, the eclipse darkened the city under cloud cover.
The Atlantic's photo coverage showed people viewing the eclipse from a range of locations beyond the path of totality, including Munich's Olympiapark in Germany, Parliament Hill and King's Stairs Gardens in London, a beach in San Sebastian, and Dingli in Malta, with many wearing specialised protective glasses.
Scientists and astronomy enthusiasts gathered at the Galactica Centre near the Javalambre Astrophysical Observatory, according to The Atlantic. Amateur astrophotographers were also reported at Berlanga de Duero, Spain.
The eclipse coincided with the European Athletics Championships at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, England, where members of the public were observed watching the partial eclipse, and with a preseason match at Croke Park in Dublin, where stewards reportedly wore welding helmets to view it, according to The Atlantic.
Where sources differ
- NASA's headline describes the eclipse as crossing 'Parts of Europe, Atlantic, and Arctic,' while The Atlantic's headline characterises it as crossing 'Western Europe,' a narrower geographical framing. Both sources agree on the specific locations in the body of their coverage.
- None of the sources provide the precise duration of totality at any location.
- None of the sources report the width of the path of totality or the percentage of the Sun blocked at specific partial-eclipse locations.
- The sources do not detail any scientific observations or data collected during the eclipse.
- No information is provided about viewing conditions along the full path of totality, beyond the mention of cloud cover in Reykjavík.
- The sources do not report crowd attendance figures at any specific viewing location.
- NASA — original — by HQ Web Team
- The Atlantic — by Alan Taylor