Solar Eclipse 2026 Highlights: Solar eclipse stuns Europe — crowds in UK, Spain and Iceland left spellbound

NASA says the next Solar Eclipse is on February 6, 2027

Date: February 6, 2027

Type: Annular solar eclipse, also known as a “ring of fire” eclipse.

The space agency says parts of South America and Africa will experience the annular eclipse.

Countries in the path: Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria.

Partial eclipse: Large areas of South America, Africa and Antarctica will see a partial eclipse.

Oceans: Parts of the South Pacific and South Atlantic oceans will also experience the partial eclipse.

What makes it different: During an annular eclipse, the Moon does not completely cover the Sun, leaving a bright ring of sunlight visible around the Moon.

The period when the Moon completely blocked the Sun has come to an end across Spain.

Spain’s Balearic Islands were the final location to experience totality, briefly turning daytime skies into darkness.

Although totality is over, a partial solar eclipse will remain visible in some locations for roughly another hour.

The end of totality marks the final stage of the rare celestial event as the Moon continues moving across the Sun’s disk.

Skywatchers across Spain are witnessing the Moon completely cover the Sun during the rare total solar eclipse.

Weather conditions appear favourable across much of the country, allowing large crowds to witness the celestial spectacle.

Totality is expected to last around one to two minutes for most viewers in Spain.

Thousands of eclipse enthusiasts and tourists have gathered in locations along the path of totality to experience the rare event.

Spectacular images captured across the UK show the rare solar eclipse unfolding over cities and towns.

Photographers in London recorded striking views of the eclipse as the Moon moved across the Sun.

Stunning pictures from Birmingham captured the changing appearance of the Sun during the eclipse.

Viewers across Spain were expected to experience the total phase of the eclipse within the next 30 minutes.

Millions of foreign “astrotourists” have travelled to Spain, particularly rural villages in the northwest and centre along the path of totality.

Authorities hope the event can help ease pressure on Spain’s crowded Mediterranean beaches by encouraging visitors to explore inland areas.

Hotels and guesthouses in sparsely populated regions saw a sharp rise in bookings ahead of the eclipse.

The eclipse is expected to generate hundreds of millions of euros in tourist spending over the week, with foreign visitors accounting for most of the expenditure.

Totality has arrived in Iceland, briefly plunging parts of the country into darkness.

People in Reykjavík experienced a short period of totality, as the Moon completely blocked the Sun’s light.

Total darkness swept over Keflavik, about 50 km (30 miles) southwest of Reykjavik, at 5:47 pm (1747 GMT) during the total solar eclipse.

The total eclipse has now passed over Iceland and continued along its path.

Totality refers to the brief period when the Moon completely covers the Sun, creating temporary darkness during the daytime.

Millions of people gathered across Spain to witness a rare total solar eclipse, filling towns and cities along the eclipse path with spectators carrying lawn chairs, umbrellas and hats.

The eclipse was visible across a broad stretch of northern and central Spain, offering some of mainland Europe's best viewing conditions.

If you are not in a region where the rare total solar eclipse will be visible, you can still watch the celestial event online. NASA will livestream the eclipse from 1:15 pm EDT.

Where to watch the solar eclipse live?

NASA’s live broadcast will allow viewers around the world to follow the eclipse online. https://t.co/d6szYZ3wy3

Cloudy skies are threatening to spoil the view for people in Scotland hoping to watch the rare solar eclipse, with experts warning that visibility will depend on the thickness of the clouds.

The Whitelee Windfarm Visitor Centre in Eaglesham said it could not guarantee that visitors would be able to see the eclipse, BBC reported.

The partial solar eclipse has begun in Anchorage, Alaska, and is expected to peak at 8:27 am local time, with around 28% of the Sun covered, BBC reported.

The streets of typically quiet Spanish villages were clogged by skygazing tourists.

The Moon has begun moving across the Sun, marking the start of today’s total solar eclipse.

Here are some activities that are traditionally advised against during a solar eclipse, based on Vedic practices and guidance from Dr Jai Madaan, as per HT.

1. Avoid making important decisions

It is traditionally recommended to put off major career moves, signing crucial agreements or making significant financial investments until the eclipse has passed. According to astrological beliefs, an eclipse may affect clarity and judgment, potentially making it difficult to evaluate situations objectively.

Take some time to reflect rather than rushing into an important decision.

2. Avoid starting something new

Traditional Vedic practices advise against launching a business, taking up a major project or starting a new fitness or diet regimen during an eclipse. The period is considered better suited for introspection, reviewing existing plans and bringing things to a close than for new beginnings.

If you have a new venture in mind, use the eclipse period to plan and prepare before officially getting started.

The eclipse will last for less than two minutes in Spain, where the total eclipse will be visible shortly before sunset.

The total eclipse will last slightly longer in parts of Russia and Greenland, but the period of totality will still be under two and a half minutes.

The partial phases, which begin as the Moon moves across the Sun and end as it moves away, will last for around one hour and 45 minutes.

Spaniards rushed to buy specialized glasses to view a rare total solar eclipse Wednesday, as authorities warned people flocking to rural areas to avoid anything that could spark new wildfires.

Across a swath of northern and central Spain, millions of people will have some of mainland Europe's best views of the celestial spectacle. A sliver of Greenland and Iceland, too, will witness the spectacle, when the sun, moon and Earth align, briefly bringing parts of the planet into darkness.

(AP)

The scramble for protective glasses has reached fever pitch across Europe ahead of Wednesday's rare total solar eclipse, as pharmacies, opticians and other shops struggled to keep them in stock, AFP reported.

Millions of people gathered in Iceland and northern Spain to witness Europe's first total solar eclipse in 27 years on Wednesday, with Spanish officials warning people to avoid areas where a heatwave has raised the risk of wildfires, Reuters reported.

Observers across most of Europe, including the UK, Ireland, France and Italy, will see the Moon cover a significant portion of the Sun before sunset. Northwestern Africa will also see a deep partial eclipse. In North America, the eclipse will be partially visible from northern and eastern Canada, Alaska and the northern United States.

People queue to buy solar eclipse glasses outside the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, Britain,

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun. Depending on alignment, eclipses may be total, annular, hybrid, or partial.