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Europe Readies for Aug. 12, 2026 Total Solar Eclipse Crossing Iceland and Spain

The event marks the first return of the Moon’s umbra to mainland Europe since 2006.

Overview

  • Astronomers map a path of totality from the Arctic across the North Atlantic and eastern Greenland, grazing Iceland before sweeping the Iberian Peninsula and ending over the western Mediterranean.
  • Most of Central Europe will experience a deep partial eclipse, with coverage near 92% in Switzerland’s Valais, about 89% in Munich, and roughly 84% on Germany’s Rügen island.
  • On the Balearic Islands the shadow reaches Mallorca and Ibiza only at sunset with very brief totality, whereas Spain’s Basque Country and Asturias offer better viewing prospects.
  • A partial lunar eclipse follows on the night of Aug. 27–28, peaking around 6:12–6:13 a.m. summer time with the Moon about 93.5% inside Earth’s umbra.
  • In Germany’s Lusatia region, the DZA and DKJS plan a thematic year to engage young people around the eclipse, with Germany not due for another total solar eclipse until September 2081.