No need to worry—the world won’t go dark this weekend. Despite some online buzz about a long-lasting total solar eclipse happening soon, the real “eclipse of the century” is actually two years away.
On August 2, 2027, we’ll get to witness a spectacular total solar eclipse lasting up to 6 minutes and 23 seconds at its peak, according to NASA. This happens when the moon perfectly lines up between the Earth and the sun, casting a shadow and temporarily blocking the sun’s light. It will be one of the longest total solar eclipses in decades.
For some perspective, the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, lasted about 4 minutes and 28 seconds. The 1991 eclipse was even longer, at nearly 7 minutes. The 2027 event will be the longest eclipse of its kind until the year 2114, according to Space.com.
The path of this eclipse will cross parts of Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Sadly, most of the United States won’t get to see this spectacular show.
It’s also worth noting that the 2027 eclipse isn’t the very next total solar eclipse coming up. That will happen on August 12, 2026, and will be visible in places like Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia, and parts of Portugal.
So, where exactly will you be able to see the August 2, 2027 eclipse? The path of totality—the area where the sun is completely covered—will sweep across parts of:
- Spain
- Morocco
- Algeria
- Tunisia
- Gibraltar
- Libya
- Sudan
- Egypt
- Saudi Arabia
- Yemen
- Somalia
Other nearby regions in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East will see a partial eclipse.
If you’re in the U.S., don’t worry—you won’t miss everything. Parts of Maine will catch a glimpse of a partial solar eclipse early in the morning, between about 5:14 and 5:19 a.m. Eastern Time on that day.
So mark your calendar for 2027 if you want to catch one of the longest and most amazing solar eclipses of this century!
