Total Solar Eclipse to Cross Russia Greenland Iceland and Spain on August 12

A total solar eclipse will occur on 12 August as the moon passes between Earth and the sun blocking out sunlight along a path that begins in Russia and sweeps across parts of Europe and the Atlantic Ocean @NewScientist reported. Totality will start in Russia around midday local time then move eastward across the Arctic Ocean passing just south of the North Pole before reaching northeastern Greenland just after 4:00 pm local time.

The moon's shadow will travel along Greenland's eastern coast at more than 3400 kilometres per hour with the longest period of totality lasting about 2 minutes and 18 seconds.

The path will cross from Greenland into the Atlantic Ocean reach Iceland and become visible in Reykjavík for just over one minute at 5:48 pm local time. This marks the first total solar eclipse visible in Iceland since 1954 and the next will not occur there until 2196.

After crossing the Atlantic the eclipse will reach land again in northern Spain just before 8:30 pm local time grazing the northeast corner of Portugal and crossing the Balearic Islands before ending at sunset.

During totality daytime will transform into twilight temperatures on the ground will drop by several degrees stars will become visible and the sun's corona will appear to the naked eye. Eclipse glasses or a solar filter are required except during totality.

A partial eclipse lasting more than one hour will be visible across the northern US all of Canada much of Europe and northwestern Africa though the corona will remain hidden and light and temperature changes will be less pronounced.

Eye protection must be used throughout the partial phases.