Iceland

Astrotourism

The August 12 eclipse in Iceland: where to stand, and the weather gamble

On August 12, 2026, the Moon’s shadow makes landfall in western Iceland before it reaches anywhere else you can practically stand on. It crosses the Westfjords, the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, the northern edge of Reykjavík, and the Reykjanes Peninsula, then leaves the island and heads for northern Spain. If you want the longest totality this eclipse offers on land, a hair over two minutes, and you want the Sun a comfortable 24° above the horizon instead of skimming the sea, Iceland is the place. The catch is the sky. Iceland in August is one of the harder clear-sky bets on the whole eclipse track, and pretending otherwise would be doing you a disservice. ...

Total solar eclipse showing the Sun's corona radiating outward from behind the Moon's dark silhouette

Celestial event

Europe's first total solar eclipse in 27 years arrives on August 12 — at sunset

On August 12, 2026, at 18:28 UT, the Moon’s shadow will touch down on the coast of Galicia in northwestern Spain. For about 1 minute 50 seconds in Oviedo — less in Bilbao, more in León — the Sun will disappear behind the Moon while sitting roughly 10° above the western horizon. It will be the first total solar eclipse visible from mainland Europe since August 11, 1999. Totality happens at sunset, during the Perseid meteor shower peak, under a new moon. For anyone in the path, the sequence is: watch the Sun vanish near the horizon, turn east, and count Perseids across a moonless sky all night. ...