Rare total solar eclipse crosses Europe and the Arctic

A rare total solar eclipse occurred on August 13, 2026, creating a major celestial event across parts of Europe, Russia, and the Arctic. The path of totality began in northern Siberia, passed through the Arctic Ocean and Iceland, and moved southward, while observers in the United Kingdom experienced a partial eclipse starting around 18:00 in Scotland and shortly before 18:20 on England's southern coast. The duration of the total phase was less than two minutes.

In Greece, the phenomenon was visible only from northwestern regions shortly before sunset. Corfu was identified as the prime observation spot within the country, though the solar disk coverage was minimal at approximately 2.3%. Millions of people observed the event, which experts highlighted as a significant opportunity for scientific study and public engagement. This eclipse stands out as one of the most significant celestial occurrences in Europe in nearly three decades, drawing attention due to the rarity of such astronomical alignments.