The 2 August 2027 eclipse: up to 6 m 23 s of totality
On 2 August 2027 the Moon’s shadow runs from the Atlantic across southern Spain and North Africa, over Egypt and Saudi Arabia, to Somalia. At the best spot totality lasts 6 m 23 s, about 33 km from Abū Tīj in Egypt. Only the eclipse of 22 July 2009 had a longer central duration this century, and Wikipedia’s summary calls it the longest on easily accessible land in the 21st century. Luxor gets 6 m 21 s. In Spain the best is 4 m 48 s at Ceuta.
How to use the 2027 eclipse map
The dark band is the path of totality, where the Moon covers the Sun completely. The dashed amber line down its middle is the centre line. Outside the band you see a partial eclipse, and the labelled orange lines show how much of the Sun is covered. Tap anywhere on the map, search for a town or press Near me, and a card shows the type of eclipse, the share of the Sun covered, the local times and, inside the path, how long totality lasts.
Times are in the local time zone of the place you pick, on 2 August 2027, including summer time. Outside the path, the card says how far to travel, and in which direction, to reach totality.
The 2027 eclipse in numbers
- 6 m 23 slongest totality, reached at 10:00 UTC
- 15,205 kmlength of the path of totality on the ground
- 259 kmwidth of the path at its widest
- 10countries the path crosses
Where totality goes
From west to east the path crosses Gibraltar, Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Somalia. The longest totality we list in each country:
- Gibraltar: 4 m 27 s
- Spain: 4 m 48 s
- Morocco: 4 m 53 s
- Algeria: 5 m 30 s
- Tunisia: 5 m 43 s
- Libya: 6 m 09 s
- Egypt: 6 m 23 s
- Saudi Arabia: 6 m 11 s
- Yemen: 6 m 00 s
- Somalia: 5 m 28 s
Outside the path the eclipse is partial across Europe, most of Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia. At the far eastern edge, in places such as Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta and Singapore, the Sun sets before the eclipse is over.
Why this eclipse is so long
Three things add up. The Moon is within hours of its closest point to Earth, so it looks large and covers the Sun with room to spare. Earth is near the far end of its orbit, so the Sun looks a little smaller. And the shadow lands almost head-on: at greatest eclipse the Sun is 82° above the horizon, so the shadow is narrow and slow over the ground, while the spinning Earth carries you the same way the shadow travels. The result is a narrow path with minutes, not seconds, of darkness.
How it compares with Spain’s 2026 eclipse
Spain had its own total eclipse on 12 August 2026. That one came in the evening, with the Sun low in the sky, and EclipseWise lists the longest totality anywhere as 2 m 18 s, near Iceland. In 2027 the eclipse is in the morning: in Cadiz totality begins at 10:45 local time with the Sun 37° up, and the path takes in the far south of Spain, where Tarifa gets 4 m 39 s and Ceuta 4 m 48 s. Málaga sits near the edge of the path, with 1 m 51 s, while Sevilla stays just outside with 98.4% of the Sun covered.
Practical notes
Heat. August is hot in southern Spain and North Africa, and the partial phases last hours before totality, so you will wait in the open. In Cadiz the whole eclipse runs 09:40 to 11:59. Bring water, a hat and shade.
The Strait of Gibraltar. Tarifa, Gibraltar and Ceuta are all inside the path, and ferries cross the Strait between Spain and Africa, so expect crowds and book travel early. Where you stand matters: totality shortens quickly towards the edge of the path.
The far east of the path. In Somalia the eclipse comes in the afternoon: at El Dibir the maximum is at 14:02 local time, with the Sun still 56° high.
The biggest cities in the path of totality
These are the most populous places that see a total eclipse, with how long the Sun stays hidden.
- Jeddah (Saudi Arabia, 5 m 58 s)
- Sanaa (Yemen, 2 m 29 s)
- Makkah (Saudi Arabia, 5 m 04 s)
- Tangier (Morocco, 4 m 51 s)
- Oran (Algeria, 5 m 08 s)
- Benghazi (Libya, 6 m 09 s)
- Ta’if (Saudi Arabia, 3 m 48 s)
- Málaga (Spain, 1 m 51 s)
- Oujda (Morocco, 1 m 02 s)
- Assiut (Egypt, 6 m 06 s)
- Najrān (Saudi Arabia, 5 m 29 s)
- Esna (Egypt, 5 m 47 s)
Watching safely
Look at the Sun only through eclipse glasses or a handheld viewer that meets ISO 12312-2, except during the brief moment of totality. Read the eye safety guide.
Data and accuracy
Every time comes from the Besselian elements published by Fred Espenak on EclipseWise and NASA, worked through the standard local-circumstances method for each place and checked against EclipseWise’s own city tables. Times are for the centre of the Sun. We use a Delta T of 69.2 seconds, the measured value, where the published tables assume 72.8 seconds, so our times run about 3.6 seconds later than theirs. The Moon’s edge is uneven, which predictions ignore, so durations near the edge of the path are approximate.
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2027 total solar eclipse?
On Monday 2 August 2027. Greatest eclipse, when the Moon’s shadow passes closest to the centre of the Earth, is at 10:06 UTC over Egypt. In Spain totality arrives in the morning: in Cadiz it begins at 10:45 local time and lasts 2 m 54 s.
How long does totality last?
Up to 6 m 23 s at the best spot, in Egypt. In Spain the longest among the places on this site is 4 m 48 s at Ceuta; Tarifa gets 4 m 39 s, Gibraltar 4 m 27 s and Málaga, near the edge of the path, 1 m 51 s. The closer you are to the centre line, the longer it lasts.
Where can you see totality in 2027?
The path of totality crosses, from west to east, Gibraltar, Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Somalia. In Spain it clips the far south: Cadiz, Málaga, Tarifa, Algeciras, Ceuta and Melilla are inside it. Madrid, with 86.3% of the Sun covered, and Sevilla, with 98.4%, see a deep partial eclipse.
What time is the eclipse in my town?
Type your town into the search box on the map, or tap any point on it. The card gives the exact local time of first contact, totality (if you are in the path), maximum and last contact. Thousands of places have their own page with the full details.
Is it safe to look at the eclipse?
Only during totality, when the Sun is completely covered. At every other time you need eclipse glasses or a handheld viewer that meets the ISO 12312-2 standard, and you must never look through a camera, binoculars or a telescope without a proper solar filter on the front. The eye safety page has the details.
Why do your times differ from NASA’s by a few seconds?
We use a Delta T (the gap between the uniform time of the calculations and clock time based on Earth’s rotation) of 69.2 seconds, the value measured recently. The published tables assumed 72.8 seconds, so our times come out about 3.6 seconds later than EclipseWise’s. Predictions also treat the Moon as smooth, but its mountains and valleys can shift the contacts by a few seconds, and the length of totality by more near the edge of the path.
Will the UK see the eclipse?
Only as a partial eclipse. In London the maximum is at 10:00 local time, when the Moon covers 41.9% of the Sun.
What if it is cloudy on the day?
Clouds can hide the eclipse, and nobody can know months ahead. Watch the forecast in the days before, pick a spot with a clear view towards the Sun, and if you can, keep a backup site a few kilometres away.
Data credits: see all data sources and licences.