Total Solar Eclipse of August 2, 2027

Totality crosses southern Spain and Gibraltar, northern Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, central Egypt including Luxor, then southwestern Saudi Arabia and Yemen. A partial eclipse covers most of Europe, Africa, the Middle East and western Asia.

This is the eclipse of the decade by duration: totality near Luxor lasts longer than any land totality since 1991, and August in upper Egypt is about as close to a guaranteed clear sky as eclipse chasing gets.

Where the shadow goes

The shadow makes landfall near the Strait of Gibraltar, runs along the North African coast, then cuts east-southeast across central Egypt, crossing the Nile valley at Luxor, where the ancient monuments sit almost exactly on the center line. It crosses the Red Sea to Jeddah and Mecca, sweeps over southwestern Saudi Arabia and Yemen, clips the northeastern tip of Somalia, and leaves Earth over the Indian Ocean.

For an interactive map of the track, and your own distance from the center line, open our Eclipse Explorer.

Timeline at the point of greatest eclipse

These contact times apply at the single point where the eclipse is deepest; along the rest of the track they shift by minutes to hours. The location panel below computes them for your own coordinates.

Central durations here are computed at the point of greatest eclipse with the engine's standard solar and lunar radii; published limb-corrected path maxima can differ by a few seconds.

What a total solar eclipse is

In a total solar eclipse the Moon covers the whole face of the Sun. Along a narrow track called the path of totality, day turns briefly to deep twilight, the brightest stars and planets come out, and the Sun's corona, its outer atmosphere, hangs visibly around the black disk of the Moon. Outside the path, observers see only a partial eclipse, which is interesting but not remotely the same event.

Eye safety is not optional

Looking at the Sun without proper protection damages the retina painlessly and permanently. For every partial phase of a solar eclipse, and for the whole of an annular eclipse, you need eclipse glasses that meet the ISO 12312-2 standard, or a pinhole projector, or a solar filter fitted to the FRONT of any binoculars or telescope. Sunglasses, smoked glass, exposed film and stacked filters are not safe, no matter how dark.

The single exception: during the minutes of totality in a total solar eclipse, when the Moon completely covers the Sun, it is safe and unforgettable to look with the naked eye. The instant the first sliver of Sun returns, the glasses go back on.

Frequently asked questions

When is the total solar eclipse of August 2027?

Greatest eclipse comes on August 2, 2027 at 10:06 UTC. What you see, and when, depends on where you stand; use the location panel on this page for your own local timeline.

Where will the August 2027 solar eclipse be visible?

Totality crosses southern Spain and Gibraltar, northern Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, central Egypt including Luxor, then southwestern Saudi Arabia and Yemen. A partial eclipse covers most of Europe, Africa, the Middle East and western Asia.

Do I need eclipse glasses for this eclipse?

Yes, for every partial phase. Only during the minutes of totality, with the Sun completely hidden inside the path, is it safe to look without protection. Outside the path of totality, protection is required the whole time.

What is a Saros series?

Eclipses repeat in families called Saros series: 6,585.3 days (about 18 years 11 days) after any eclipse, the Sun, Moon and lunar nodes return to nearly the same geometry and produce a near-copy shifted a third of the way around Earth. This eclipse belongs to Saros series 136. Our Saros cycle profile explains the whole mechanism.

Keep exploring: the Eclipse Explorer for any date and location, our Saros cycle profile for why eclipses repeat, and how eclipses work from first principles.