Solar Eclipse 2027: The 'Eclipse of the Century' with the Longest Duration on Land

The upcoming total solar eclipse on August 2, 2027, will feature an astonishing totality duration, peaking at 6 minutes and 23 seconds and makes it the second-longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century.

The first longest eclipse happened in 2009, with a duration of 6 minutes and 39 seconds, but most of it crossed the Pacific Ocean.

The eclipse will happen approximately 2.5 hours before perigee, the Moon's closest point to Earth.

This condition causes the Moon's apparent diameter to increase, allowing it to completely cover the Sun for a longer period of time.

The eclipse's magnitude will be 1.079.

This long duration makes the 2027 solar eclipse highly anticipated by the scientific community and astronomy enthusiasts.

The path of totality for the 2027 solar eclipse will be vast, beginning in the eastern Atlantic Ocean before crossing over land.

The eclipse will cross the Strait of Gibraltar, touching southern Spain and Morocco.

From there, its path continues across North Africa, encompassing Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt, then moving into the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia and Yemen, before ending in Somalia.

Some of the major cities fortunate to be within the path of totality include Cadiz and Málaga in southern Spain, Gibraltar, Tangier in Morocco, Oran in Algeria, Sfax in Tunisia, Benghazi in Libya, and Luxor in central Egypt.

In the Middle East, cities like Jeddah and Mecca in southwestern Saudi Arabia, and Sana'a in western Yemen, will also experience total darkness.

Luxor, Egypt, in particular, is expected to be the best location, with the longest duration of totality and ideal weather conditions.

In addition to the path of totality, a partial solar eclipse will be visible over a much wider area.

This area includes most of continental Europe, nearly all of Africa, the Middle East, parts of South and Southeast Asia, as well as southern Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.

Even the eastern tip of Maine in the United States and parts of Canada will also witness a portion of this solar eclipse.

For observers planning to view the 2027 solar eclipse, weather conditions are crucial.

Some parts of the eclipse path, particularly over Libya and western Egypt, have historically had very low cloud cover in August and makes these areas ideal locations for clear viewing.

It is important to always prioritize eye safety when observing a solar eclipse, since looking directly at the Sun without proper protection is extremely dangerous and can cause permanent eye damage.

Only during the brief phase of totality, when the Moon completely covers the Sun's illuminated surface, is it safe to look directly without a filter.

Before and after totality, the only safe way to view the non-eclipsed or partially eclipsed Sun is through a special solar filter.

The use of "eclipse glasses" or a certified handheld solar viewer is highly recommended.

Avoid using homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, as they do not provide adequate protection for safe solar eclipse viewing.