On Monday 2 August 2027, the Moon will completely cover the Sun along a path from southern Spain across North Africa, Egypt and Arabia. Near Luxor in Egypt, day will turn to twilight for up to 6 minutes 23 seconds, one of the longest totalities of the 21st century. This total solar eclipse 2027 guide covers the path, local times, weather and how to watch it safely.
Key facts at a glance
| Type | Total solar eclipse |
|---|---|
| Date | 2 August 2027 |
| Greatest eclipse | 10:07 UTC, near Luxor, Egypt (25.5° N, 33.2° E) |
| Longest totality | 6 minutes 23 seconds |
| Path width | About 258 km |
| Magnitude | 1.079 |
| Totality visible from | Spain, Gibraltar, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Somaliland and Somalia |
| Partial eclipse from | Large parts of Europe, Africa and the Middle East |
Why this eclipse is special
A total eclipse needs the Moon to be close to Earth and the Earth to be near its farthest point from the Sun, which makes the Moon look as large as possible against a slightly smaller Sun. On 2 August 2027 both line up, and the shadow passes close to the equator, where it moves more slowly over the ground. The result is a very long totality over some of the sunniest places on Earth, including the Nile Valley in midsummer.
During totality the sky darkens, the temperature drops, bright planets and stars appear, and the Sun’s pearly outer atmosphere, the corona, becomes visible. It is the only time the corona can be seen with the naked eye.
The path of totality, country by country
Spain and Gibraltar
The shadow comes ashore in the late morning over the far south of Spain. Cádiz, Tarifa, Algeciras and Gibraltar see totality, with the longest durations, about 4½ minutes, right at the Strait of Gibraltar. Málaga lies near the northern edge and gets less than two minutes.
North Africa
Across the Strait, Tangier in Morocco sees nearly 5 minutes. The path then runs east over northern Algeria (Oran), central Tunisia (Sfax) and the Gulf of Sidra in Libya, where Benghazi gets just over 6 minutes.
Egypt, the centre of the eclipse
The shadow crosses the Western Desert and the Siwa Oasis, then reaches the Nile Valley at midday. Sohag and Luxor enjoy around 6 minutes 20 seconds of totality with the Sun high in the sky, close to the point of greatest eclipse. The Red Sea coast is also inside the path.
Arabia and the Horn of Africa
Over the Red Sea, totality reaches Jeddah and Mecca in Saudi Arabia, then Sana’a in Yemen, and ends over Somaliland and Somalia before the shadow leaves Earth over the Indian Ocean.
Local times in selected cities
Times are the moment of maximum totality in local time; totality is centred on this moment. The partial phases begin about an hour and a quarter earlier.
| Place | Maximum (local time) | Totality |
|---|---|---|
| Málaga, Spain | 10:48 CEST | 1 min 52 s |
| Cádiz, Spain | 10:45 CEST | 2 min 51 s |
| Tarifa, Spain | 10:45 CEST | 4 min 39 s |
| Gibraltar | 10:45 CEST | 4 min 25 s |
| Tangier, Morocco | 09:44 local | 4 min 50 s |
| Oran, Algeria | 09:50 CET | 5 min 6 s |
| Sfax, Tunisia | 10:08 CET | 5 min 41 s |
| Benghazi, Libya | 11:27 EET | 6 min 7 s |
| Siwa Oasis, Egypt | 12:42 EEST | 5 min 32 s |
| Sohag, Egypt | 12:58 EEST | 6 min 22 s |
| Luxor, Egypt | 13:02 EEST | 6 min 19 s |
| Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | 13:22 AST | 6 min 2 s |
| Mecca, Saudi Arabia | 13:23 AST | 5 min 10 s |
| Sana’a, Yemen | around 13:44 local | 2 min 12 s |
Just outside the path the eclipse is partial: about 94% of the Sun is covered in Cairo, 96% in Tunis and 99.7% in Algiers. Even 99% is very different from totality, so it is worth travelling into the path.
Weather and travel tips
Early August is the heart of the dry season across North Africa and Arabia, and the Nile Valley around Luxor and Aswan is one of the most reliably cloud-free places on the planet at that time of year. The main challenges are heat, often above 40 °C in Upper Egypt, and dust. Southern Spain and Gibraltar have a high chance of sunshine too, with the Sun about 37–38° above the eastern horizon during totality, though coastal haze or the Strait’s Levante wind can bring cloud. Hotels in Luxor, Tarifa and Tangier are already being booked, so plan early.
How to watch safely
- Use certified eclipse glasses (ISO 12312-2) for all the partial phases, before and after totality.
- Only during totality, when the Sun is completely covered and the corona is visible, can you take the glasses off. Put them back on as soon as the first bright bead of sunlight reappears.
- Outside the path, never remove your glasses. A 99% partial eclipse is still dangerous to look at.
- Binoculars, telescopes and cameras need a solar filter on the front for the partial phases.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see the 2 August 2027 eclipse from the UK, Europe or India?
Totality is only visible along the narrow path described above. Much of Europe, Africa and the Middle East will see a partial eclipse. Southern Spain and Gibraltar are the closest places in Europe for totality.
Where is the best place to watch?
For the longest totality and the best weather odds, the Nile Valley near Luxor and Sohag is hard to beat. For a shorter trip from Europe, Tarifa, Gibraltar and Tangier offer about 4½ to 5 minutes.
When is the next total solar eclipse after 2027?
The next one is on 22 July 2028, over Australia and New Zealand. See every upcoming date in our eclipse calendar.
Sources: NASA GSFC, Eclipses during 2027; Space.com, where the 2027 total eclipse will be visible; NASA, future eclipses. Local times are rounded predictions; check a local source closer to the date.