The short version: mark August 2, 2027 now
If you watched the August 12, 2026 eclipse — or just read about it — this is the sequel, and it is a bigger one. The 2026 shadow crossed the North Atlantic for a two-minute show at sunset; the 2027 shadow spends more than six minutes over land, across countries where tens of millions of people live. Sky & Telescope called it, one year out, the eclipse worth planning for.
Why 2027 is the eclipse of the century
The headline number is 6 minutes 23 seconds — the longest totality of the 21st century visible from land. (The absolute century record, 6 minutes 39 seconds in July 2009, happened mostly over the open Pacific.) No eclipse with a longer totality touches land again until July 5, 2114, so for anyone standing on solid ground, this is the show of a lifetime.
Why so long? Three things align in 2027: the Moon sits near perigee, so it appears larger and covers the Sun more completely; Earth is near aphelion, making the Sun appear slightly smaller; and the shadow travels at a comparatively slow speed near the equator. Long totality, over land, in daylight, with excellent weather odds — that combination is why eclipse chasers are already booking.
There is also a pleasing irony for Spain: the country sees its second total eclipse in under a year — the August 2026 one at sunset in the north, and now another in the south, high in the late-morning sky.
Where the shadow lands: a path across the Arab world
The Moon's umbra touches the Atlantic west of Gibraltar, then races across southern Spain and Gibraltar, the Strait of Gibraltar, Tangier in Morocco, northern Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and into Egypt near the Mediterranean — Alexandria sits close to the centreline — before crossing Luxor and the Red Sea into Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Somalia, departing over the Indian Ocean. At its widest the path is roughly 260 kilometres across; around 89 million people live inside the track across ten countries.
Totality duration grows as the shadow moves east: about 4 minutes 20 seconds in southern Spain, rising through Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia (over 5 minutes), past 5 minutes 40 seconds near Alexandria, to the 6 minutes 23 seconds maximum around Luxor. Everywhere else — most of Europe, Africa, and South Asia — sees a partial eclipse, with the Sun more deeply bitten the closer you are to the centreline.
What the day looks like from inside the path
From about 60–80 minutes before totality, the Moon begins taking a bite out of the Sun through your eclipse glasses. Daylight fades slowly at first, then fast; the sky takes on a strange metallic dusk, the temperature drops, birds fall quiet, and stars and planets appear in a blue-black sky. Then the corona blazes around a black disc — and with six minutes on the clock, you have time to look, and to look again.
Astronomers point out that in Egypt, where the Sun climbs highest, totality shows the greatest number of stars and planets visible during any eclipse you are likely to see. The trade-off is August heat: parts of Egypt and Libya regularly pass 40°C, and dust or haze can soften the view more than clouds do. Tunisia, with over five minutes of totality, lower temperatures, and strong clear-sky odds, is the comfort pick — and far less crowded than Spain or Luxor.
One year out is the time to plan
You have roughly a year — the right amount of time to choose a destination without panic. A rough decision tree:
- Spain and Gibraltar: easiest travel, full eclipse at a comfortable 45-degree altitude, but the shortest land totality and a real risk of coastal cloud or a dusty pall from the Sahara.
- Morocco and Algeria: longer totality (4½–5 minutes), excellent clear-sky odds inland, with Tangier on the path; Algeria sits near the centreline for nearly five minutes.
- Tunisia: more than 5 minutes of totality, mature tourism infrastructure, and among the best weather statistics on the whole track.
- Egypt (Alexandria or Luxor): the maximum show — nearly 6 minutes near Alexandria, 6 minutes 20+ around Luxor — but intense August heat, and dust rather than cloud as the main risk.
Two honest caveats before you book. First, several countries on the path carry official travel advisories — check your own government's guidance, and plan entry requirements well ahead. Second, astronomy equipment gets extra scrutiny at customs in some of these countries; large telescopes, mounts, and professional gear may need permits arranged in advance, while standard cameras and binoculars are generally fine. For most people, the plan that works is simple: certified glasses, a camera you know, and a location you can reach comfortably.
Plan the whole trip offline with SIMT
Eclipse destinations — desert roads, river valleys, remote coasts — are exactly where signal disappears. SIMT computes everything on the device, so the numbers are identical with full signal or none:
- Know the exact local time — open the Sun and its sky details show the next eclipse, its type, and peak time for your saved location, alongside live azimuth, elevation, and rise-and-set.
- Rehearse the geometry — open the Orrery and scrub the time slider to August 2, 2027 to watch the Sun, Earth, and Moon slide into line.
- Scout the direction in advance — use the Sun's live azimuth to find a viewpoint with a clean, unobstructed view in the right quarter of the sky.
- On the day, point, don't search — the compass gives you the bearing to the Sun, and Iris, the AR view, paints it onto the camera feed; tap to calibrate alignment and it locks on.
The year-long checklist
- Now: mark August 2, 2027; decide between Spain (ease), Tunisia (comfort), or Egypt (maximum duration).
- Now: check your government's travel advice for the countries on the path, and your passport and visa needs.
- Months out: book accommodation on the centreline — along the path, being on the right side of a 260 km strip is the whole game.
- Months out: buy certified ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses for everyone, and a solar filter for any camera, binoculars, or telescope.
- A month out: open the Sun in SIMT for your chosen location and rehearse the local times; use the Orrery to review the geometry.
- On the day: use the compass or Iris AR to lock onto the Sun at first contact, and be in position early — totality waits for no one.
Get SIMT — free on Google PlayYour offline companion for the August 2, 2027 eclipse: exact local times, the direction to look, the Orrery rehearsal, and a live AR view — no internet required.The longest totality on land this century is also one of the easiest to reach — a year of planning, one Monday morning in the desert, and six minutes you will retell for the rest of your life.
Always view the Sun through certified solar filters during all partial phases, everywhere outside the path of totality. Times, durations, and travel rules vary by location — verify your own local circumstances and official travel advice before you commit.
Questions answered in this guide
When exactly is the August 2, 2027 total solar eclipse?
On Monday, August 2, 2027. The shadow crosses the Atlantic in the morning, makes landfall in southern Spain and Morocco around late morning, and moves east across Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt through midday, then over the Red Sea into Saudi Arabia and Yemen in the early afternoon.
How long will totality last?
Up to 6 minutes 23 seconds near Luxor, Egypt — the longest total solar eclipse visible from land this century. It is shorter elsewhere: about 4 minutes 20 seconds in southern Spain, over 5 minutes across Tunisia, and nearly 6 minutes near Alexandria.
Where does the path of totality cross?
Southern Spain and Gibraltar, then Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt, then across the Red Sea into Saudi Arabia and Yemen, and finally Somalia before departing over the Indian Ocean. The path is about 260 km wide at its widest and covers roughly 89 million people across ten countries.
Why is the 2027 eclipse called the eclipse of the century?
Because it offers the longest totality visible from land in the 21st century. The only longer one this century, in July 2009 (6 minutes 39 seconds), occurred mostly over the Pacific Ocean. No eclipse with a longer totality touches land again until July 5, 2114.
Is this a sequel to the August 12, 2026 eclipse?
In a sense, yes. Both belong to the same family of long, central eclipses, and Spain sees its second total eclipse in under a year. But 2027 is the bigger event: 2026 offered about two minutes at sunset in the far north of Spain, while 2027 offers more than six minutes at midday in North Africa.
What will the Sun look like from Egypt?
The Sun climbs above 80 degrees in the sky over Egypt, so totality happens almost overhead — the geometry that shows the greatest number of stars and planets during totality. Expect intense August heat and possible dust or haze rather than cloud; go inland and away from the coast for the clearest sky.
Is it safe to look at the 2027 eclipse?
Only with proper protection. Use certified ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses or a solar filter for all partial phases, and never look at the Sun through unfiltered cameras, binoculars, or telescopes. The naked eye is safe only during the brief total phase, and only if you are inside the path of totality — glasses go back on the instant the Sun's edge reappears.
Does SIMT work offline for planning this trip?
Yes. SIMT computes eclipse times, the Sun's azimuth and elevation, and rise-and-set entirely on your device for your saved location. The Orrery rehearses the alignment, and on the day the compass or Iris AR points you at the Sun — all with no internet, ideal for the remote desert sites where the 2027 eclipse will be seen at its best.
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