On Wednesday, millions of people across Europe will have the chance to experience their first total solar eclipse in 27 years. Starting at 15:34 GMT, the brightness of the daylight hours will gradually be interrupted as the moon begins to block the sun, eventually turning day into sudden night for about two minutes along the path of totality. Recommended stories list of 3 itemsend of list So which countries will see it? How do solar eclipses occur? Where and how can you watch it safely? In this visual explainer, Al Jazeera breaks down everything you need to know. What time is the solar eclipse? The time of the eclipse depends on where you are because the moon’s shadow will move across the Earth’s surface from the Arctic toward Europe. Here’s how Wednesday’s eclipse will play out: 15:34 GMT: The partial eclipse begins at the first place on Earth. 16:58 GMT: The total solar eclipse begins in the first place. 17:46 GMT: The eclipse reaches its maximum and its totality lasts approximately two minutes and 18 seconds near the center of its path. Around 17:48 GMT: The eclipse reaches its maximum in Reykjavik, Iceland. Around 18:27 GMT: Totality reaches Spain. 18:34 GMT: The total eclipse phase ends worldwide. 19:58 GMT: The partial eclipse ends at the last place on Earth. In this eight-photo composite, the Moon passes in front of the Sun toward totality and moves away again during a total eclipse in Bloomington, Indiana, on April 8, 2024. [Josh Edelson/AFP]What countries will see the eclipse? The path of totality, which is when the Moon orbits in front of the Sun and blocks its entire surface in front of the Earth, will cross northern Russia, Greenland and Iceland before passing through Spain and a small part of Portugal, causing almost total darkness for about 15 million people. A partial eclipse will be visible across much of Western Europe, parts of northwest Africa, most of Canada, and part of the northern United States. In total, around 980 million people, almost one in eight worldwide, could see the sun at least partially covered depending on weather conditions. (Al Jazeera) Will the eclipse be visible in Europe? Most of Europe should see a partial eclipse in the afternoon around sunset. In Paris, approximately 92 percent of the sun will be covered, in London 91 percent and in Berlin 85 percent. For most European cities further east, the sun will set before the eclipse reaches its peak, that is, the deepest part of the eclipse. will never appear in heaven. Will the eclipse be visible in the US and Canada? Yes, but only as a partial eclipse. In Canada, the northeastern city of St John’s, Newfoundland, will see about 53 per cent coverage, falling to 18 per cent in Montreal and 8 per cent in Toronto. In the US, parts of Alaska will see the country’s deepest eclipse with about 37 percent of the sun covered in Fairbanks and 28 percent in Anchorage. Coverage will be much lower in other parts of the US, about 24 percent in Bangor, Maine, 9 percent in New York and just 3 percent in Detroit, Michigan. A man looks at the sun during a solar eclipse at Augusta National Golf Club in the US state of Georgia on April 7, 2024. [Charlie Riedel/AP Photo]How long will the total solar eclipse last? At the time of maximum eclipse, totality will last approximately two minutes and 18 seconds. Duration will vary depending on exact location. In northern and eastern Spain, which will have excellent viewing opportunities, the cities of León, Valladolid, Zaragoza, Teruel and Valencia are located within the path of totality. Totality will begin at approximately 18:27 GMT in western Spain (8:27 pm local time) and will last up to 110 seconds, depending on the exact time. location.Madrid and Barcelona lie just outside this band, but observers there will still experience more than 99 percent solar coverage. What happens during a solar eclipse? A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, temporarily blocking some or all of the sun’s light. During a total solar eclipse, the moon completely covers the sun for those within the path of totality, briefly darkening the sky and revealing the sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the corona. (Al Jazeera) How to view a solar eclipse safelyWhile eclipses are a sight to behold, looking directly at the sun can cause serious eye injuries. During most of the eclipse, proper eye protection is essential. Here are some tips on what you should and shouldn’t do. Do: Wear certified eclipse glasses or use a safe portable solar viewer. Check glasses for scratches, breaks or damage before using them. Supervise children wearing eclipse glasses. During a total eclipse, remove eye protection only when the moon completely covers the sun. Put it back on as soon as the sun starts to reappear. Don’t: Wear regular sunglasses, regardless of how dark they are. They do not provide enough protection during totality. Look at the sun through a camera, binoculars, or telescope without a specialized solar filter. Use eclipse glasses with filterless cameras, binoculars, or telescopes. Concentrated sunlight can burn the filter and seriously damage your eyes. Can you watch a solar eclipse without glasses? There’s only one exception: During the brief period of totality when the moon completely blocks the bright side of the sun, it’s safe to watch without eclipse glasses. At all times outside of totality, eye protection is required throughout the eclipse. People watch a partial solar eclipse at Keele Observatory on March 29, 2025, in Keele, Staffordshire [Nathan Stirk/Getty Images]How to Take Photos Safely Pointing a camera directly at the sun can damage the sensor. To ensure the safety of the camera, it needs a suitable solar filter. During the couple of minutes when the sun is 100 percent covered, the filter is removed and you can shoot naked. The filter should be turned back on the instant the first drop of sunlight returns. A researcher at San Francisco’s Exploratorium museum carries out preparations for a live global broadcast of the August 12, 2026 total solar eclipse in the abandoned town of Villalibado, near Burgos, northern Spain, on August 10, 2026. [AFP]How can you watch the solar eclipse online? NASA will broadcast the solar eclipse live on Wednesday starting at 17:15 GMT. When will the next total solar eclipse be? The next total solar eclipse will be on August 2 of next year. It will cross southern Spain, northern Africa, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Use the widget below to see when the next eclipse will be in your city.
