BETA
Chapter 1
How a total solar eclipse works
Chapter 2
Chasing the path of totality
Chapter 3
The ultimate viewing experience in Iceland
Chapter 4
Spain's spectacular low-horizon sunset
Chapter 5
Safe observation and citizen science
YOUR GOAL
Master of The 2026 total solar eclipse
Ch 2 · Chasing the path of totality
futura Test your knowledge on the dramatic sunset total solar eclipse in Spain on August 12, 2026. Discover where to watch this spectacular event.
futura Total Solar Eclipse 2026
Europe's first total eclipse since ninety-nine—(yes, ninety-nine!)
futura See where the peak of totality occurs in the ocean during the August 12, 2026 total solar eclipse in this educational infographic.
futura View the path of the August 12, 2026 total solar eclipse as it sweeps over the Greenland ice sheet. Plan your eclipse viewing experience.
Fun Fact
Supersonic shadow: The Moon's shadow will travel across the Earth at speeds exceeding 2,000 kilometers per hour during the 2026 eclipse.
Glossary
totality (noun)
The state of being complete, or the period of total obscuration of a celestial body during an eclipse. On August 12, 2026, this complete darkness will sweep across Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain.
The state of being complete, or the period of total obscuration of a celestial body during an eclipse. On August 12, 2026, this complete darkness will sweep across Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain.
Quiz
Approximately how fast does the Moon's shadow travel as it crosses the Atlantic Ocean?
Quiz
Why does the shadow of the Moon travel at different speeds across the Earth's surface?
Quiz
Which massive ice-covered island does the 2026 eclipse path cross after leaving the Arctic?