On August 2, 2027, the world will experience a rare celestial occurrence—a total solar eclipse that takes place only once every century. During this event, the moon will entirely obscure the sun, plunging significant areas of Earth into temporary darkness during daylight hours.
The most striking aspect of this eclipse is referred to as “totality,” when the moon fully covers the sun. In this instance, totality will endure for an impressive six minutes and 23 seconds, marking it as the longest solar eclipse since the one in 1991, as reported by Space.
This specific eclipse is dubbed the “Great North African Eclipse” due to its optimal visibility from North Africa. The prime location for viewing will be Luxor, Egypt, where observers can experience the longest duration of totality. Luxor promises one of the most stunning views of this extraordinary astronomical phenomenon.
Even for those not in Egypt, other areas will also provide excellent viewing opportunities. Much of North Africa and parts of Southern Europe—including Gibraltar—will fall within the path of totality. Although the duration of the eclipse will be shorter in Gibraltar, it remains a distinctive location to witness the initial landfall of the eclipse’s shadow.
In Europe, some of the finest locations to witness this total eclipse are in Southern Spain, particularly Tarifa and Cadiz, where viewers may enjoy up to 4 minutes and 39 seconds of total darkness, weather permitting.
What renders this eclipse particularly rare is a unique alignment of the Earth, Moon, and Sun that facilitates an extended period of totality. Following this 2027 event, the next similar total solar eclipse is not anticipated until 2114. For many individuals, this may represent a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—underscoring the importance of planning ahead to witness this remarkable spectacle.