Total solar eclipse · 2 Aug 2027
Total solar eclipse of 2 August 2027: Spain, North Africa and Luxor
On Monday 2 August 2027 the Moon will completely cover the Sun along a path that starts in the Atlantic and crosses southern Spain, the Strait of Gibraltar, North Africa, Egypt and Arabia. EclipseWise calls it "an exceptionally long total eclipse". The Moon reached perigee only 0.2 days before the eclipse, so it looks unusually large in the sky. Totality lasts up to 6 minutes 23 seconds, and the path is about 258 km wide.
The path of totality
NASA lists the total eclipse as visible from Morocco, Spain, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Somalia, and the calculator also puts Tunisia's Sfax inside the path. A partial eclipse covers Africa, Europe, the Middle East and western and southern Asia. The umbra touches down in the Atlantic at 08:23 UT. Greatest eclipse is at 10:07 UT over Egypt (25°30′N, 33°11′E), east of the Nile near Luxor, with the Sun 82° high. The shadow leaves Earth in the Indian Ocean at 11:50 UT.
Times for key places
| Place | Totality (local time) | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Cádiz, Spain | 10:45:22–10:48:14 (CEST, UTC+2) | 2m52s |
| Tarifa, Spain | 10:45:05–10:49:43 (CEST) | 4m38s |
| Gibraltar | 10:45:31–10:49:58 (CEST) | 4m26s |
| Málaga, Spain | 10:48:06–10:49:57 (CEST) | 1m50s |
| Tangier, Morocco | 09:44:38–09:49:28 (UTC+1) | 4m50s |
| Oran, Algeria | 09:50:55–09:56:02 (UTC+1) | 5m07s |
| Sfax, Tunisia | 10:08:45–10:14:25 (UTC+1) | 5m39s |
| Benghazi, Libya | 10:27:48–10:33:57 (UTC+2) | 6m09s |
| Luxor, Egypt | 13:02:03–13:08:23 (UTC+3); 10:02–10:08 UT | 6m20s |
| Sohag, Egypt | 12:58:43–13:05:05 (UTC+3) | 6m22s |
| Qena, Egypt | 13:01:32–13:07:43 (UTC+3) | 6m10s |
| Marsa Alam, Egypt | 13:08:00–13:13:29 (UTC+3) | 5m29s |
| Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | 13:22:19–13:28:16 (UTC+3) | 5m57s |
| Mecca, Saudi Arabia | 13:23:59–13:29:08 (UTC+3) | 5m08s |
Egypt clock times assume summer time (UTC+3) in August 2027. UT times and durations are unaffected.
Some places just miss totality. Seville gets a 97.9% partial eclipse, and so do Aswan (99.6%) and Hurghada. If you're planning around one of them, drop a pin on the map to see how far you are from the edge.
Spain or Egypt?
In southern Spain totality comes in mid-morning with the Sun about 37–39° up. Durations range from under 2 minutes in Málaga to more than 4 minutes at Tarifa (4m38s) and Gibraltar (4m26s), closer to the centreline. In Egypt's Nile Valley the Sun is almost overhead, at about 81–82°, and totality lasts more than 6 minutes at Luxor, Sohag and Qena. The longest duration of all, 6m23s, is at 26°49′N 31°08′E, west of the Nile. In Egypt, plan for midsummer heat and big crowds around Luxor. In Spain, compare a central site like Tarifa with a city stay in Cádiz or Málaga. Remember that a site a few kilometres closer to the centreline can add a minute or more, which is why Tarifa beats Cádiz even though they are close together. Check each candidate spot on the map before you book flights and hotels.
How to watch safely
Wear ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses for every partial phase. Take them off only during totality, when the Sun is completely covered, and put them back on as soon as the first bright bead of sunlight returns. Fit cameras, binoculars and telescopes with proper solar filters.
FAQ
What time is the total solar eclipse on 2 August 2027?
Totality crosses southern Spain around 10:45–10:50 CEST, Morocco around 09:45 local time, and Luxor, Egypt from 13:02 to 13:08 local time (10:02–10:08 UT). Greatest eclipse is at 10:07 UT.
How long is totality in Luxor?
About 6 minutes 20 seconds in Luxor, close to the eclipse maximum of 6m23s.
Will Spain see the 2027 total eclipse?
Yes, the far south. Cádiz (2m52s), Tarifa (4m38s), Gibraltar (4m26s) and Málaga (1m50s) are inside the path. Seville is just outside and sees a 97.9% partial eclipse.
Is Aswan in the path of totality?
No. Aswan is just outside the path and sees a 99.6% partial eclipse. Luxor, Qena and Sohag are inside.
Why is the 2027 eclipse so long?
The Moon is near perigee, so it looks large, and over Egypt the Sun is almost overhead (82° at greatest eclipse). EclipseWise gives a magnitude of 1.079 and up to 6m23s of totality.
Drop a pin, search a city or use your location to see your own times and duration.
Sources: NASA GSFC and EclipseWise.