What to know about the August total solar eclipse that will only be a partial event in Canada

A total solar eclipse in mid-August will be visible to people in Northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain and Portugal's northeastern tip. Photo by Brandon Bell /GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File

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Day will briefly turn into night across a swathe of northern Spain on August 12, when the Moon will completely cover the Sun during a rare total solar eclipse.

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Here is what you need to know about the total eclipse, which is the first visible in mainland Europe since 2006.

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What is an eclipse?

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Eclipses happen when the Moon passes directly between the Sun and Earth, casting a narrow band of shadow across our planet.

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Partial eclipses will also be visible in most of Europe, Canada, the northern US and northwest Africa. (Sanka Vidanagama/AFP/File) Photo by Sanka Vidanagama /AFP/File

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It creates a strange twilight during which temperatures drop, shadows appear at strange angles and some animals go to sleep.

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These odd phenomena convinced ancient cultures that eclipses were signs of the apocalypse — or messages from the gods.

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However, it is really the result of a “cosmic coincidence,” according to NASA.

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“Even though the Sun is about 400 times bigger than the Moon, it is also about 400 times farther away,” the US space agency says.

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This means that for people standing in the right spot, the Moon totally covers the Sun — revealing its outer atmosphere called the corona.

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Where can it be seen?

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On August 12, a remote region of northern Russia will be the first to see the total eclipse.

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Eclipses happen when the Moon passes directly between the Sun and Earth, casting a narrow band of shadow across our planet. (BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File) Photo by BRUCE BENNETT /GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File

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The “path of totality”, as it is known, will then cross over Greenland, Iceland, Spain and the northeastern tip of Portugal.

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In Spain, it will roughly move from the northern city of Oviedo to the island of Mallorca.

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How long will it last?

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For observers in Spain, the total eclipse will last under two minutes just before sunset.

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The northern city of Burgos, for example, will be plunged into darkness for exactly one minute and 48 seconds.

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On August 2, 2027 a total solar eclipse will cross southern Spain, northern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. (Johan NILSSON/TT News Agency/AFP/File) Photo by Johan NILSSON /TT News Agency/AFP/File

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It will last slightly longer in parts of Russia and Greenland, though still under two-and-a-half minutes.

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However, partial eclipses — which occur as the Moon starts and finishes crossing the Sun — will last around one hour and 45 minutes.

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Partial eclipses will also be visible in most of Europe, Canada, the northern United States and northwest Africa.

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How rare is it?

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One or two solar eclipses occur roughly every year. However, the small band of totality means that the same area may wait 400 years before seeing another one.

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To see a solar eclipse, wear specifically designed glasses that meet the standard ISO 12312-2:2015. (Jaime REINA/AFP/File) Photo by Jaime REINA /AFP/File

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On August 2, 2027, a total solar eclipse will cross southern Spain, northern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.

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Some media have dubbed it the “eclipse of the century” because its totality will last six minutes and 23 seconds, the longest of the 21st century.

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Spain will be treated yet again on January 26, 2028, when an annular — or “ring of fire” — eclipse will cross southern areas.

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Do you need protection?

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Yes. It is important not to look directly at the Sun during an eclipse — it can cause serious eye damage.

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It is important not to look directly at a solar eclipse. (NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/File) Photo by NICHOLAS KAMM /AFP/File

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Experts recommend specifically designed eclipse glasses which filter UV rays that meet the standard ISO 12312-2:2015.

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There are no pain receptors in eyes to warn the brain they are being injured, so problems only appear later.

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Following a total solar eclipse in the United States in 2024, the rate of people googling “my eyes hurt” surged, research has shown.

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