Yesterday (Aug.12), millions of people enjoyed a total solar eclipse as it swept across parts of Greenland, Iceland and Spain, while a partial solar eclipse was visible across much of Europe and northwest Africa.
If all that eclipse excitement has you eager for more, the good news is you won’t have to wait long, because two remarkable solar eclipses are coming in 2027. First comes a dramatic “ring of fire” annular solar eclipse on Feb 6, followed six months later by the total solar eclipse on Aug. 2 — an event many eclipse chasers are already calling the “eclipse of the century”.
First up, a dazzling “ring of fire”
On Feb. 6, 2027, an annular solar eclipse will be visible across parts of Chile, Argentina and the coastal parts of West Africa, while the partial phase of the eclipse where the moon takes a “bite” out of the sun will be visible across South America and West Africa.
An annular solar eclipse happens when the moon passes directly in front of the sun when it is slightly farther away from Earth than during a total solar eclipse. As such, the moon appears a little smaller in the sky and doesn’t completely cover the sun, leaving a brilliant ring of sunlight around the moon’s silhouette, the “ring of fire”.
The “eclipse of the century”
If the “ring of fire” eclipse wasn’t enough, 2027 serves up another, even more spectacular eclipse.
On Aug. 2, 2027, the moon’s shadow will race across southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, treating skywatchers with one of the longest total solar eclipses of the century. At its greatest point, totality will last an extraordinary 6 minutes and 23 seconds — more than twice as long as many other total solar eclipses.
(Image credit: Created using MapHub.net. Source: Esri, Maxar, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and the GIS User Community), path from Xavier M Jubier)
Combined with favorable August weather across parts of North Africa, it’s easy to see why many eclipse enthusiasts are already planning their trips in advance.
If you’re thinking about experiencing the Aug. 2, 2027 total solar eclipse for yourself, now is the perfect time to start planning. We’ve rounded up expert travel tips to help you choose the best viewing location and avoid common pitfalls, as well as 10 unforgettable tours and experiences that will put you right in the heart of one of the greatest celestial events of the century.