Solar eclipse (artist impression)

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between Earth and the Sun, blocking the Sun and casting a shadow on Earth's surface. 

During a total solar eclipse, the Moon covers the entire disc of the Sun, revealing the dimmer light coming from the Sun's outer atmosphere (the corona). During an annular solar eclipse, the Sun's outer edge remains visible as a bright ring around the Moon. This happens because the size of the Moon in the sky changes as it moves along its elliptical orbit around Earth: the Moon appears smaller when it is farther away. During a partial solar eclipse, the alignment isn't perfect and the Moon only covers part of the Sun.  

Those in Europe can look forward to three upcoming ‘European solar eclipses’. On 12 August 2026, a total solar eclipse will be visible from Greenland, Iceland, Spain and a small corner of Portugal. On 2 August 2027, a total solar eclipse will be visible from Spain, northern Africa and the Middle East. And on 26 January 2028, an annular eclipse can be seen from South America, Portugal and Spain. Other parts of Europe will witness a partial eclipse on these dates.  

For more information on the European Space Agency's plans for these eclipses, please visit www.esa.int/solareclipse. 

Click here for the ‘Coming to Europe’ eclipse poster 

[Image description: On a dark background, the Moon nearly covers the Sun, leaving only a bright crescent visible on the left-hand side. The Sun's surface looks active, with bright yellow glowing loops sticking out from it. The Sun emits a yellow-orange glow that extends around the dark Moon, and faintly lights up the Moon's left side. Craters are faintly visible on the Moon's surface.]