Today's highlights
• Spectacular show: A total solar eclipse swept through Europe and millions flocked to prime viewing locations across Iceland and Spain to witness the rare spectacle.
• The next eclipse: This was the first time since 1905 that mainland Spain could see the moon completely block the sun. But the wait for the next such phenomenon will not be that long. The next total solar eclipse will pass over southern Spain, North Africa, Saudi Arabia and Yemen on August 2, 2027, according to NASA.
• The US must wait longer: The contiguous US must wait until August 22, 2044, when totality will only occur over North Dakota and Montana.
CNN’s live coverage of the total solar eclipse across parts of Europe has ended. Check out the best shots of the rare spectacle here.
Missed today's event? 2027's total solar eclipse is the one to see
A total solar eclipse occurring on August 2, 2027, is “the one to be at because it will actually be the longest eclipse in the remainder of our lifetimes,” said Dr. Ryan French, solar astrophysicist at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics in Boulder, Colorado, and coauthor of “Little Book of Eclipses.”
Totality, or when the moon’s shadow completely blocks the sun’s face from view, will last more than six minutes for that eclipse.
So start making your travel plans now!
Partial eclipse still put on a show for people not in path of totality
Millions of people in Spain and Iceland got to see the main event: a total solar eclipse. But millions of others still got a glimpse of a partial solar eclipse.
Parts of the East Coast in the United States saw slivers of coverage. The moon blocked the sun 9% in New York City and 7% in Philadelphia. Cities in Massachusetts and Maine saw about a quarter of the sun covered.
In Europe, it got darker, with places like Berlin seeing 85% coverage and Paris with 92%.
Here’s what it looked like:
Watch the total solar eclipse unfold over Spain
For the first time in over a century, parts of mainland Spain were in the path of totality for a solar eclipse today. Watch how the moon gradually covered the entire sun, plunging the sky into darkness.
For the first time since 1905, some people in mainland Spain could see the moon completely block the sun during a total solar eclipse that swept across parts of Europe on Wednesday.
Eclipse Explained: Do other planets have solar eclipses?
Some of them do, yes, but it’s all about how big their moons are and if they are the right distance away to completely block the sun.
For instance, one of Jupiter’s moons, Callisto, causes eclipses about every 16 days for about three years at a time, according to NASA. The planet’s other two moons, however, are too close to be visible when they eclipse the sun.
Plus, four of Saturn’s moons are the right size and distance to create solar eclipses like the ones we see on Earth, the agency says.
Other planets, however, such as Mercury and Venus, have no moons at all. And Mars has two little moons that aren’t big enough to create anything other than a partial eclipse, according to NASA.
Worried about eclipse eye damage? Here are the signs you should visit an optometrist
Maybe your eclipse glasses were fake. Perhaps you forgot to slip them back on as the first bit of sunlight reappeared after totality. Or you noticed your child, friend or family member looking up at the sun without putting on their glasses.
Symptoms of eye damage after improperly viewing the eclipse without proper protection can take hours or days to manifest. Signs include loss of central vision, altered color vision or distorted vision.
And if you notice any symptoms or experience eye discomfort, make an appointment immediately using the American Optometric Association’s doctor locator, said Ronald Benner, an optometrist and former president of the American Optometric Association.
“For most people, it’s an alteration of color vision,” Benner said. “The next morning, colors just don’t look right, or it may be bleached out it or just kind of hazy all the time. For others, it may be that they actually have holes in their vision.”
If the damage occurs in the center of someone’s vision, it can affect the ability to read or recognize faces, Benner said.
A new space race bills the moon as a "destination" — not just a spectacle
Before the Artemis II astronauts made their historic lunar flyby in April, astronaut Christina Koch emphasized how she hoped the mission would usher in an era where the moon is not just a decoration in the sky — but where “every person on Earth can look at the moon and think of it as a destination.”
Koch and her crewmates flew around the moon and did not land on it, but both the United States and China— rivals in a new space race — are planning to send humans to the lunar surface within the next few years. Both countries also envision building massive bases on the moon’s south pole, which could allow astronauts to live and work on the moon for extended periods of time.
The US and China have unique approaches to their space programs. And NASA’s plan to bring the next human-worthy lunar lander to fruition has Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin pitted against each other — brewing a billionaire rivalry that promises to keep things interesting for the US.
To learn more, stream CNN FlashDoc’s new documentary, “Eclipsing Power: Musk, Bezos and The New Space Race.”
Read more about China’s secretive space program here.
Check out the best photos from today's total solar eclipse in Europe
The best photos from Wednesday's solar eclipse
As the skies turned dark, striking images of the total solar eclipse began to come in, some from prime viewing locations across Europe. Swipe the image gallery above to see views of the eclipse and the people who came together to witness the rare phenomenon.
Eclipse glasses and solar viewers don't expire. Here's how to take care of them
As long as the eclipse glasses or solar viewers you’re using comply with the ISO 12312-2 safety standard and aren’t torn, scratched or damaged in any way, they don’t “expire” and can be used indefinitely.
There is also no limit on how long you can view the sun while wearing them.
To take care of them, save your eclipse glasses and viewers for future eclipses by storing them at room temperature in an envelope or their original packaging to avoid scratches. Never use water, glass cleaner, baby wipes or other wet wipes to clean eclipse glasses — the moisture could cause the cardboard frames to detach from the lenses. Instead, carefully wipe the lenses clean with a tissue or cloth.
Note: Some glasses and viewers carry outdated warnings about using the glasses for more than three minutes at a time or recommend throwing them away after more than three years, but these cautions do not apply to ISO 12312-2-certified viewers, according to the American Astronomical Society.
A rare total solar eclipse dazzled millions across Europe. Here are the highlights
A total solar eclipse wowed spectators in Spain and Iceland. Crowds came together, looking up at the sky as the moon crossed in front of the sun and everything went dark and quiet.
A partial solar eclipse may still be visible in some places for a brief time.
Here’s a recap of what happened:
- The first moments of the total solar eclipse were visible over Russia’s Pronchishchev Peninsula, before it moved across the Arctic and became visible in sparsely populated areas of Greenland. In the hours after that, totality then crept toward more populated areas of Iceland and Spain.
- This was an exceptionally rare moment for Spain, which has not seen a total solar eclipse since 1905. CNN’s Clarissa Ward said people traveled to Mallorca from Seattle and California, as well as from countries like Russia, Belgium and Germany.
- During Iceland’s moment, animals got quiet and birds flew into the trees, thinking it was nighttime, Helena Gylfadóttir at the Reykjavík Family Park and Zoo said. Others said the weather was cloudy and rainy, but they were still able to experience the sensation of everything going dark.
- England saw a partial solar eclipse, with about 90% of the sun covered. Hundreds of people spread out across a lawn in the Invalides district in central Paris, while others gathered at Land’s End in Cornwall, England. Over the past two days, stores across France have seen massive lines as people have scrambled to buy certified eclipse glasses.
- Others booked a cruise to get the best view. Clint and Sheryl Evans, who are from Detroit, were one couple who set sail to see totality. The event was especially meaningful because they were not able to travel for the 2024 eclipse in the US, as Sheryl Evans was battling cancer.
- If the total solar eclipse has left you wanting more, turn your eyes to the sky again on Thursday to catch the Perseid meteor shower.
CNN’s Isa Soares, Jackie Wattles, and August Phillips contributed reporting to this post.
The fun in the sky isn't over. A stunning meteor shower will also peak this week
Today’s total solar eclipse has ended, and the partial eclipse visible over Europe will wind down soon. But for everyone left with a sky-gazing itch, this week has another major astronomical event in store: a dazzling meteor shower will streak across the sky just hours after the eclipse ends.
The Perseid meteor shower will be visible on Wednesday night and before dawn Thursday morning, reaching its expected peak — or point of maximum meteor activity — on Thursday at 10:53 a.m. ET, according to EarthSky. It is best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere, according to NASA.
Here’s everything you need to know about the meteor shower and how to watch it.
CNN’s Amen Galinato contributed reporting.
Is an eclipse the closest non-astronauts can get to "the overview effect"?
Astronauts have long talked about experiencing the “overview effect” — a term coined by science author and philosopher Frank White in 1987.
It refers to a shift in perspective that occurs when humans are given the chance to view Earth from space, in the context of its cosmic backdrop. The experience can drive home how perfectly suited the planet is for our habitation and how unforgiving the cosmos appears.
It can be difficult for us Earth-bound humans to find experiences that elicit such profound reaction. But Mitch Morales, founder of the Iceland Eclipse festival, said that witnessing an eclipse may be the best approximation we have down here on terra firma.
Morales noted that he’s seen people break down in tears when they see totality, calling it “one of the most amazing natural wonders.”
Eclipse Explained: When is the next solar eclipse?
The next total solar eclipse will be next year, on August 2, 2027, NASA says. It will be visible in southern Spain, North Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen.
If you can’t wait that long, people in parts of South America and Africa will be able to experience an annular eclipse on February 6, 2027, according to NASA.
Remember, an annular eclipse is when the moon is near its farthest distance from Earth; it won’t cover the entire sun. This positioning creates what looks like a ring of fire around the moon, according to the space agency.
Scientists are still trying to solve the sun's mysteries
The sun is the most well-studied star in the galaxy, but ironically, its brightness makes it difficult to observe — allowing big mysteries to endure for centuries. But sophisticated telescopes are enabling observations of the sun like never before.
The world’s most powerful solar telescope has captured the highest resolution observations of the sun’s visible surface — and uncovered a hidden process that drives solar activity.
Scientists used the National Science Foundation’s Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, located near the summit of Haleakalā, a volcano on the Hawaiian island of Maui, to zoom into a magnetically active area near a sunspot. Sunspots are considered hotspots of solar activity.
The imagery and time-lapse video reveal an unprecedented look at the sun’s complex and dynamic photosphere, the visible surface of the sun that exists as a thin layer of atmosphere shaped by magnetic fields and currents of fluid plasma.
Combining the detailed imagery with computer simulations helped researchers arrive at a major solar physics breakthrough: identifying the signature of small whirlpools on the sun’s surface that could directly impact life on Earth.
Known as Kelvin-Helmholtz instability, or KHI, the swirling patterns could explain enduring solar mysteries, such as why the sun’s corona, or outer atmosphere, is much hotter than its surface.
The swirls could also fuel the buildup of the sun’s magnetic energy, which drives solar flares and coronal mass ejections. When aimed at Earth, this solar activity blasts out particles that can disrupt satellites, power grids and other communications infrastructure.
Totality comes to an end
Totality has come to an end, with Spain’s Balearic Islands the last location to experience day turning into night.
However, a partial solar eclipse will still be visible in some places for another hour or so.
Here's what CNN readers are seeing in Iceland
Sandy Jung-Wu, a reader of CNN’s Countdown newsletter, traveled with her family from Los Angeles to Arnarstapi, Iceland, to watch today’s total solar eclipse, but said weather conditions might make it hard to see.
Jung-Wu and her family previously saw the 2024 total eclipse in the US and were featured in CNN’s coverage. That time, they were luckier with clear skies.
But despite heavy cloud coverage this year, Jung-Wu said it was “surprisingly still a very emotional experience” to share with other people who had made the journey.
“There were just no words, just tears and a deep joy inside,” she wrote. “I loved being with others cheering and screaming during the change from light to darkness and light again.”
Mindy Pretner, another Countdown reader, echoed that sentiment from another Icelandic town: “Cloudy skies and light rain make it so we are probably not going to see much in Grindavik,” she wrote.
The eclipse’s totality reached Iceland’s northwestern tip around 5:45 p.m. local time (1:45 p.m. ET).
Did the eclipse grace the sky near you? We’d love to hear your story and see your photos.
Totality begins for droves of spectators in Spain
Perhaps the most highly anticipated moment of the day is here as totality has reached Spain, blacking out the sun just as daylight begins to dwindle.
This is an exceptionally rare moment for Spain, which has not seen a total solar eclipse since 1905. Millions were expected to catch a glimpse of today’s celestial spectacle from the nation’s mainland.
Totality was expected to begin at 8:26 p.m. local (2:26 p.m. ET) near Faro de Peñas on Spain’s rugged northern coast, according to Time and Date. It will take just a few minutes for the path of totality to sweep across the country, concluding over Spain’s Balearic Islands around 8:33 p.m. local (2:33 p.m. ET).
Here's how animals in Reykjavík reacted to the eclipse darkness
Iceland’s moment of totality was confusing for animals in the country’s capital, Helena Gylfadóttir at the Reykjavík Family Park and Zoo said.
“They just went a bit quiet during the darkest moments,” she told CNN. “We could see birds flocking to the trees behind us, pigeons and other smaller birds, so probably thinking it’s nighttime and they just wanted to go to sleep.”
Now that it’s starting to get lighter out, the animals want to go back inside because they think it’s nighttime, Gylfadóttir, who is the head of the animal department at the park, said.
“It’s completely amazing,” she said. “Even though it’s completely clouded and we couldn’t see anything except it going dark and then light again, it’s just — it’s another thing to experience.”
After cancer battle, US couple finds emotional connection to total eclipse
For Clint and Sheryl Evans, today’s total solar eclipse has an emotional meaning.
Two years ago, during the last total solar eclipse visible in the United States, Sheryl Evans was battling cancer, her husband said. She was too sick to travel from where they live in Detroit to totality in Toledo, Ohio, he said.
“I made her a promise. I said, you know what, wherever the next one is, we’re going to go,” Clint Evans said.
And he kept that promise, booking a cruise in the Mediterranean so that they could experience totality off the coast of Spain.
“I’m more excited, more than anything, to be here with her,” Clint Evans said.
Totality reaches Iceland
The path of totality has swept across Greenland’s eastern edge and is now reaching Iceland’s northwestern tip. Totality was expected to begin on the country’s “western fringes—including the Snæfellsnes peninsula” at 5:45 p.m. local time (1:45 p.m. ET.)
“The greatest eclipse will occur near this sparsely populated peninsula when the Moon appears the largest and covers more of the Sun,” according to NASA.
