Who can see this year’s total solar eclipse

The skies are set to darken this Wednesday as a total solar eclipse transforms day into night for millions. The moon will pass directly between Earth and the sun, casting a narrow shadow known as the umbra that creates the stunning 'path of totality.'

For veteran eclipse chaser Michael Zeiler, this event is a high-stakes expedition. Currently sailing toward the fjords of Greenland, Zeiler hopes to capture a rare scientific double-header: an aurora appearing during the total eclipse, along with meteors from the Perseid shower.

Where to find the best view

The path of totality spans over 8,000 kilometers, beginning near the Arctic and concluding by the Balearic Islands. Observers in parts of Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain will experience the full blackout, while those in Africa and North America may see a partial eclipse.

Timing varies by location. In Reykjavík, Iceland, the total eclipse begins around 1:48 p.m. ET and lasts for one minute. Further south in León, Spain, the event starts at 2:28 p.m. ET, offering roughly two minutes of darkness.

The math behind the shadow

Predicting exactly where the shadow falls is a feat of modern cartography and physics. Experts like NASA’s Alex Young explain that while current models are accurate within a kilometer, factors like the sun’s actual radius and the moon’s uneven surface continue to refine their calculations.

These predictions rely on the 'saros cycle,' an 18-year pattern of celestial alignment first noted by ancient Babylonians. While Earth's rotation shifts slightly, modern scientists use these cycles to map eclipse paths thousands of years into the future.

A fleeting phenomenon

If you miss this Wednesday’s show, you will have to wait until August 2027 for the next total solar eclipse, which will be visible over the Middle East and North Africa. North American viewers have an even longer wait, with the next total event not returning to the contiguous U.S. until 2044.

For enthusiasts like Zeiler, the effort to reach the path of totality is always worth it. "My personal mission is to combine scientific accuracy with cartographic beauty," he noted, emphasizing that the sudden rush of darkness and the appearance of the sun's corona is a spectacle for everyone, not just scientists.