Parts of Canada, Mexico and the US enjoyed a 3-4 minute total solar eclipse in April, but even this rare astronomical event will likely be overshadowed in three years by a potentially even more spectacular cosmic event.
Package tour operators and cruise lines have already started taking bookings for what they are touting as “the solar eclipse of the century,” when the moon blocks the sun for six and a half minutes across an arc stretching from Spain to Somalia.
On August 2, 2027, the 260-kilometer-wide total solar eclipse will occur over major landmarks including the Giza Pyramids and the Rock of Gibraltar.
People gazing into the sky elsewhere in Europe, Africa and the Middle East will see a partial solar eclipse, with more of the sun covered by the moon, depending on how close the viewer is to the ‘path of totality’ ‘ is located.
The total solar eclipse will pass over or near Roman ruins in North Africa, narrowly missing Seville, the site of some of Spain’s most famous architecture. Most importantly, visibility is expected to be good, as the region typically has low-cloud to cloudless skies.
However, travelers and stargazers should expect a drastic temperature swing, as the scorching heat of the Mediterranean and Sahara subsides once the moon covers the sun.
According to space.com, nearly 90 million people live under the totality route, which spans regions of Spain and Egypt normally popular with tourists.
Not only is the timing new, allowing for better visibility and potentially better images of the Milky Way than usual, but it will also feature the Perseid meteor shower, which will last for about two weeks on either side of the eclipse.
