Parts of Canada, Mexico and the US enjoyed a 3-4 minute total solar eclipse in April, but even that rare astronomical treat looks set to be overshadowed in three years’ time by a potentially even more spectacular cosmic event.
Packaged holiday operators and cruise lines have already begun taking bookings for what they are touting as “the eclipse of the century,” when the moon blocks out the sun for 6-and-a-half minutes over an arc stretching from Spain through to Somalia.
On August 2 2027, the 260 kilometre-wide total solar eclipse will sweep over box-seat sights including the Giza Pyramids and the Rock of Gibraltar.
People gazing skywards elsewhere in Europe, Africa and the Middle East will see a partial eclipse, with more of the sun covered by the moon depending on how close to the “path of totality” the viewer is.
The total eclipse will pass over or near Roman ruins in North Africa and will narrowly miss Seville, site of some of Spain’s best-known architecture. Most important of all, visibility is expected to be good as the region usually has low-cloud or cloud-free skies.
However, would-be travellers and stargazers should be ready for a drastic temperature swing as the searing Mediterranean and Saharan heat will drop as the moon covers the sun.
According to space.com, almost 90 million people live under the path of totality, which takes in regions of Spain and Egypt that are ordinarily popular with tourists.
The timing not only means a new moon, which offers clearer views and the possibility better photographs than usual of the Milky Way, but will also take in the Perseid meteor shower, which is set to run for around two weeks either side of the eclipse.
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