Longest Total Solar Eclipse of the Century 2025: Rare 6-Minute Darkness on August 2 – Time & Where to Watch

Historic Solar Eclipse: Rare 6-Minute Total Darkness on August 2 – Time & Where to Watch (image: canva)

On August 2, 2027, the skies over southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East will host a rare astronomical spectacle as the Moon passes directly in front of the Sun. This total solar eclipse, lasting up to six minutes and twenty-three seconds, will be the longest visible from land between 1991 and 2114. Despite widespread social media rumours, NASA and other observatories confirm that no solar eclipse, total or partial, will take place on August 2, 2025.

Why This Eclipse Is Called the “Eclipse of the Century”

The 2027 solar eclipse has earned this title because of its exceptional duration and visibility. The path of totality where the Sun will be completely obscured will stretch across eleven countries, including Spain, Gibraltar, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, and Somalia. Luxor in Egypt will experience the longest period of darkness at six minutes and twenty-three seconds. Beyond this path, regions across Europe, North Africa, western Asia, and India will see a partial eclipse.

This unusually long eclipse is made possible by rare astronomical conditions. The Moon will be at perigee, its closest point to Earth, making it appear larger, while Earth will be at aphelion, its farthest point from the Sun, making the Sun appear smaller. The eclipse will also cross near the equator, where the Moon’s shadow moves more slowly, allowing the totality to last longer than most eclipses.

What Will Be Seen in India?

In India, the eclipse will only be partial. States including Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Goa will see the Sun covered by ten to thirty percent between 4 PM and 6 PM IST. Coastal regions like Mumbai and Goa may experience reduced visibility near sunset. Public viewings and livestreams are expected to be organised by ISRO, Vigyan Prasar, and the Planetary Society of India. Observers must use ISRO-approved or ISO-certified eclipse glasses, as regular sunglasses and phone cameras cannot prevent eye damage. In areas of totality outside India, glasses can be removed only during complete coverage and must be worn again once the Sun reappears.

The extended period of totality offers astronomers a rare chance to study the Sun’s outer atmosphere. Scientists will observe the solar corona in detail, monitor solar flares and coronal mass ejections, use spectroscopy to study outer solar layers, and track changes in temperature and magnetic fields. These studies will enhance research for missions such as NASA’s Parker Solar Probe and the European Space Agency’s Solar Orbiter.

Cultural and Religious Significance in India

In India, solar eclipses hold deep cultural meaning. Many temples remain closed during the event, while devotees observe fasts or bathe in rivers as part of ritual traditions. These practices are rooted in beliefs involving Rahu and Ketu, shadow planets said to “swallow” the Sun during eclipses. At the same time, growing awareness and scientific outreach have helped more people approach eclipses as natural wonders rather than omens.

A solar eclipse happens because, despite being about four hundred times smaller than the Sun, the Moon is also about four hundred times closer to Earth, making them appear the same size in the sky. When they align perfectly, daytime darkness occurs — but only for those in the path of totality. For the rest of the world, life will continue as usual, but for those in the right place on August 2, 2027, it will be a once-in-a-lifetime event.