On Monday, August 2, 2027, just under 300 days from now, the Moon will fully block the Sun for up to 6 minutes and 23 seconds near Luxor, Egypt. That makes it the longest total solar eclipse visible from easily accessible land until 2114.
Where to see it
The path of totality crosses southern Spain, Gibraltar, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Somalia. About 89 million people live inside it, according to Timeanddate.
Luxor, near the point of greatest eclipse, gets about 6 minutes 20 seconds of totality shortly after 1 p.m. local time, with Aswan seeing four to five minutes. Cairo and the Giza pyramids are outside the path and will see only a 95% partial eclipse.
Is it really the "eclipse of the century"?
It depends on how you count. A 2009 eclipse over India, China, and the Pacific lasted 6 minutes 39 seconds, so 2027 is the second-longest of this century. It is the longest one over land that travelers can easily reach.
Why it lasts so long
The Moon is relatively close to Earth, and the path runs near the equator, where Earth's surface moves faster. Both stretch the Moon's shadow over any one spot for longer.
Staying safe
Looking at the Sun is safe without protection only during the brief moments of full totality. At every other stage, you need ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses.
Psalm 19:1: "The heavens declare the glory of God."
Related: Total Solar Eclipse 2026: Exact Times, Where It Will Be Visible
