Total solar eclipse of August 2, 2027: where to see it and its meaning

An exceptional eclipse

A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes exactly between the Earth and the Sun, at a new moon. When the Moon's disk covers the Sun completely, the eclipse is total: the sky darkens, the solar corona becomes visible and the temperature drops.

It takes a precise alignment: the Moon must be new and close to one of the two points where its orbit crosses the plane of the Earth's orbit, known as the lunar nodes. That is why there is not an eclipse at every new moon, and why total eclipses visible from any given place are rare.

The eclipse of August 2, 2027 stands out for its length: totality will last about 6 minutes 23 seconds at its maximum, near Luxor in Egypt. It is one of the longest total eclipses of the 21st century. It takes place at 10° Leo.

Where to see totality

• Southern Spain: Cádiz, Tarifa, Málaga, the easiest destination to reach from the UK and much of Europe.
• Gibraltar.
• Northern Morocco.
• Algeria, Tunisia and Libya.
• Egypt, where totality will be longest, around Luxor.
• Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Somalia.

The closer you are to the center line of the path, the longer totality lasts. Outside the path the eclipse is only partial, and even a Sun almost entirely covered is still too bright to reveal the corona. For exact times at a given location, rely on the ephemerides published by observatories and astronomy societies.

The narrow path of totality crosses several countries from west to east:

What about the UK and elsewhere?

From the United Kingdom and Ireland, the eclipse will only be partial: the Moon will cover part of the Sun, and more of it the further south you are. It will still be a fine sight, but without the daytime darkness that comes with totality.

To watch it from the UK, all you need is a clear sky, an open horizon and certified eclipse glasses. Astronomy clubs and planetariums often organize supervised public viewings: a good way to share the moment safely.

If you want to experience totality, southern Spain (Andalusia) or Gibraltar is the simplest option from the UK. Accommodation in the area is likely to be in high demand, so it is best to book early. From North America and Australia, little or nothing of this eclipse will be visible: check an eclipse map for your location.

Watching safely

• Never look at the Sun with the naked eye, even when it is partly eclipsed: retinal damage is painless and can be permanent.
• Use eclipse glasses certified to ISO 12312-2, bought from a reliable seller. Check that they are not scratched or punctured.
• Sunglasses offer no protection, however dark they are.
• Never use binoculars, a camera or a telescope without a proper solar filter fitted over the front of the lens, even while wearing eclipse glasses.
• During totality only, and only inside the path, you can take your glasses off; put them back on as soon as the first ray of sunlight reappears.
• Keep an eye on children, who tend to take their glasses off.

The astrological meaning

In astrology, a solar eclipse is a supercharged new moon: it marks a beginning, the opening of a new chapter. This one falls at 10° Leo, the sign of the heart, creativity, self-confidence and self-expression.

It sits on the Leo and Aquarius axis, already activated by the annular solar eclipse of February 6, 2027, at 17° Aquarius. The two eclipses sketch a shared theme: the balance between the individual and the group, between shining personally and contributing to the collective, between the heart and ideas.

Traditionally, the effects of an eclipse are thought to unfold over several months rather than on the day itself. The usual advice is to watch what begins or ends in the weeks that follow, without rushing into decisions on the day.

As always, this is a symbolic framework, with no demonstrated predictive value. An eclipse is not an omen: it is a marker for thinking about what you want to begin.

Who it speaks to most

• Leos, especially those born around August 2: the eclipse falls close to their Sun, a moment often read as a fresh personal start.
• Aquarians, in opposition: a focus on relationships and partnerships.
• Taurus and Scorpio, in square: an adjustment between private life and ambitions for the first, a rethink of career for the second.
• People with a planet or angle (Ascendant, Midheaven) around 10° Leo, Aquarius, Taurus or Scorpio, whatever their Sun sign.
• Everyone, depending on the house where 10° Leo falls in their chart: that is the area of life where a new chapter opens.

In the 10th house, for example, it can go along with a new professional direction; in the 5th, a creative project or a new romance; in the 2nd, a new way of earning or managing money.

What the eclipse touches in your chart

To find out which house the eclipse falls in and whether it touches a sensitive point of your chart, you need your date, time and place of birth. Our Career and money and Love and relationships reports include eclipses and slow planet transits, dated to the day, and analyze every month of the period you choose, over 1, 3 or 5 years.