Longest Total Solar Eclipse in a Century Coming in 2027

On August 2, 2027, a total solar eclipse will darken parts of Earth for over 6 minutes—one of the longest in over a century

The eclipse will last 6 minutes and 23 seconds, making it the longest total solar eclipse between 1991 and 2114

Regions including Spain, North Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian Ocean will witness this rare spectacle

The eclipse's unusual length is due to a perfect cosmic alignment of Earth, Moon, and Sun

Earth will be at aphelion—its farthest point from the Sun—making the Sun appear smaller in the sky

At the same time, the Moon will be at perigee—its closest point to Earth—making it look bigger

The eclipse path crosses near the equator, maximizing the duration of total darkness on Earth

Cities in Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Somalia will see the full eclipse

Astronomers are gearing up to study the event closely, with interest peaking worldwide