The True Post (Web News)
Muhammad Aman Ullah
Published: September 18, 2026
An extraordinary astronomical event will take place next year when the longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century occurs on August 2, 2027.
Pakistan will also be able to witness the eclipse, although it will appear as a partial solar eclipse rather than a total eclipse.
During a total solar eclipse, the Moon completely covers the Sun’s visible disk. In areas located along the path of totality, daylight can temporarily turn dark for several minutes.
The maximum duration of totality during the 2027 eclipse is expected to reach approximately 6 minutes and 23 seconds.
Eclipse Path Across Several Countries
According to astronomical calculations, the eclipse will begin over the Atlantic Ocean.
Its path of totality will then pass through parts of Spain, northern Morocco, northern Algeria, northern Tunisia, northeastern Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Somalia, before ending over the Indian Ocean near the Chagos Archipelago.
Large areas of Europe, Africa and the Middle East will also experience a partial solar eclipse.
Solar Eclipse in Pakistan
People across Pakistan will be able to observe the partial eclipse on August 2, 2027.
The eclipse is expected to begin in Pakistan at approximately 2:43 p.m. and continue until around 4:51 p.m.
In Islamabad, the eclipse is expected to begin at approximately 3:14 p.m., reach its peak around 3:47 p.m. and end at about 4:19 p.m.
In Karachi, the eclipse is expected to begin at around 3 p.m. and continue until approximately 4:48 p.m.
The exact appearance and timing will vary depending on the location.
Egypt Among the Key Locations
Egypt is expected to be one of the most significant locations for viewing the historic eclipse because parts of the country will fall directly within the path of totality.
Totality in Egypt is expected to last for approximately 6 minutes and 19 seconds.
In some areas of Sohag and the Red Sea region, totality could also exceed six minutes.
Several other locations along the eclipse path are expected to experience several minutes of complete darkness.
Cities Expected to Witness Totality
A number of cities and regions are expected to experience a total solar eclipse.
These include Málaga, Cádiz and Tarifa in Spain; Tangier in Morocco; Oran in Algeria; Sfax in Tunisia; Benghazi in Libya; and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.
In Makkah, totality is expected to last approximately 5 minutes and 10 seconds.
According to Space.com, the percentage of the Sun covered by the Moon will vary significantly across different cities.
Approximately 86 per cent of the Sun will be covered in Madrid, while coverage in Rabat is expected to reach about 98 per cent.
In Algiers and Tripoli, approximately 99.9 per cent of the Sun could be obscured, while Cairo is expected to experience around 95 per cent coverage.
What Happens During a Total Solar Eclipse?
A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves between the Earth and the Sun, temporarily blocking the Sun’s entire visible disk.
During totality, the sky becomes noticeably dark even though the event occurs during daytime.
The Sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the corona, can also become visible during the brief period when the Moon completely covers the Sun.
The August 2, 2027 eclipse is expected to attract significant attention from astronomers, researchers and skywatchers because of its unusually long period of totality and the large number of countries located along its path.
