On August 2, 2027, parts of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East will witness a rare total solar eclipse lasting over six minutes; the longest such event visible from land in more than a century. Caused by a precise alignment of the Earth, moon, and sun, the eclipse will offer scientists a unique chance to observe the solar corona, flares, and atmospheric changes.
This extraordinary event occurs as the moon reaches ‘perigee,’ appearing larger, while Earth approaches ‘aphelion,’ making the sun look slightly smaller. The result: over six minutes of total darkness in select regions, far longer than the typical eclipse duration of under three minutes.
Curious? Click on for a few of the weird things that you might experience during a solar eclipse.