UNDERSTAND
THE ECLIPSE
On Monday 2 August 2027, the Moon passes exactly between the Sun and northern Morocco. Here is what happens, in pictures.
- ~400×The Sun is about 400 times wider than the Moon, and about 400 times farther away. So in the sky they look the same size.
- 4m 54sThe longest totality in Morocco, at Martil and Tetouan. Tangier gets 4m 51s.
- 6m 23sThe longest totality anywhere on this eclipse’s path, in southern Egypt, near Luxor.
1. How it lines up
Umbra: total eclipse. A narrow band crossing northern Morocco, from Asilah and Larache to Oujda.
Penumbra: partial eclipse. The rest of Morocco: 98.5% of the Sun covered in Rabat, 97% in Casablanca, 89.1% in Marrakech.
2. The eclipse, step by step
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1Partial phase
The Moon slowly covers the Sun, for more than an hour. Eye protection needed.
Photo: NASA/Joel Kowsky
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2Baily’s beads
Seconds before totality, the last sunlight shines through valleys on the Moon’s edge.
Photo: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani
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3Totality
The Sun is fully hidden. The sky darkens and the corona appears. The only moment to look without glasses.
Photo: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani
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4Diamond ring
The first ray of sunlight comes back. Glasses on again, at once.
Photo: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani
3. Try it yourself
Drag the slider to move the Moon across the Sun. Schematic: sizes and timing are illustrative.