There’s a 6-minute total solar eclipse in 2027 — one of the longest and most significant eclipses of the 21st century. It will take place on Monday, Aug. 2, 2027, in 10 countries, but aside from a small partial solar eclipse in Newfoundland, Canada, it won’t be visible from North America. Whether the length of totality is critical is arguable, but there’s no doubt that the 2027 total solar eclipse will be an epic experience.

Here’s everything you need to know about the 2027 total solar eclipse — the “Great North African Eclipse,” dubbed the “eclipse of the century.”

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly between Earth and the Sun, fully covering the sun’s disk for observers within a narrow path of totality. On Aug. 2, 2027, that path will be around 160 miles (258 kilometers) wide and pass through three continents:

After a totally eclipsed sunrise in the ocean, the moon’s central shadow will first touch land in the aptly-named Costa de la Luz (Coast of the Light) in Spain’s Andalusia region and also envelop the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar.

As the path touches southern Spain, it also hits Morocco, followed by Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. It’s in the latter that it reaches its longest duration at 6 minutes 22 seconds. The edge of the path also clips the northeastern corner of Sudan.

After it leaves Egypt, the path crosses the Red Sea and enters Saudi Arabia, then Yemen.

The path clips the Horn of Africa, including Somalia, then ends as a totally eclipsed sunset close to the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean.

According to Timeanddate, the path crosses 89 million people — about twice as many as crossed by the total solar eclipse on Apr. 8, 2024, in North America.

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Choosing where to experience the 2027 total solar eclipse will be down to what you want to experience and where you want to visit. However, it’s a relatively rare eclipse in that the chances of clouds are small over most of the path.

Luxor, Egypt, is where many eclipse chasers will head for its longest totality and the chance to visit the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut’s Temple, Karnak, the Colossi of Menmom and Luxor Temple. However, Tunisia (specifically, the city of Sfax) is likely significantly cooler and still had 5 5-minute 42-second totality. Even Egypt has a few other options, such as Siwa Oasis (southwest of Cairo) and the Red Sea (though the path misses Hurghada). Southern Spain is another good option, albeit with a shorter totality.

The best places to experience the 2027 total solar eclipse are subjective, but here are some sample locations:

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The longest total solar eclipses take place when the moon is closest to Earth on its elliptical orbit, and when the its shadow strikes close to the equator (which is closer to the moon). Technically, a total solar eclipse could last 7 minutes 31 seconds, according to Jean Meeus, but the longest total solar eclipse known to have occurred was 7 minutes, 28 seconds on June 15, 743 BC, in the Indian Ocean. The longest until the year 3,000 will occur in the Atlantic Ocean on July 16, 2186, and last 7 minutes, 29 seconds.

It may be the longest of the century on land, but the 2027 eclipse is the middle child in three spectacular total solar eclipses coming up in succession. Since eclipse-mania is in full swing since 2024, eclipse chasers should start planning now.

Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.