A Fascinating Celestial Event Awaits Morocco
On the evening of Wednesday, August 12, 2026, Morocco is set to witness a remarkable deep partial solar eclipse, where the Moon will obscure a significant portion of the Sun’s disk across the nation. While this event will be classified as a total solar eclipse globally, viewers in Morocco will only experience the partial phase, as complete darkness will not be observed from Moroccan soil. The partial eclipse will commence at 6:44 p.m. local time near Lakhouayyet and will conclude at 8:40 p.m. near Agadir. During this period, major cities throughout Morocco will be treated to a stunning view of the Sun transforming into a slender crescent shape.
The extent of solar coverage during this eclipse varies by location. Tangier leads the way with an impressive 92.03% of the Sun obscured, followed closely by Fez at 89.51%, Rabat at 88.27%, Casablanca at 86.94%, El Jadida at 85.67%, Marrakech at 82.93%, and Agadir at 79.35%. The timings for the eclipse will differ slightly from north to south across the country. For instance, in Tangier, the eclipse will start at 6:44 p.m., peak at 7:40 p.m., and conclude at 8:31 p.m., while Fez will experience its eclipse from 6:47 to 8:33 p.m., reaching its maximum at 7:42 p.m. Major cities like Rabat and Casablanca will have similar timings, with both cities peaking around 7:43 p.m. In Marrakech, the partial eclipse will open at 6:52 p.m., peak at 7:46 p.m., and end at 8:38 p.m., and Agadir will have the latest start, beginning at 6:54 p.m. and finishing at 8:40 p.m.
Challenges of Observation and Safety Precautions
The setting sun presents a unique challenge for observers in Morocco, as the timing of sunset coincides with the eclipse. For instance, in Casablanca, the partial phase is listed to start at 6:48 p.m. and peak at 87% coverage at 7:43 p.m., but it will end at 8:20 p.m., which is notably before the actual conclusion of the eclipse, culminating instead with sunset. This phenomenon is also prevalent along the western edge of the eclipse path in Europe and Africa, where viewers will witness the Sun setting while it remains partially obscured.
Weather conditions will significantly influence the visibility of this celestial event. Regions in the south and central parts of Morocco typically enjoy clearer skies, with Marrakech expecting a mere 7% cloud cover, Fez at 11%, and Agadir at 14%. In contrast, coastal and northern cities such as Tangier, El Jadida, Casablanca, and Rabat are predicted to face higher levels of cloud cover, with Tangier experiencing 57%, El Jadida at 55%, Casablanca at 46%, and Rabat at 45%.
This particular eclipse is notably deep, with a magnitude of 1.0386, occurring shortly after the Moon reaches its closest point to Earth, making it appear larger than usual in the sky. The greatest eclipse will occur at 5:47 p.m. UTC, with a shadow band that stretches up to 294 kilometers wide, tracing a path of approximately 8,300 kilometers. It belongs to the Saros series 126, marking its 48th occurrence out of a total of 72.
While Morocco will experience a partial eclipse, the totality of this event will be observed elsewhere, specifically in regions such as the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain, and the northeastern corner of Portugal. The longest duration of totality, lasting 2 minutes and 18 seconds, will take place approximately 45 kilometers off the western coast of Iceland. This eclipse marks Spain's first total solar eclipse on the mainland since 1905 and the first in continental Europe since 2006.
It is essential to prioritize safety while observing the eclipse in Morocco, as the Sun will not be fully obscured. Viewers must utilize certified eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers that comply with the ISO 12312-2 standard. Regular sunglasses, regardless of their tint, do not provide adequate protection against harmful solar radiation. Additionally, cameras, telescopes, and binoculars should be outfitted with dedicated solar filters and must never be used in conjunction with eclipse glasses, as concentrated rays can damage the filters. A pinhole projector is recommended as the safest indirect viewing option.
Morocco will soon have more opportunities to observe celestial events, with a partial lunar eclipse set for August 28, 2026, a partial solar eclipse on February 6, 2027, and a penumbral lunar eclipse on February 20-21, 2027. Notably, a total solar eclipse will sweep across North Africa on August 2, 2027, providing an exciting prospect for astronomy enthusiasts in the region.
As reported by moroccoworldnews.com.
