The 2026 total solar eclipse in photos: Best shots of the historic event from August 12

Photographers across the world made the most of the opportunity on August 12, when the Moon covered the Sun in a total solar eclipse.

In this image from Santander, Spain, an airplane flies across the face of the Sun as the Moon starts to cover it at the beginning of the total solar eclipse.

The total solar eclipse on August 12 swept across Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, Spain, and a small part of Portugal, while many other parts of the Northern Hemisphere (including parts of the northern U.S.) experienced a partial eclipse.

In the image above, a bird flies past the partially eclipsed Sun visible over Liverpool, United Kingdom, on August 12.

Many in mainland Europe and Africa saw the Sun set while it was still partially eclipsed.

The image shows the fully eclipsed Sun as seen in the Ebro Delta near Amposta, Spain, on August 12.

It was the first total solar eclipse visible from mainland Europe since 1999.

Above is an image of the fully eclipsed Sun as seen over a field of sunflowers on August 12 in Palencia, Spain.

Mainland Spain hadn't witnessed such an eclipse since 1905.

In the image above, people gather near the historic St. Michael's Church tower at the top of Glastonbury Tor to view the partial solar eclipse on August 12.

The last total solar eclipse took place on April 8, 2024, according to Time and Date.

The image above shows the fully eclipsed Sun as seen behind El Toro Osborne, 'The Osborne Bull,' during the total solar eclipse on August 12 in Guadalajara, Spain.

As for the next total solar eclipse, it will take place on August 2, 2027.

The image above shows the total solar eclipse on August 12 as seen from Berlanga de Duero, central Spain.