For over one minute, day will turn into night in Europe: Here's why?

Europe will witness a total solar eclipse on August 12 as the Moon fully covers the Sun for just over a minute in some areas. The event will reveal the solar corona and briefly turn daylight into darkness, while requiring careful eye protection.The total solar eclipse of 2017 shot at the Great Smokey Mountains on August 21st of 2017. (Photo: Getty)Millions of people across Europe are set to witness one of nature's most spectacular celestial events as a total solar eclipse briefly transforms daylight into darkness.For just over a minute in parts of the continent, the Sun will disappear behind the Moon, stars will emerge in the daytime sky, and temperatures may even drop as the Moon's shadow races across Earth.The cosmic event will occur on August 12 and will likely be witnessed by over a billion people. WHAT IS TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE?A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun, completely blocking the Sun's bright disk.This alignment can only happen during a new moon, when all three celestial bodies line up almost perfectly. Although the Sun is about 400 times larger than the Moon, it is also about 400 times farther away from Earth, making both appear nearly the same size in the sky. This remarkable coincidence allows the Moon to completely cover the Sun.HOW WILL THE TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE OCCUR?As the eclipse progresses, observers first witness a partial eclipse, with the Moon gradually taking a bite out of the Sun. When totality begins, daylight rapidly fades into an eerie twilight.The sky darkens enough for bright planets and stars to become visible, while birds may return to their nests and nocturnal animals briefly become active, mistaking the sudden darkness for night.The period of complete darkness, known as totality, lasts only along a narrow strip called the path of totality, typically about 100 to 200 kilometres wide.Outside this corridor, people will see only a partial solar eclipse, where part of the Sun remains visible.WHY IS A TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE IMPORTANT?During totality, one of the Sun's most elusive features, the corona, becomes visible.Normally hidden by the Sun's intense brightness, the corona is the outer atmosphere of the Sun, extending millions of kilometres into space.Scientists study it during eclipses to better understand why it is hundreds of times hotter than the Sun's visible surface and how it drives the solar wind that affects Earth's space weather.Unlike lunar eclipses, viewing a solar eclipse requires caution. Looking directly at the Sun without certified eclipse glasses can cause permanent eye damage.The only safe time to look at the eclipse without protection is during the brief phase of totality, when the Sun is completely covered by the Moon.For scientists, photographers, and skywatchers alike, the upcoming eclipse promises to be far more than a visual spectacle, it is a rare opportunity to witness the intricate celestial mechanics that govern the Earth-Moon-Sun system and briefly turn day into night.- EndsPublished By: Sibu Kumar TripathiPublished On: Aug 7, 2026 12:39 IST