The next total solar eclipse occurs on August 12, 2024, with the path of totality covering Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia, and a small part of Portugal, according to NASA. Partial eclipses will be visible across Europe, Africa, North America, and near the Atlantic, Arctic, and Pacific Oceans. In the U.S., the event starts around 11:34 a.m. Eastern Time and ends by 2:52 p.m. ET. Viewers must use specialized eclipse glasses for eye protection, as direct sun exposure can cause damage; only during the brief totality phase is it safe to remove glasses. Maximum totality reaches 2 minutes and 18 seconds, with western Iceland experiencing 2 minutes 13 seconds, Gijón, Spain, 1 minute 45 seconds, and Oviedo, Spain, 1 minute 48 seconds. A subsequent partial solar eclipse will be visible from August 27 to 28 in the Americas, Europe, Africa, and western Asia. Tools from Time and Date assist in checking local visibility, and experts from NOAA and NASA stress safety protocols.