Morocco set for a spectacular partial solar eclipse on August 12

Moroccans will have front-row seats to a spectacular celestial event on August 12, when a partial solar eclipse will be visible across the kingdom at sunset. The eclipse will begin at around 6:44 p.m. and end around 8:40 p.m., with the Moon covering more than 90% of the Sun in Tangier and nearly 87% in Casablanca.

The European Space Agency (ESA) says the eclipse's narrow path of totality will cross Greenland, Iceland, Spain and a small part of northeastern Portugal, while the rest of Europe and parts of North Africa, including Morocco, will witness a partial eclipse. It will be the first total solar eclipse visible from mainland Europe since 2006, making it one of the continent's biggest skywatching events in years.

ESA reminds the public that the eclipse should only be viewed using ISO 12312-2-certified eclipse glasses or appropriate solar filters, as looking directly at the Sun without proper protection can cause permanent eye damage.