If you possibly can, you should definitely try to get in a position to see the total eclipse, since this is the most spectacular astronomical phenomenon you will ever see! This page give the low-down on what you can expect to see, and where.
Please remember that a total solar eclipse is not safe to look at with the naked eye except during the few brief seconds or minutes of total eclipse, when the Sun itself is completely obscured by the Moon. At all other times, you must use proper solar viewing protection. For more information, see our eye safety page.
Introduction
The total eclipse worldwide begins at 09:10 UT and ends at 10:21 UT; the path of the total eclipse cuts across the northern extremes of the Earth in just 1 hour 11 minutes.
The path of totality passes between Iceland and the UK, missing both. The Faroes will see a total eclipse from 09:40–09:44 UT; however, the islands are off the path centre, and will see at most 2 minutes 25 seconds of totality at any given point. Svalbard fares better, with the total eclipse seen in the islands from 10:09–10:17 UT; the centreline passes over the island, giving residents up to 2 minutes 30 seconds of total eclipse.
The most important thing is the weather; heavy cloud cover will pretty much ruin the experience, so the key is to watch the weather forecast and try to be somewhere with clear skies. Also, the Sun will be very low along the path of the total eclipse, so having a clear view in the direction where it will be is vital.
This map shows the path of the total eclipse; hover over a circle on the centreline to see the circumstances at that point. You can zoom (using the controls on the left) and pan (by dragging) to see more detail.
The interactive map is currently not available.
The path of the total eclipse around the Faroes and Svalbard. Zoom and pan the map for more detail.
To see a total eclipse, you must be within the path of totality shaded in blue on the map above; and to see a total eclipse lasting for a decent length of time, you want to be towards the centre of the path (in terms of side to side), not at the edges where the duration will be very short. However, you don't need to be at the exact centre; the duration falls off very slowly from the middle, and more quickly at the edges. Anywhere in the middle third of the path will let you see a total eclipse within about 90% of the duration on the centreline.
The Ocean
The total eclipse starts at 09:10 UT in the Atlantic, south of Greenland; most of Greenland will see the Sun rise partially eclipsed, as will the Azores. After this the path of totality moves quickly north-east into the Arctic.
The Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are in the south-eastern half of the total eclipse path; to see the best duration of total eclipse, it's best to be in the north-west.
Mykines Village will be about the first settlement on land to see the total eclipse. Here, the partial eclipse will start at 08:38:37 UT; the total eclipse will last from 09:40:15–09:42:39 UT; and the partial eclipse will end at 10:47:02 UT, giving the village 2 minutes 24 seconds of total eclipse. This is the longest duration that can be seen in the Faroes, as Mykines is closest to the centreline; on the centreline itself the duration is 2 minutes 47 seconds.
Farther south, Sumba on Suðuroy sees the partial eclipse from 08:37:49–10:46:59 UT; the total eclipse here will last from 09:40:25–09:41:33 UT, for one minute 8 seconds of totality. Given how close Sumba is to the edge of the total eclipse path, this isn't bad, but a better vantage point would be north and west. Sandvik, at the other end of the island, sees 1 minute 42 seconds of totality at around the same time.
Tórshavn sees the partial eclipse from 08:38:51–10:47:40 UT; the total eclipse lasts from 09:40:53–09:42:53 UT, 2 minutes exactly. However Tjørnuvík, at the north of Streymoy, sees 2 minutes 20 seconds of total eclipse from 09:40:53–09:43:15 UT. In Tórshavn the Sun will be just 20 degrees above the horizon at maximum eclipse; so be sure to have a clear view to the south-east.
Klaksvík, on Borðoy, sees 2 minutes 6 seconds of total eclipse, from 09:41:18–09:43:24 UT; Viðareiði, on Viðoy, sees 2 minutes 11 seconds, from 09:41:30–09:43:40 UT.
The island of Fugloy is the last place to see the total eclipse. The north-east coast will see the partial eclipse from 08:39:40–10:48:30 UT; the total eclipse will last from 09:41:43–09:43:47 UT, for 2 minutes 4 seconds of totality.
Svalbard
The total eclipse reaches Svalbard along its south-west coast at about 10:10 UT. The west end of Nordenskiöld Land will be the first point on the centreline to see the total eclipse. Here, the partial eclipse will last from 09:10:57–11:11:33 UT; the total eclipse, from 10:09:48–10:12:18 UT, with 2 minutes 30 seconds of total eclipse.
Longyearbyen is similar; the partial eclipse lasts from 09:11:53–11:12:21 UT, and the total eclipse from 10:10:44–10:13:11 UT, giving 2 minutes 27 seconds of total eclipse. The main issue is that the Sun is just 11 degrees above the horizon at maximum eclipse; it is at an azimuth of 166 degrees, just east of south, so having a clear view in this direction will be crucial.
Farther north, Ny-Ålesund is farther from the centreline, but still experiences 2 minutes 20 seconds of total eclipse from 10:09:54–10:12:14 UT.
