Solar eclipse to occur next week. Here is what to know

The Moon crosses in front of the Sun during a total solar eclipse at Lake Monroe on April 08, 2024 in Indiana, United States. Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images People throughout Europe and parts of the U.S. will be treated to a chance to see a solar eclipse on Wednesday. People in Iceland, Greenland, northern Russia, Spain, and a part of Portugal will see a total eclipse, according to astronomers. That's when the moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, fully blocking the Sun's face. NASA says northern parts of the United States, including from Alaska to North Carolina, will see a partial solar eclipse. During a partial solar eclipse, the moon passes between the sun and Earth, but the celestial bodies are not perfectly aligned. Because only parts of the sun are obscured, the sun appears as a crescent shape. The partial eclipse is expected to begin around 1:17 p.m. ET in Washington, D.C. and have 4% coverage, according to NASA. That means up to 4 percent of the sun will be covered by the moon. In Reykjavík, Iceland, the total eclipse will begin at 5:48 p.m. local time , and in León, Spain, totality will begin at 8:28 p.m an...