Pet owners are being advised to keep a close watch on their cats or dogs during an extraordinary solar event that will plunge parts of the world into total darkness for over six minutes, an event not seen in a century.

In the near future, countless astronomy enthusiasts will travel to North African countries such as Egypt and Libya to witness what scientists consider the longest total solar eclipse since 1991.

This event, named the ‘Great North African Eclipse’, will occur on August 2, 2027, when the Moon will pass in front of the Sun for an impressive duration of six minutes and 23 seconds.

According to research by meteorologist Jean Meeus, the longest recorded phenomenon lasted seven minutes and 31 seconds, making this upcoming eclipse a rare and significant event, just over a minute shy of the record.

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It is believed that Luxor, Egypt, will offer the most spectacular view of this rare cosmic occurrence to those who travel there.

A total solar eclipse is set to shroud the world in darkness for other six minutes in August 2027 (Nasa)

Nonetheless, individuals in other North African countries, as well as certain locations in Southern Europe, are also expected to witness the event.

If you reside in any of these regions with your pets, there is an important expert warning that you should heed.

Ahead of the 2024 astronomical phenomenon, Dr. Katie Krebs, a veterinarian and professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine, confirmed that most animals are likely to remain ‘overall unaffected by an eclipse’.

“However, pet owners might notice short periods of confusion, and dogs and cats may display fear and bewilderment.”

The expert noted that some pets may prefer to hide during the six-minute event, while others might howl, pace, or pant.

Pet owners are being warned ahead of the jaw-dropping event (Getty Stock Image)

Unfortunately, some pets may even begin to show clear signs of anxiety, similar to how they react during thunderstorms or the annual November 5 fireworks in the UK.

The positive news is that Erica Cartmill, a professor of anthropology, animal behavior, and cognitive science at Indiana University, reassured that your pets won't harm their eyes by looking at the obscured sun.

"I believe our companion animals are more focused on us, particularly dogs, than anything else," she told People.

Her viewpoint was supported by American Kennel Club Chief Veterinary Officer Jerry Klein, who said to CBS: "Dogs know that if something causes them pain, they should probably avoid it. So left to their own devices, dogs are unlikely to stare at the sun.”

Clear skies are anticipated for the upcoming 2027 event, so eclipse enthusiasts won't be disappointed if they decide to travel to Luxor.

Dogs and cats may experience confusion and anxiety (Getty Stock Image)

“There is no chance of cloud in eastern Libya and western Egypt," Jay Anderson, a Canadian meteorologist, told the publication.

“In Luxor, the likelihood of cloud cover is 0.7 percent — at worst, you might encounter a little bit of thin cirrus cloud drifting through on the jet stream — but what you do encounter is dust.

"It's entirely possible that the totally eclipsed sun will be observed through a dust haze — but that will depend on the winds on the day.”

It's important to note that we're unlikely to witness another total eclipse of this length until 2114, as reported by Space stated.