One of the most spectacular astronomical phenomena of recent years will occur on Wednesday, August 12, when a total solar eclipse will be visible from parts of Europe and the northern hemisphere.
For a few minutes, the Moon will be directly between the Earth and the Sun, completely covering the solar disk for those within the narrow band through which its shadow will pass.
The eclipse takes on special significance for Europe, as it will be the first total solar eclipse visible from continental Europe since 1999. The phenomenon is expected to attract thousands of travelers and astronomy enthusiasts to areas within the so-called "path of totality."
How a total eclipse is created
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, casting its shadow over part of the planet's surface.
In a total eclipse, for observers in the right location, the Moon covers the entire bright disk of the Sun. Daylight is suddenly cut off, the sky takes on a twilight appearance, and the solar corona becomes visible around the dark Moon.
The phenomenon is possible thanks to an impressive ratio of sizes and distances: The Sun has a diameter about 400 times larger than that of the Moon, but it is also about 400 times farther away. Thus, from Earth, the two disks appear to have almost the same apparent size.
Which areas will the Moon's shadow pass through?
The total eclipse on August 12 will pass over northern Russia, Greenland and Iceland, before crossing the Atlantic and reaching the Iberian Peninsula.
On the European part of the route, Spain will have a particularly privileged position, while a small part of northeastern Portugal will also be on the path to totality.
In Spain, the zone will cover most of the northern and eastern part of the country, reaching as far as the Balearic Islands.
The area from which the phenomenon will appear as a partial eclipse will be much larger. This includes most of Europe and Canada, parts of the northern United States and northwestern Africa.
Less than two minutes of totality in parts of Spain
The total solar eclipse will last a short time, especially in Spain, where the phenomenon will occur low on the horizon, just before sunset.
In the Burgos region, for example, the total eclipse will last about one minute and 44 seconds, while the entire process from the beginning to the end of the partial phases will last close to one hour and 47 minutes.
The maximum duration of the total phase along the entire path of the eclipse will reach approximately two minutes and 18 seconds.
Why are total eclipses so rare for one country?
Solar eclipses are not in themselves an extremely rare phenomenon on a global scale. What is rare is that a specific location falls precisely within the narrow band of totality.
The Moon's shadow covers a limited area of the Earth at a time, so it may be a long time before a particular city or region experiences a total solar eclipse again.
However, Spain is facing a particularly unusual eclipse period. On August 2, 2027, another total solar eclipse will pass over southern Spain, northern Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula.
Observation with special glasses
Special care is required when observing the phenomenon, as direct observation of the Sun without proper protection can cause serious eye damage.
Specially certified eclipse glasses or safe solar filters should be used for all partial phases of the eclipse. Regular sunglasses, even very dark ones, do not provide the required protection.
Only those within the total eclipse zone can remove the special glasses for a few moments, and only when the Moon has completely covered the Sun's bright disk. As soon as even a small part of it begins to reappear, protection must be used again.
Special solar filters are also required for telescopes, binoculars, and cameras, as concentrated solar radiation can cause serious eye damage and damage to equipment. /LAPSI.al
