Preparations are continuing in Spain for a total solar eclipse that will be visible after a gap of more than a century, with the total phase in the country expected to last less than two minutes. The eclipse will begin shortly before 8:30 p.m. local time on Wednesday, and the Moon will completely cover the Sun across a wide area of the country.
The path of the shadow will begin in the northwestern regions of Asturias and Galicia and reach the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean within a few minutes. The Moon’s passage in front of the Sun and its subsequent retreat will take about two hours, but total coverage will last less than two minutes in Spain.
Temperatures will fall by about 5 degrees at the center of the shadow
Places at the center of the Moon’s shadow will quickly grow dark, and temperatures are expected to drop by about 5 degrees. NASA says that, if the sky is clear, the corona—the outer layer of the Sun’s atmosphere, normally invisible beside its bright surface—may also be visible.
The total eclipse will also be visible from parts of Greenland, Iceland and a small section of Portugal. In other parts of Spain and some areas of Western Europe, the eclipse will be partial.
Spain’s rare sequence of eclipses will continue
Wednesday’s event will be the first total solar eclipse visible from Central or Western Europe since 1999. The last total solar eclipse on the Iberian Peninsula occurred in 1912.
Spain will not have to wait another century for a new total eclipse. Another total eclipse will be visible next August in areas including the southern cities of Cadiz and Malaga. In January 2028, an annular eclipse—during which the Moon will pass in front of the Sun without completely covering it—will be visible from major cities including Seville, Malaga and Valencia.
Measures taken for traffic and fire safety
The movement of large numbers of people toward viewing locations shortly before sunset could put pressure on roads and emergency services in Spain. Traffic authorities have taken special measures and asked people to avoid nonessential journeys in private vehicles in areas along the eclipse path.
Authorities are concerned that drivers may stop suddenly on the road or try to watch the eclipse or take photographs while driving. Spain’s weather agency also warned that the risk of forest fires was “very high or extreme” across large parts of the country.
People were therefore asked not to light fires or barbecues, not to throw cigarette butts on the ground and not to leave glass or similar objects that could cause fires in natural areas. Numerous natural areas were also closed to reduce the fire risk.
Certified glasses required during the partial phase
Authorities reiterated that people should not look directly at the Sun during the partial phases of the eclipse without certified eclipse glasses. Ordinary sunglasses do not provide sufficient protection, while cameras, binoculars and telescopes must be used with suitable solar filters.
Protocols have been prepared for healthcare workers in some regions, including Asturias, to respond to possible eye injuries.
