Millions of people are getting ready to watch the total solar eclipse in Spain and Iceland
Millions of people in Spain and Iceland are preparing to watch the total solar eclipse scheduled for Wednesday. People are stocking up on special protective glasses and heading to locations along the path of totality.
Total solar eclipses have long been a source of fascination.
In the past, a sudden darkening of the sky was seen as an omen, a manifestation of supernatural forces, or a cosmic battle. Modern observers are eager to witness this rare phenomenon, when twilight briefly sets in in the middle of the day and animals may change their behavior.
“I hope that tonight will give rise to a wonderful generation of astrophysicists,” said Juan Cruz, Spain’s Secretary of State for Science. “This is such a special moment,” he added.
According to Cruz, Spain expects up to 6 million visitors, who will travel mainly to rural areas in the north of the country and to the Balearic Islands, which lie along the path of the eclipse.
What makes the eclipse viewing in Spain unique is that the total phase of the eclipse will quickly give way to sunset.
At the same time, the event coincides with a period of heightened risk of wildfires, so Spanish authorities have launched a large-scale police operation and stepped up public safety measures.
The government also plans to use the interest in the eclipse to promote the country’s less-visited regions and partially alleviate the strain on popular resorts.
The Iberian Peninsula last witnessed a total solar eclipse in 1912. The next total eclipse is expected on August 2, 2027, and an annular eclipse in January 2028. Together, these events are known as the “Iberian Eclipse Trio.”
In Iceland’s capital, Reykjavík, protective glasses for viewing the eclipse sold out within a few days. The country, with a population of about 400,000, expects to welcome up to 80,000 visitors.
A narrow band of total eclipse is expected to reach Iceland’s west coast at approximately 5:44 p.m. local time (8:44 p.m. Kyiv time), after which the Moon’s shadow will move eastward.
The maximum duration of the total phase in the far west of the island will be up to 2 minutes and 13 seconds, although in most towns and villages, total darkness will last for a shorter period.
Due to the expected influx of tourists, authorities have warned of heavy traffic on the roads and urged people to arrive at viewing locations early.
Icelandic singer Björk was also set to participate in the eclipse-related events, planning to perform with a DJ at an event south of Reykjavík.
It won’t just be tourists and amateur astronomers watching the phenomenon. NASA plans to launch a WB-57 high-altitude aircraft from Iceland to track the movement of the Moon’s shadow.
In addition, NASA-funded teams plan to launch weather balloons to study the effects of the sudden darkening and drop in temperature on the lower layers of the atmosphere.
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The eclipse will also draw so-called “eclipse chasers”—enthusiasts who travel the world to be in the path of the total phase of every eclipse available to them.
American amateur astronomer and former plastic surgeon Gordon Telepun, who has already photographed six total solar eclipses, plans to observe the phenomenon from Mallorca this time.
“The weather conditions here in August are quite favorable, the total eclipse lasts a decent amount of time—over a minute and a half—and it’s easy to get there,” he explained.
NASA plans to study the total solar eclipse on August 12 using a WB-57 high-altitude research aircraft and weather balloons. The aircraft will track the moon’s shadow, allowing the agency to collect data for a longer period during the eclipse, according to Space.com.
In Latvia, the partial solar eclipse expected on Wednesday, August 12, is best viewed from the coast, where the western horizon is visible. The eclipse will occur during sunset, so buildings in cities and forests in rural areas may block the view, according to LSM English.
