Spain has now spent 117 years (since 1905) without witnesses. total solar eclipse, i.e. when the star king is completely covered by the Moon and therefore the full day becomes night. It is a magnificent and unforgettable phenomenon for those who have had the opportunity to observe it elsewhere in the world. after waiting this long Spain will be able to enjoy three consecutive major solar eclipses in the same decade.. The first will be in 2026 and the next in 2027. But in addition to this, in 2028 there will be another, equally exceptional, circular type. there will be no doubt ‘ten years of solar eclipses‘ for our country.
August 2026 eclipse
The first of these events will take place on August 12, 2026., in the late afternoon. It will not be visible throughout the country, but only along a 290-kilometer strip that will include cities such as A Coruña, Gijón, Oviedo, Santander, Valladolid, Vitoria, Zaragoza, Valencia, Castellón, Tarragona and the Balearic Islands. Both Madrid and Barcelona will be slightly out of the band of integrity, which won’t stop the phenomenon from continuing to be spectacular.
But what exactly will happen? For an observer (always goggles), it will be appreciated how the moon begins to overlap the sun as if it had ‘bite’. Said bite will appear increasingly larger until it occupies the entire solar disk, which will be completely covered by the Moon. This total eclipse will last a little over a minute. From then on, the Sun will gradually clear the ground until the Earth’s moon recedes completely and exposes it again.
This phenomenon will begin in the late afternoon on August 12, 2026, when the Sun is already low above the horizon. For this reason, it is necessary to be in places where there are no mountains and obstacles that would prevent contemplation. It would be ideal to have a sea horizon in sight, or at least a plain with no significant elevations in the background.
Second total eclipse in 2027
The next year, in 2027, the second total eclipse will come. It will be August 2, again at sunset. Considering that it will take place in the middle of summer, as in the previous one, it is estimated that the weather conditions will not prevent an excellent observation.
However, in this case, the total eclipse will be smaller in our country (although it can also be seen from other neighboring Mediterranean countries). The places where the whole can be seen will be in the extreme south of the Peninsula, especially from Cádiz to Málaga. However, Seville or Granada will still be able to see 98% blackout. Ceuta and Melilla will also enjoy the full show.
2028 annular eclipse
And there will be more. Next year, 2028, we can enjoy A new solar eclipse, this time in the form of a ring. It will be on January 26. How is an annular eclipse different from a full one? Basically, because the Moon is slightly further away from Earth and therefore has a smaller apparent size, it does not completely obscure the Sun, leaving a visible ring around the moon.
However, it is an equally memorable phenomenon and can be seen in most of the country’s territory, It continues from Ibiza and Formentera to Valencia, Castellón, Alicante, Murcia and ends with Granada, Córdoba, Seville, Málaga and Cádiz.
But the Canary Islands will be left out of the most striking phase of these three astronomical events.
Experts remember that it is necessary protect your eyes with glasses or other approved items for observing the sun, with nothing. Smoked glass or any dark plastic is not enough. Observing the sun without prescribed precautions can result in irreversible injury.
More information about the edges and key features of each eclipse can be found on this web page.