August 12 total solar eclipse: will you see it from your city?

August 12 eclipse: not everyone will see totality

On August 12, Spain joins the ranks of total solar eclipse destinations. But beware: only those inside a narrow band crossing the country from west to east, from Galicia to the Balearic Islands, will enjoy the full spectacle. Everyone else, even with 99.8% coverage, will miss the corona and the total darkness. The difference between 99.8% and 100% is not a matter of perception: in the first case, looking without protection is still dangerous and the sky does not go completely dark.

The lucky ones on the center line will witness a phenomenon that will not return to Spain until 2053. But there is an additional problem: the Sun will be very low at sunset, especially in Palma de Mallorca, where it will barely reach 2 degrees above the horizon. Being in the band is of little use if the western horizon is blocked by buildings or mountains.

For those settling for a partial eclipse, ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses are mandatory throughout the partial phase. No X-ray film, sunglasses, or homemade methods. Patience is key: they should only be removed when the Sun is completely covered and put back on before it reappears.

While some prepare for the astronomical event, others wonder whether the spectacle deserves all the hype. But the truth is that the sensory experience — the change in light, the drop in temperature — is something no data can replace. The next opportunity will come in 2053. That is, if we are still interested in looking at the sky by then.