Solar eclipse visible in Spain on Wednesday

On Wednesday, August 12, Spain will experience a brief but intense solar eclipse visible in nearly 4,000 municipalities.

The eclipse will begin in A Coruña at 19:31 and reach its maximum point of totality at 20:27, lasting one minute and 16 seconds. The totality of the eclipse will be visible in Navia, Asturias, for 110 seconds, while in Derio, Vizcaya, it will last only two seconds. The last location where it will be visible will be on the island of Formentera, where the totality will occur at 20:33 and last 40 seconds.

Solar eclipses occur when the Moon interposes itself between the Sun and Earth, blocking the sunlight and casting a "shadow" over our planet. This astronomical phenomenon is a perfect coincidence: the Sun is 400 times larger than the Moon and, in turn, is 400 times farther away from the satellite. This allows the Moon to cover exactly the entire solar disk, producing a "shadow" that will traverse the Iberian Peninsula from northwest to southeast.

Before and after the totality, unique phenomena can be observed. One of them is the ring of diamonds, which occurs when the Moon has almost completely interposed itself before the solar disk, leaving only that final fragment of direct light in a small area, reminiscent of an annulus with a large diamond. Seconds later, the pearls of Bailey can be seen, small balls of light produced because the Moon is not a smooth sphere but has relief, like mountains and craters, and the last rays of the Sun slip through them.

In addition to producing a beautiful visual effect, these pearls have had significant scientific value for studying the topography of the Moon. The appearance of the solar corona is one of the most anticipated moments of an eclipse of this caliber. The corona is the atmosphere of the Sun, a layer that surrounds the star and is very difficult to see under normal conditions. However, during totality, the Moon blocks the solar disk with extraordinary precision, allowing the observation of the solar corona.

During the totality of an eclipse, the Moon blocks the light of the Sun and the solar radiation that heats the Earth's surface disappears abruptly. This generates an eerie twilight in all directions, as if we were at the center of a giant sunset.

This total solar eclipse will be visible in the Iberian Peninsula from northwest to southeast, and it will also be observed as partial in the northern part of the American continent, much of Europe, and the western part of Africa. The shadow of totality will depart from the Arctic Ocean, graze the northeast of Greenland and one end of Iceland, cross the Atlantic, and enter the Iberian Peninsula, traversing it from west to east.

It is important to note that the visibility of the eclipse will depend on the clarity of the horizon towards the west, as the Moon blocks the solar disk with extraordinary precision. Therefore, it will be essential to consult recommended sites where visibility is guaranteed.

According to astronomer Rafael Bachiller, director of the National Astronomical Observatory and the Royal Observatory of Madrid, "total eclipses continue to be scientifically very valuable." However, the eclipse on August 12 will take place with the Sun very low on the horizon, so the corona may not be as clear as in other recorded eclipses. "Dispersion, turbulence, and atmospheric extinction can reduce contrast and definition," warns Bachiller.

Piece prepared by the newsroom from cross-checked sources in several countries.