Spain will see four eclipses in four years

On March 29 we can enjoy, in much of the northern hemisphere, of a partial solar eclipse. However, this eclipse will have special meaning in Spain as it will be the snack of a unique phenomenon: four solar eclipses in four yearsall with something in common, and they can be seen from the peninsula.

The March eclipse, appetizer. He March 29 The first of a series of four eclipses that we can enjoy in the coming years. This will be the only one whose center does not pass through the Peninsula. The area of ​​greatest intensity of the eclipse will be given in eastern Canada. In a part of the country more than 90% of the solar disk will be covered.

In Spain, According to where we locate ourselvesthe concealment will range between 32.6% (on the west coast of Galicia) and 8.7% (in the east of the island of Menorca). In Europe, the places that will be darkest by the eclipse will be Iceland and the Azores.

The eclipse will pass mainly in the morning. The first community where it can be seen will be that of the Canary Islands, around 9:10 in the morning (10:10, CET peninsular time). In Vigo and Huelva will begin to be seen at 10:40 CET. From there he will obscure the heavens of the Peninsula. The latest areas to recover the usual clarity will be north of Cantabria and the Basque Country, around 12:41 CET.

2026 and 2027: two total eclipses. The main dishes of this astronomical menu will arrive in 2026 and 2027. The eclipse of the August 12, 2026 It can be partially seen in almost all of Europe and in northern North America, but Spain will be one of the few places through which the maximum concealment path will pass.

This path It will start from the Arctic and will go through Greenland and East Iceland before reaching the Iberian Peninsula by Asturias. The sun will be completely hidden in a substantial part of the country, until ending in the Mediterranean.

Double. In 2027, on August 2, it awaits us Another total eclipse. This, instead of “moving” through the Northwest to West Peninsula, will move from southwest to Southeast. Although the eclipse will be partially visible throughout Europe, only in southern Andalusia will be visible as a total eclipse.

The total concealment path will begin in Atlantic waters, will pass between Madeira and Las Azores until reaching the Strait of Gibraltar. It will continue its way through North Africa to the Arabian Peninsula and Arphric Horn. Finally, the eclipse will fade with dawn on the Indian.

Dessert: an annular eclipse. The culmination of this series of solar eclipses will put an annular eclipse. In these eclipses the maximum concealment zone is not totally in the shadow since the lunar disc area is less than the area of ​​the solar disc. This leaves a “fire ring” around the moon that gives name to the type of eclipse.

He January 26, 2028part of Latin America and Spain can see this phenomenon, the rest will have to settle for a partial eclipse, except in the Southern Cone, where the eclipse will not be visible. In the case of Spain, the annular eclipse will be seen as such in the south and west of the Peninsula and in the Balearic Islands. The eclipse will arrive along the Huelva coast and leave the country through the northwest, also reaching the Mediterranean archipelago.

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Image | Geronimo Giqueaux