This summer we will have the first of the three eclipses that will make up in Spain the already known as the Iberian Trio. This will consist of two totals, in 2026 and 2027, and an annular one in 2028. For months, the places in which totality will be reached They have begun to organize all kinds of events to commemorate this phenomenon.
Meanwhile, in the less fortunate points, where the Moon will not completely hide the Sun, we are left to look at what percentage of the sun will be obscured. If you have seen that in your city the eclipse will be 95%, you may have thought that that is already a lot. But the difference between that and the totality is abysmal.
The Moon in the middle. A total solar eclipse occurs when the Earth, Sun, and Moon align in such a way that the Moon completely obscures the Sun for some observers on Earth. The areas of the Earth where the complete phenomenon can be seen are within what is known as the strip of totality. It is basically that, a strip of the map in which the lucky points are included.
In these places, begins to see little by little how the lunar disk hides the solar disk. Then, after a few seconds or minutes of totality, in which the occultation is complete, the reverse process occurs. The sun is gradually uncovering, revealing more and more light. During the time of totality, it becomes completely night.
Bias is not the same. When an eclipse is partial, part of the occultation of the Sun is seen, but it is not completely visible. Those seconds or minutes of totality do not take place. It is usually calculated what will be the maximum percentage of the Sun that will be covered. That’s why we talk about eclipses of 80%, 90%, 95%, 99%… Logically, the higher that percentage, the better, but even if it is a very high percentage, the spectacle is not even close to that of a total solar eclipse.
As if it were cloudy. The Sun is very bright. So much so that even a tiny uncovered fraction will be enough to illuminate the Earth. That’s why, as explained in Forbes University of Texas astronomer Angela Speckwhen the percentage is very high, the effect that we observers see is similar to that of a cloudy day. But that dusk does not occur during the day that has so fascinated humans throughout history.
Weather conditions matter. In the same article of Forbesretired NASA astrophysicist Fred Espenak explained that weather conditions and pollution also greatly influence the visualization of these phenomena. “If you have a lot of scattered clouds and aerosol particles in the air, they will scatter the light into the shadow, making the eclipse brighter.” Instead, “if you have a very clear atmosphere without clouds or particles, then there is less scattering of the atmosphere and it is much darker in the shadow.”
The lucky places. The strip of totality of the solar eclipse on August 12, 2026 goes from Greenland to the Balearic Islands. Therefore, there will be many places in the north of Spain in which that daytime dusk will be seen. Specifically, they will be the north of Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, La Rioja, the north of Castilla y León and the Valencian Community, La Rioja, and a part of the Basque Country, Navarra, Madrid, Aragon, Catalonia and Castilla la Mancha. Of course, also almost all the Balearic Islands.
Still, a partial eclipse is also a rare phenomenon worth watching. If you are not in the zone of totality, do not suffer, you will be able to see something wonderful.
Image | POT
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