Madrid is beginning to prepare for the astronomical event of the summer. The City Council will distribute free, certified viewing glasses from July 17 through August 12 so that Madrid residents can safely observe the total solar eclipse on August 12.
The glasses can be picked up at the Madrid Planetarium, the Madrid History Museum, the San Isidro Museum, the Municipal Printing House–Book Arts, Conde Duque, and municipal libraries. Using this type of protection will be essential to prevent eye injuries, as looking directly at the Sun during an eclipse can cause irreversible damage.
The Planetarium is celebrating the eclipse with a special program
The distribution is part of “Trio of Eclipses, ” a program through which the Madrid Planetarium is celebrating its 40th anniversary and commemorating the three eclipses that will be visible in Spain between 2026 and 2028.
The main attraction will be an immersive film in fulldome format, dedicated to explaining how solar and lunar eclipses occur and the correct way to observe them. It will be screened Tuesday through Sunday at 1:00 p.m., with an additional showing on weekends at 7:00 p.m. and sessions with expert commentary Tuesday through Friday at 6:00 p.m.
Children’s workshops and an international conference
The program also includes children’s workshops on the Sun and the Moon, which will take place between July 23 and August 7, as well as the lecture “From the 2026 Total Solar Eclipse to the Dark Universe, ” to be given on August 6 by astrophysicist Alex Filippenko, a professor at the University of Berkeley.
With this initiative, the Planetarium aims to bring astronomy closer to the public in the weeks leading up to the eclipse and ensure that Madrid residents can enjoy the phenomenon safely.
Where to get the free glasses
The approved viewing glasses will be distributed from July 17 through August 12 at the Madrid Planetarium, the Madrid History Museum, the San Isidro Museum, the Municipal Printing House–Book Arts, Conde Duque, and the network of municipal libraries, while supplies last.