In the late afternoon of August 12, a total solar eclipse will be visible from the Iberian Peninsula. This astronomical phenomenon has not occurred in the skies over Spain for more than a century: the last one took place in 1912, when the eclipse’s path of totality crossed the northern part of the country.
The upcoming eclipse will not look the same from every point on the peninsula. When the Moon covers the Sun and casts its shadow onto the Earth, it will be a total eclipse over certain areas, while from others, a partial eclipse will be visible. It all depends on the angle between our planet, its satellite, and the Sun.
For this reason, the National Geographic Institute offers an interactive map on its website that allows users to check which areas of Spain will experience a total eclipse. Additionally, users can see the percentage of the Sun that will be covered by the Moon in other parts of the peninsula.
The website to find the ideal spot to view the eclipse
But the Moon’s position relative to our planet isn’t the only factor determining how the eclipse will be viewed. It will occur at sunset, when the Sun is near the horizon, which is why much more mundane obstacles may prevent people from witnessing the astronomical event in all its splendor: all it takes is for a building or an unexpected elevation in the terrain to block the Sun.
To address this, the Ministry of Science, in collaboration with the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology, has developed an augmented reality web viewer that will help citizens find the ideal spot to witness the eclipse. This tool allows users to check whether, from their location, they will have an unobstructed view of the Sun in the direction where it will be positioned at the time of the eclipse on August 12.
With this measure, the government also aims to limit the number of people traveling in search of the best viewing spots. The idea is to make it easier for every citizen to witness the eclipse under the best possible conditions from wherever they are in the country.
