Spain's solar eclipse trilogy: spectacle starting August 12
From August 2026 to January 2028, amateur and pro sky watchers are in for a series of rare solar spectacles over Spain and North Africa. Astronomers expect the events to attract millions from around the world.
Spain is set to witness a remarkable trio of solar eclipses over the next three years, starting on August 12, 2026. This rare phenomenon is being organized by Josep Masalles, a lifelong astronomer and president of the Barcelona Astronomical Society (ASTER). The first total eclipse will pass through Galicia, the Balearic Islands, Greenland, and western Iceland on August 12, 2026.
The second total eclipse is scheduled for August 2, 2027, visible from southern Spain, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East. The final eclipse in this trio will be an annular event on January 10, 2028, passing over southwest to northeast Spain.
Experts say this unique alignment of celestial bodies is extremely rare, with the last total solar eclipse visible from the Iberian Peninsula occurring in 1912. Total solar eclipses, where the moon completely blocks the sun's light, are also a valuable opportunity for scientists to study the sun's atmosphere, known as the corona, and the effects of space weather on Earth.
The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (IAC) are leading citizen science projects to observe and study these eclipses, engaging students and the public in learning about astronomy and space weather.
Written by urgent.news from Deutsche Welle Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
