Himmelsschauspiel: Totale Sonnenfinsternis in Spanien begonnen

A total solar eclipse began in Spain, captivating thousands of spectators in A Coruña, located in the northwest of the country. As the moon slowly moved across the sun, the phenomenon started at 20:27 and 41 seconds. For the first time since 1905, the sun disappeared entirely behind the moon in Spain, plunging the region into darkness for a minute and 18 seconds.

This spectacular celestial event was visible within a 300-kilometer strip stretching from northwest Spain to the south-east, including the Balearic Islands, with Mallorca at the center. The moon's shadow also swept across a small portion of Portugal.

Given that the sun was already low on the horizon, thousands of people had to gather at observation points where buildings, trees, or hills did not obstruct the view of the horizon. Enthusiasts traveled from all over the world to witness the eclipse. The very last point on land in Spain where a complete darkness of the sun could be observed was the small island of Formentera, south of Ibiza. The eclipse began there at 20:33 and 16 seconds and ended 41 seconds later at 20:33 and 57 seconds.

After the eclipse, observers could also enjoy another cosmic spectacle: a meteor shower. The Perseids were expected to reach their peak on that night, with up to a hundred shooting stars per hour.