APOD: 2026 August 13 – Total Solar Eclipse Over Spain
The post APOD: 2026 August 13 – Total Solar Eclipse Over Spain appeared first on NASA Science .
On August 12th, 2026, the Moon completely blocked the Sun, casting its shadow over Siberia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and Portugal. This total solar eclipse was witnessed from Zaragoza, Spain, where it was captured in two instances - one over the Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar and the other reflected in the Ebro River. This marked Spain's first major total solar eclipse since 1905.
During the brief moments of totality, many observed a sudden drop in temperature, a hush over the birds, and insects chirping in confusion, along with the shared awe of the crowd. The corona, the Sun's outer atmosphere, shone brilliantly as the Sun's bright disk was obscured by the Moon. Studying these eclipses aids scientists in understanding why the corona is millions of degrees hotter than the Sun's surface.
Citizens were encouraged to contribute to these studies by documenting how wildlife reacts, capturing images of the corona, and monitoring air temperature and clouds. A selection of other spectacular eclipse images can be found in the attached photo. The image was generated by Ruiyu Zhang, Keighley Rockcliffe, Robert Nemiroff, Jerry Bonnell, and Cecilia Chirenti, and is a service of ASD at NASA/GSFC, NASA Science Activation, and Michigan Tech.
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- APOD: 2026 August 13 – Total Solar Eclipse Over Spain science.nasa.gov
