Story perspectives

6 Million Tourists Watch Total Eclipse as 25,000 Police Deployed

8/13/2026

Summary

NASA Streams Eclipse

The total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026 was visible in Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Portugal and northern Russia, lasting up to 2 minutes 18 seconds.
NASA livestreamed the eclipse at 1:15 p.m. ET on multiple platforms for viewers outside the path.
In Spain, about 6 million tourists gathered, prompting deployment of 25 000 police officers and over 100 aircraft.
NASA reported partial eclipse coverage of about 28 % in Anchorage, Alaska and roughly 9 % in New York City.

Summary

London Crowds Gather

London crowds gathered at dawn as a 7,000-member WhatsApp group circulated glass-safety alerts, prompting the Royal Observatory to sell out.
Professor James Zavislan said cardboard-Mylar glasses filter harmful solar rays after 37 emergency calls were recorded.
Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska reported only minor incidents, citing a man hospitalized after falling from a train roof.

History

Historical Context

The May 29 1919 total solar eclipse, photographed by Arthur Eddington, provided the first empirical support for Einstein’s general relativity. That landmark test sparked worldwide eclipse interest, a phenomenon that later produced 71 total eclipses in the 20th century. The upcoming 2026 eclipse crossing Spain and London revives that legacy, drawing tourists and extensive public outreach.

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NASA Streams Eclipse

The total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026 was visible in Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Portugal and northern Russia, lasting up to 2 minutes 18 seconds.
NASA livestreamed the eclipse at 1:15 p.m. ET on multiple platforms for viewers outside the path.
In Spain, about 6 million tourists gathered, prompting deployment of 25 000 police officers and over 100 aircraft.
NASA reported partial eclipse coverage of about 28 % in Anchorage, Alaska and roughly 9 % in New York City.

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