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Spain’s Total Solar Eclipse Draws Millions, 350 Viewing Sites

8/15/2026

Summary

Spain Hosts Eclipse

Spain saw its first total solar eclipse in more than a century on Aug. 12, 2026, darkening large parts of the country.
Authorities expected up to 6 million visitors and set up 350 official viewing sites along the eclipse path.
Over 33,500 police officers were deployed to manage crowds and guard against wildfires.
Hotel rooms in northern Spain and Reykjavík averaged more than $1,000 per night as demand surged.

Summary

Eclipse Meets Perseids

The total solar eclipse coincided with the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, letting observers see meteors during totality.
GOES, Meteosat and DSCOVR satellites imaged the Moon’s shadow racing across Earth at over 1,000 mph.
NASA advises using ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses for partial phases and warns eyes are safe only during totality.
The next total eclipses will be visible from Spain on Aug. 2 2027, Australia/New Zealand on July 2 2028, and Alaska on March 30 2033.

History

Historical Context

On 29 May 1919 a total solar eclipse, lasting 5 minutes 13 seconds, crossed Brazil and West Africa, providing the first field test of Albert Einstein’s 1915 general-relativity prediction. British expeditions—Arthur Eddington’s team on Príncipe and Charles Davidson’s group at Sobral—photographed star positions, measured the predicted light-deflection, and presented the confirming results to the Royal Society and Royal Astronomical Society.

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Spain Hosts Eclipse

Spain saw its first total solar eclipse in more than a century on Aug. 12, 2026, darkening large parts of the country.
Authorities expected up to 6 million visitors and set up 350 official viewing sites along the eclipse path.
Over 33,500 police officers were deployed to manage crowds and guard against wildfires.
Hotel rooms in northern Spain and Reykjavík averaged more than $1,000 per night as demand surged.

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