Total solar eclipse to cross parts of Europe on Aug 12

scienceAug 8, 202654216

A total solar eclipse will pass over parts of Europe on 12 August, and the Spanish mountain village of Somosierra has been identified as a prime local viewing site where observers will see one minute and 29 seconds of totality. Somosierra sits at 1,440 metres and has 93 residents, but the council expects as many as 2,000 visitors while offering 400 official registration slots. The village council is coordinating with police and civil protection and is recruiting and training volunteers to steward the event; it hired astrotourism firm El Nocturnario to run a training day. Local organisers are scrambling to solve practical questions about parking, water supplies and food provision, and they warn many people may arrive without prior information. The eclipse will darken swathes of northern and eastern Spain and the Balearic islands, an alignment not seen there for more than 120 years.

Met Office - weather and climate

@metoffice.gov.uk

The UK will experience a partial solar eclipse on Wednesday 12 August. The extent of the Sun's coverage and the timing of maximum obscuration will differ across the country. Never look directly at the sun; use a pinhole projector or certified eclipse glasses to view it.

Map on UK showing how much of the sun will be obscured by the moon, at maximum, during the solar eclipse on Wednesday 12th of August. this ranges from 88% in the east to 98% in the southwest.

1033h ago

Rocking Rich 🤍💛🩵🖤💚1

When it says solar coverage, eg 94%, does that mean you will see 94% of the sun ie 6% obscured, or 94% will be obscured, and only 6% visible??

Francesc 🇪🇸🇳🇱🇵🇱🇬🇧🇪🇺1

We have a full solar eclipse (all 90 seconds of it!) just before sunset at 20:30 CEST near our home in Spain. The Parc Astronòmic Muntanyes de Prades makes it into a nice party that we will —of course— join. We are all just like the Maya/Incas/Egyptians/Stonehenge people, if you think about it 😉

Quoting this

Van3ssaV 🦋5

Ooh I'm in town on Wednesday ... I remember with the last eclipse I worked in an office near Hyde Park & we were all permitted to go to the Park with our glasses & pin hole cameras to observe it. My most vivid memory was how silent the birds went when the eclipse happened. It was so eery!

Peter Thorne3

I'm not quite sure what happened to Lough Neagh here. Seems to be slipping into the Irish sea.

Matt Wall2

Ooh - exciting! Just ordered some glasses.

Met4Cast

@met4cast.net

The solar eclipse on Wednesday will be the most lunar coverage since 1999, and won’t be repeated until 2081! Here are the times and totality % you can expect across the country. Great graphic by the @metoffice.gov.uk

253h ago

Quoting this

Nostalgic Things7

And miraculously it’ll all of a sudden be cloudy

The Associated Press

@apnews.com

Millions of people will get to experience — and film or photograph — a rare total solar eclipse set to sweep over parts of Europe next week. But an eclipse poses unique challenges for photos, such as drastic changes in lighting. These tips can help you get the best shot on your smartphone.

142h ago

georgia

@folkbettypoet.bsky.social

there’s a partial solar eclipse, meteor shower, and 6 planet alignment on august 12th. so many celestial events happening makes me think that taylor will do something that day, right? 👀

2412h ago

Nicolas Chinardet

@zefrog.eu

I was just starting my National Service, in the training stage, when the 1999 solar eclipse happened. The army, in its heavy-handed wisdom, locked us all up in a room to avoid anyone getting blinded... (though it was quite cloudy, as I recall) #r4today

63h ago

James “3 days till 40” Kraemer

@jakraemer.bsky.social

can't believe i turn 40 in 3 days and get to see a total solar eclipse in 5

108h ago

Flingjore

@flingjore.com

A total solar eclipse sweeps across parts of Spain, Portugal, Iceland, and Greenland on August 12. Astronomy experts advise the public to use ISO 12312-2 certified solar filters, tripod stabilization, and exposure-control applications to safely photograph the event using modern smartphones

53h ago

NationCymru

@nation.cymru

Next week, stargazers across the UK will be treated to the biggest solar eclipse since 1999. But observers should wait around for the finale — the eclipse will be followed shortly after by 'the best' annual meteor shower

53h ago

Ruth Mottram

@ruth-mottram.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy

This is so cool - if you're in Denmark, find out how much of the partial solar eclipse you'll be able to see on Wednesday... https://en.osm.town/@brodersen/117055085242996364

3h ago

JonSam

@jonsam1961b.bsky.social

Total solar eclipse Aug. 12, 2026 live updates — 5 days to totality www.space.com/news/live/to... #SolarEclipse #Astronomy

49h ago

suzanneelaine

@suzanneelaine.bsky.social

Via Euronews: Once-abandoned Spanish village becomes NASA's eclipse hotspot www.euronews.com/next/2026/08...

28h ago

Sai

@kaitosai.bsky.social

i need to find out where to get the solar eclipse glasses. i heard of it too late. have i heard it just 1-2 days earlier i could have ordered them online but time is against me on it

26h ago

#TuckFrump

@realtuckfrumper.bsky.social

How to use your smartphone to capture August’s solar eclipse #AssociatedPress

12h ago

Mike Jay

@mikejay.link

Oooooo, there's a solar eclipse the day before my birthday and we can't forget Perseids meteor shower peaking on the 12th and 13th of August. Exciting. 😃

32h ago

Summed News

@summednews.bsky.social

Astronomical events for August: Partial eclipses and meteor showers — MyNBC5 #VermontNews #LocalTV #Video

111h ago

3 sources

theguardian.comSpanish mountain village braces for astrotourists lured by total solar eclipse apnews.comOne Tech Tip: Using your smartphone to capture the August total solar eclipse over Europe bbc.co.ukWhere in the South to watch rare solar eclipse on Wednesday

Total solar eclipse to cross parts of Europe on Aug 12science

Total solar eclipse to cross parts of Europe on Aug 12

Related