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Observatory Recommends 'Mirror Day' To Test Viewing Spots for August 2026 Total Solar Eclipse

Catalonia is preparing crowd control, extra transport, wildfire safeguards for packed totality zones.

Overview

  • Spain’s Royal Observatory says a mirror day replicates the Sun’s path so people can check if a chosen site has a clear view near the horizon.
  • To use it, stand at your planned spot near sunset and look for any buildings, trees or hills that block the low Sun because the same barriers will block the eclipse.
  • Catalonia has designated 27 official viewing areas in 20 towns and expects roughly 85,000 people and 40,000 vehicles at those sites.
  • Authorities advise eclipse glasses that show the CE mark and ISO 12312-2:2015 compliance and warn not to use them with binoculars or telescopes, which need dedicated filters.
  • Totality in Spain on 12 August will run from A Coruña toward Palma de Mallorca, will not include Madrid or Barcelona, and will last up to about 1 minute 32 seconds.