Overview
- Scientists and eclipse cartographers published terrain-aware maps on Friday that use updated solar radius values and topography to shift the precise edges of totality by up to several hundred metres.
- Those map changes mean some towns near the previous limits in northern Spain and small parts of Portugal may gain or lose totality, so site choice is now critical for observers near the path edge.
- The Balearic government has published road closures and access rules for August 12, including area-specific start times and vehicle restrictions intended to manage crowds and keep emergency routes clear.
- Health agencies and observatories warn never to look at the Sun during partial phases and advise ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses or indirect methods such as pinhole projectors for safe viewing.
- Final viewing outcomes will depend on short-range weather and unobstructed western horizons and the eclipse coincides with the Perseid meteor peak, which raises crowding and logistics risks for popular viewing spots.