Particle.news

Spain Readies for One-Month Countdown to August 12 Total Solar Eclipse

An interministerial operation is managing travel, certified eye‑safety rules and official monitoring for the sunset eclipse.

Overview

  • On Saturday, July 11, officials marked the one-month countdown and confirmed the Observatorio de Yebes as the government’s official broadcast and monitoring center for the August 12, 2026 eclipse.
  • The totality path will sweep west to east across northern and central Spain with pockets of full darkness in Galicia limited to A Coruña, Lugo and Ferrol where totality will last about 1 minute to 1 minute 30 seconds depending on location.
  • The government activated the Comisión Interministerial para el Trío de Eclipses to coordinate thirteen ministries, scientific bodies and public information services for observation, safety and live coverage.
  • Health, pharmacy and optics authorities warn that only ISO 12312-2:2015-certified eclipse glasses with a genuine CE mark and manufacturer details are safe and that improvised filters or regular sunglasses can cause permanent retinal damage.
  • Tourism and transport officials expect heavy travel and near‑capacity bookings in Galicia with forecasts of about 90–95% occupancy, and they warn of high wildfire and road-congestion risks that require advance planning by visitors and residents.