Sun will disappear in some countries in the coming months; understand phenomenon

A total solar eclipse will create a celestial spectacle for the first time in more than two years.

Observers in parts of Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain and northeastern Portugal will be able to see the phenomenon, when the sky momentarily darkens as the sun completely disappears.

The eclipse, which should occur on August 12th, occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, casting a shadow over our planet that completely blocks sunlight in some areas of the world, according to NASA.

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However, a partial eclipse, in which only part of the sunlight is blocked, will be visible in parts of Europe, Africa and North America.

A total solar eclipse was seen in Mexico, the United States and Canada in April 2024, but the last one in continental Europe occurred in 2006, according to the European Space Agency.

The August event will be the first total solar eclipse visible in mainland Spain since 1905 - and the first of three solar eclipses the country will witness between now and 2028, according to the ESA.

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"A total solar eclipse is one of those rare moments when millions of people can look up at the sky together and feel awe and curiosity," said Carole Mundell, ESA's chief science officer, in a statement. "It's a shared moment that connects us to the Universe and reminds us that the desire to explore and understand is one of humanity's greatest strengths."

Solar eclipse occurring in August 2027 will be the longest in 157 years

Where can I see the eclipse?
The narrow band of totality will be 8,300 km (5,157 miles), starting over the Arctic coast at around 2 p.m. EDT and passing near the North Pole before moving over Greenland, Iceland, Portugal and northern Spain, according to EarthSky.

Longest total solar eclipse in history: find out when and where it will happen

Those in Greenland will be able to observe the eclipse for just over two minutes, while those in northern Spain will only be able to see about 20 seconds - weather conditions permitting. Bad weather is always the biggest obstacle to observing eclipses.

The eclipse will pass over Galicia and then the Balearic Islands in Spain at nightfall, accelerating the transition from day to night, according to the Spanish Scientific and Advisory Committee for the Trio of Eclipses.

For those living outside the eclipse's path, ESA will share a live feed from the Javalambre Astrophysical Observatory in Teruel, Spain.

When will the next solar eclipse be?
According to NASA, the next total solar eclipse will pass through southern Spain, northern Africa, Saudi Arabia and Yemen on August 2, 2027.

People in the United States will not have another opportunity to witness a total solar eclipse until March 30, 2033, and even then, the only observation point will be in Alaska.

Only on August 22, 2044 will a total solar eclipse be visible in the United States, when the phenomenon will occur over North Dakota and Montana.

The next total solar eclipse, with a band of coverage that will cross the 48 contiguous U.S. states, will occur on August 12, 2045. The band of totality will pass over California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, with a partial eclipse visible in other states.

Solar eclipse: find out when the sun will "disappear" and the planet will be in the dark

How can I observe the eclipse safely?
It is never safe to look directly at the Sun without using specialized protection - except during totality, when sunlight is completely blocked.

At the first sign of sunlight reappearing, we advise you to put on a pair of certified eclipse glasses or use a portable solar visor.

Alternatively, you can observe the sun with a telescope, binoculars or camera with a special solar filter on the lens, which offers the same eye protection as eclipse glasses.

Sunglasses do not replace eclipse glasses or solar visors, which are thousands of times darker and follow an international standard. It is important to avoid using eclipse glasses or sun visors that are torn, scratched or damaged.

According to NASA, it is also unsafe to look at the sun through any optical device - camera lenses, telescopes, binoculars - while wearing eclipse glasses or a portable solar viewer. The sun's rays become concentrated as they pass through an optical device, and this concentration can cause them to burn out the filter on your glasses or visor, causing serious eye damage.

What Scientists Can Learn from Eclipses
Solar eclipses offer scientists unique opportunities to study the Sun and its corona, or outer atmosphere, and invite the public to participate as citizen scientists.

During the August eclipse, scientists plan to launch high-altitude balloons capable of capturing images of the event and the lunar shadow. O objetivo é reproduzir um experimento de eclipse realizado em 1919, que mediu como a gravidade do Sol curva a luz de estrelas distantes e confirmou a teoria da relatividade geral de Albert Einstein , segundo o Comitê Científico e Consultivo Espanhol para o Trio de Eclipses.

Citizen scientists are invited to build their own instruments to measure the changes that occur in the atmosphere when the sky momentarily darkens.

"We use moments like this to bring space science and technology closer to society, inspire future generations and unite people across Europe through the thrill of discovery," said ESA's Mundell.

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Source: CNN