People flocking to Spain to view solar eclipse could spark more ‘devastating’ wildfires

A total solar eclipse, visible from parts of northern Spain on August 12, 2026, offers scientists a rare opportunity to study the sun's complex behavior. The event, which will last approximately one minute and 40 seconds, allows researchers to examine the sun's corona, the outermost layer of its atmosphere, something typically difficult to observe under normal conditions. Scientists from institutions such as France’s Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) and the European Space Agency (ESA) are preparing to conduct detailed observations during the eclipse, aiming to enhance understanding of solar activity and its effects on Earth. The eclipse follows a historical pattern of scientific discovery through such events. In 1919, British astronomer Arthur Eddington used an eclipse observed on the West African island of Principe to confirm Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity by measuring the bending of starlight due to the sun’s gravity. Now, over a century later, similar opportunities are presenting themselves. Researchers are particularly interested in the sun’s corona, which reaches temperatures of up to two million degrees Celsius despite being far less dense than the sun’s surface. During a total eclipse, the moon blocks the sun’s bright disk, allowing the faint corona to become visible. The sun's activity follows an 11-year cycle, with the current peak occurring in 2024, marking the 25th cycle. Scientists hope to gain insights into the mechanisms behind solar storms, which can disrupt satellite communications, pose risks to astronauts, and generate auroras in polar regions. The CEA team plans to focus on the corona, while the ESA is looking to improve models predicting solar wind behavior. The ESA’s Solar Orbiter probe, launched in 2020, has already collected valuable data on the sun’s atmosphere and wind, and the upcoming eclipse provides a chance to validate these findings. In addition to ground-based research, space missions are also capitalizing on the event. The ESA’s Proba-3 mission uses three spacecraft in synchronized flight to simulate miniature solar eclipses, providing continuous data collection. Future missions, such as MESOM, aim to send a spacecraft into the moon’s shadow for extended observations. Lucie Green, a solar physicist at University College London, is involved in these efforts, emphasizing the importance of such studies in advancing knowledge of solar dynamics. The eclipse will be visible across much of Europe, with the UK experiencing up to 96 percent coverage in certain areas. However, the path of totality, where the moon fully obscures the sun, will cross northern Spain, northeastern Portugal, western Iceland, eastern Greenland, and parts of northern Russia and the Atlantic Ocean. In the UK, the highest coverage will be in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, with Penzance seeing 95.76 percent coverage and Hugh Town in the Isles of Scilly reaching 96.44 percent. Other notable locations include Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, Birmingham, Cardiff, and London, each experiencing varying levels of coverage. Majorca, part of the Balearic Islands, is among the best places in Europe to witness the total eclipse. The island expects around 96 seconds of totality, beginning at 8:31 PM Central European Time. To manage the influx of visitors, local authorities have implemented traffic restrictions, limiting vehicle access on several key roads between 3 PM and 9 PM. These measures aim to reduce congestion, protect environmentally sensitive areas, and ensure emergency services remain accessible. Travelers are advised to plan ahead and avoid unnecessary trips to minimize disruptions. The eclipse represents a significant astronomical event, offering both scientific and public interest. While the UK will not experience totality, the high level of coverage ensures a visually striking spectacle. As scientists prepare to gather crucial data, the event underscores the ongoing quest to understand the sun’s influence on Earth and beyond.