Still with the spectacular total solar eclipse of August 12th etched in our minds, many people are wondering if they will have the opportunity to live such an experience again. What we have just witnessed is one of the most anticipated astronomical phenomena of the last century in our country. But the good news is that this spectacle does not end here, as it is the first chapter of an exceptional sequence.

These days, much has been remembered about the total solar eclipse that could be seen in Catalonia in 1905 and which already generated great social expectation; the one in 1706, coinciding with the first Bourbon siege of Barcelona, and even the one in 1448, which was immortalized in the note of an anonymous scribe in the Generalitat's registry with a drawing that is today the corporate image of the "Dietaris". For this reason, although it may seem a worn-out phrase, the historical appellation fits perfectly with the total eclipse that could be seen this August 12, 2026, in southern Catalonia, northern Valencian Country, the Balearic Islands, Aragon, and the northwest of the Peninsula. And, indeed, seeing it live, one can perfectly understand the fascination it provoked in our ancestors.

Not even the guitarist of Queen wanted to miss it. Brian May has been just one of the hundreds of thousands of people who this Wednesday have dropped everything to experience a minute and a half that is already history: the only total solar eclipse that will be seen in Catalonia —and in part of the Iberian Peninsula— in more than a century. From the Trabucador sandbar in the Ebro Delta, from a cove in Mallorca, from the Prades mountains, or even from an industrial estate in Valls or from a municipal football field in a Lleida neighborhood. Neither the heat nor the fear that the clouds would play tricks have hindered this astronomical phenomenon for which Catalonia had been preparing for more than a year.

Only a few hours remain until August 12: the day of the solar eclipse. The great scientific and public interest generated by the phenomenon will also have a significant impact on the roads, especially the AP-7. To cope with the large volume of travel expected from all over Catalonia towards the 23 designated observation points in the regions of Camp de Tarragona, Terres de l’Ebre, and Ponent, where the total eclipse can be seen, the Government has activated a special mobility plan that consists mainly of avoiding the AP-7 as much as possible and allowing plenty of time.

Only a few hours remain until the historic total solar eclipse that will take place this Wednesday, August 12th. A phenomenon that has not occurred in our region for 121 years and which is causing great anticipation, both locally and internationally.

It will be only 1 minute and 32 seconds for those who see it from places where darkness will be total, but in Catalonia, an equal event will not be seen for another 154 years. This exceptionality makes the solar eclipse of this August 12th a milestone marked on the calendar for months –or years– for many, and the adventures to achieve the best experience to see it are almost infinite.

Make the most difficult easy: getting science, and especially everything related to the universe, to awaken the curiosity of those who listen. And not only that. He is capable of spreading his passion for the cosmos and, in turn, for life. With only a few days left until the total solar eclipse that can be seen from Catalonia, Joan Anton Català, astrophysicist, quantum chemist, and science communicator, is the most sought-after man, but he makes a space in his busy schedule to explain to us how extraordinary this phenomenon will be that we will be able to see on August 12. The eclipse of the century (Cossetània) is the guide it has published for those who do not want to miss any detail.

August 12th of this year is a date that has long been marked by everyone on the calendar. The historic total solar eclipse that Catalonia will experience will paralyze the country and, for a few moments, everyone will be looking at the sky. For this reason, the million-dollar question is obvious: will the weather allow us to enjoy this long-awaited event?

The total solar eclipse of August 12 will be historic, in our region. It is an exceptional phenomenon that, for the vast majority of the population, is only seen once in a lifetime without having to travel halfway around the world. For a few moments, in one part of the country, day will turn into night, the landscape will adopt an unusual light, and the sky will offer a unique spectacle that has aroused fascination, questions, and legends since time immemorial.

On August 12th, it is very important to protect your eyes to observe the solar eclipse. Not doing so could have serious consequences for your vision. Electromagnetic radiation and infrared and ultraviolet light can cause lesions to the retina which, in some cases, can be irreversible. This harmful effect is known as solar retinopathy and manifests with symptoms such as the appearance of spots in the visual field, blurred vision, or vision loss, according to the Official College of Opticians Optometrists of Catalonia (COOC).

The Catalan municipalities from which the eclipse can be well observed have organized to offer safe and controlled spaces from which to enjoy the meteorological spectacle. The objective is threefold: on the one hand, it is a way for the town councils to help citizens enjoy the eclipse and it is also a new opportunity to promote each city, in full tourist season. But there is also a safety reason, and that is that the emergency teams, on a day that will mobilize tens of thousands of people, prefer to have citizens in a municipal sports center rather than wandering around the mountains looking for a good observation point. "Anything that is orderly, the better," explain sources from Civil Protection.

"We'll soon be hanging up the "full" sign," says Aleix Roig, head of the Prades Mountains Astronomical Park, with still twelve months to go until Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and other specific parts of the country will be plunged into darkness by the total solar eclipse of 2026.