The show continues: two more eclipses until 2028

BarcelonaStill 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.

The Iberian Peninsula will experience an extraordinary and infrequent event until 2028: three major solar eclipses in just three years. After this August's, a new total eclipse will arrive in August 2027 and an annular eclipse in January 2028. This succession, popularly known as the Iberian eclipse trio, makes the Peninsula the global epicentre for astronomy lovers.

Although Catalonia will not be within the best viewing strip for the next two eclipses, they will be observable with a very significant solar occultation. In the Valencian Community and the Balearic Islands, however, they will be even more spectacular, especially the annular eclipse of 2028.

August 2, 2027: new total eclipse

Another total solar eclipse will cross the Peninsula, this time through the far south and in broad daylight, as its maximum will take place shortly before eleven in the morning. Totality can be observed in areas of Cadiz, Malaga or the far south of Almeria and Granada, as well as in Ceuta and Melilla. In these areas, the Sun will be completely hidden in broad daylight for nearly five minutes, an exceptional duration and much longer than that experienced in the last eclipse.

In Catalonia, the Valencian Country and the Balearic Islands, it will be seen as a partial eclipse. However, the Moon will once again cover a very important part of the Sun and will offer a perfectly perceptible phenomenon worthy of being observed with adequate protection. For example, in Barcelona the eclipse will be 82%, in Valencia 90% and in Palma 89%.

“In our country this time we will not notice the sky suddenly darkening or the stars appearing in broad daylight, as there will be a lot of uncovered Sun,” explains astrophysicist and science communicator Joan Anton Català. Despite being a partial eclipse, the expert assures that the phenomenon will be an “incredible” experience.

January 26, 2028: the ring of fire arrives

The third and final chapter of this trilogy will be an annular eclipse. In this case, the Moon will pass in front of the Sun, but its orbit will be a little further from Earth. This will mean that the satellite will not completely cover the Sun and will leave visible a bright circle around it, known as the "ring of fire.

“It will be a great spectacle, as we will see a dark disk surrounded by a very powerful ring of sunlight in the sky,” assures Català. The path of annularity will cross the Peninsula from southwest to northeast. The Valencian Country will be one of the privileged areas, especially the central and southern regions, from where this spectacular luminous ring can be contemplated for six or seven minutes.

In Catalonia, the maximum annular band will be particularly visible in the Terres de l'Ebre, Camp de Tarragona, southern Ponent, Central Catalonia, and the Barcelona area, although the phenomenon will again coincide with sunset, shortly before six in the afternoon. Its peak will be seen just on the western horizon instants before the star sets. In contrast, in many parts of the Girona counties and in the far north of the country, the eclipse will be partial or sunset will arrive before its maximum.

In the Balearic Islands, the situation will be similar: the degree of occultation will be very high, but visibility will depend on the western horizon, as the phenomenon will occur with the Sun very low. Castilla-La Mancha, Andalusia, southern Extremadura, Murcia, and the extreme south of Portugal will be among the best places to see this unique event.

Protective glasses, essential

The next two eclipses will not be total in our country and, therefore, protective glasses for the eyes will be essential. “We will not be able to take them off at any time,” recalls Català. That said, the question is whether we can use the glasses used during the eclipse of August 12. The answer is yes because they will not expire, but with important nuances.

“We must ensure that we have not damaged them by dirtying them or putting them in our pocket or a bag. We have to check them, because our eyesight is at stake, but if the filters that cover the eyes are in good condition, we will be able to use them,” emphasizes the astrophysicist.

An extraordinary succession

Between two and five solar eclipses occur each year somewhere on the planet. However, the bands from which they can be observed as total or annular are very narrow and rarely coincide repeatedly over the same region.

For this reason, the succession of three major consecutive eclipses visible from the Iberian Peninsula is considered an exceptional event on a global scale. It is even more singular when considering that two of them will be total and the third will be annular. In fact, there are no precedents since data has been available of three eclipses in three years on the Peninsula.

A spectacle that will travel half the planet

The three eclipses that will be visible from the Iberian Peninsula are part of a much wider path. Each eclipse draws a narrow strip of lunar shadow that fleetingly crosses the Earth's surface, so the phenomenon will also be visible – totally or partially – from many other countries.

On August 2, 2027, the path will begin in the Atlantic Ocean, cross the south of the Iberian Peninsula, and continue through Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen, where the phenomenon will achieve some of the longest total durations of the 21st century.

Finally, on January 26, 2028, the annular eclipse will begin its path over the Pacific Ocean and cross part of South America and the Atlantic before reaching the Iberian Peninsula. From here it will continue towards the Mediterranean.