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 experience something like this again. What we have just experienced 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, turns the peninsula into the global epicenter for astronomy lovers.

Although Catalonia will not be within the best band for the next two eclipses, they will be observable with a very significant solar occultation. In the Valencian Country 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 its southern tip and in broad daylight, as its peak will take place shortly before eleven in the morning. Totality will be observable in areas of Cadiz, Malaga, or the southern tip 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. Nevertheless, the Moon will once again cover a very significant part of the Sun, offering 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 de Mallorca 89%.

“In our region this time we will not notice the sky suddenly darkening or 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 definitive 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 a bright circle visible around it, known as ring of fire.

“It will be a great spectacle, as we will see a dark disc in the sky surrounded by a very powerful ring of sunlight,” assures Català. The annular band 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 seen especially in 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. On the other hand, in many parts of the Girona regions 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 far 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 region, and therefore, protective glasses for the eyes will be essential. “We won’t be able to take them off at any moment,” recalls Català. That said, the question is whether we can use the glasses used during the eclipse of August 12th. The answer is yes because they will not expire, but with important nuances.

“We must ensure that we haven’t damaged them by soiling them or putting them in our pocket or a bag; we must check them, because our eyesight is at stake, but if the filters that cover the eyes are in good condition, we can use them,” emphasizes the astrophysicist.

An extraordinary succession

Between two and five solar eclipses occur somewhere on Earth each year. However, the strips 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 worldwide. It is even more unique when considering that two of them will be total and the third will be annular. In fact, there are no precedents since records began of three eclipses in three years on the peninsula.

A spectacle that will travel halfway around the planet

The three eclipses that will be seen 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 durations of totality in the 21st century.

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