On Friday, March 20, there will be a total solar eclipse with which Europe will say goodbye to winter and give way to spring that begins that same day at 11:45 p.m. Although it will not be visible on the entire planet, at least it will be visible in Europe, Greenland, Northwest Africa and Northwest Asia.
If we want to witness this phenomenon in all its splendor and the area in which we live is not one of those favored for the best observation, a team of astronomers from the European Gloria project , led by the astronomer from the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), Miquel Serra-Ricart, will observe and broadcast live over the internet (from the Danish Faroe Islands) this spectacular moment whose climax will last exactly 2 minutes and 47 seconds . The eclipse will begin at 09.05 in Spain, when the edge of the Moon will begin to enter the solar disk and will end at 11.18. The almost 3 minutes expected will arrive at 10.09.
The eclipse will be partially seen in continental Europe and the UK (84% will be hidden); in Ireland, Scotland and Norway it will reach maximum concealment, privileged areas being the Faroe Islands (North Atlantic) and the Svalbard Archipelago (Arctic Glacial Ocean). In Spain, it can be appreciated from first thing in the morning until almost noon. The best area to see it in Spain will be Galicia (which will hide 50% of the Sun) and the worst, the Canary Islands .
Experts explain that because the Sun radiates a large amount of energy, if the development of the solar eclipse is observed (even partially) without the proper precautions, ultraviolet and infrared radiation can cause serious eye damage (up to temporary or permanent blindness). The use of X-rays, photographic negatives or simple sunglasses is also discouraged. The recommended methods are: solar filters, Mylar filters, welding glasses with a high protection factor or observing the eclipse by projecting it on a screen using a telescope as an intermediary, for example.
This eclipse also has an extra particularity since, according to the records, since 1999 there has not been a total solar eclipse of these characteristics on the European continent. The next solar eclipse visible from Spain will take place on August 21, 2017 .
