{"id":41378,"date":"2026-08-12T18:32:39","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T13:32:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=41378"},"modified":"2026-08-12T18:32:39","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T13:32:39","slug":"eclipse-craze-grips-spain-iceland-as-millions-get-set-for-event-of-the-century","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=41378","title":{"rendered":"Eclipse craze grips Spain, Iceland as millions get set for &#8216;event of the century&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F2%2F2026%2F08%2Fcrop-40301136.jpg?quality%3D90%26strip%3Dall\" \/><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>MADRID\/REYKJAVIK \u2014 Millions of people across Spain and Iceland \u200bgeared up to witness a total solar eclipse on Wednesday, packing their protective glasses and travelling to areas where \u200cthe rare astronomical event can be observed in full.<\/p>\n<p>Humans\u2019 fascination with eclipses is well-documented. Historically, the sudden darkening of the sky was often interpreted as an omen, a cosmic struggle or a sign of divine power.<\/p>\n<p>Modern-day skywatchers seek to experience the same uncanny sensation when day briefly turns into twilight and some animals fall \u200bquiet as the Moon passes directly between Earth and the Sun.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Leyssalle Anthony, 39, prepares a telescope to view the total solar eclipse from the beach on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, in Arija, Spain. <span class=\"credit\">REUTERS<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cI hope that tonight will see the emergence of a \u200bwonderful generation of astrophysicists,\u201d said Juan Cruz, Spain\u2019s Secretary of State for Science. \u201cIt\u2019s such a special moment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Authorities were \u2060expecting up to 6 million visitors in mostly rural areas within the eclipse\u2019s path across northern Spain and the Balearic Islands, Cruz \u200bsaid. <\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>In Spain, the eclipse will be quickly followed by the sunset, making the event particularly alluring.<\/p>\n<p>Since this year\u2019s eclipse coincides with one of \u200bthe highest-risk periods for wildfires, Spain has\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/environment\/spain-prepares-eclipse-under-shadow-wildfire-risk-2026-08-11\/\">rolled out a massive police operation<\/a>\u00a0and public safety campaign.<\/p>\n<p>The government also views it as a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/spains-eclipse-chance-draw-holidaymakers-inland-away-crowded-beaches-2026-05-07\/\">chance to showcase seldom-visited regions<\/a>\u00a0and help address concerns about overtourism on the coast by redistributing crowds away from saturated beach resorts.<\/p>\n<p>The Iberian Peninsula last saw a total solar eclipse in 1912. \u200bIt is set to experience another one on August 2, 2027, and an annular eclipse in January 2028, completing the so-called \u201cIberian Eclipse Trio.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Millions of people across Spain and Iceland \u200bgeared up to witness a total solar eclipse on Wednesday. <span class=\"credit\">REUTERS<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Eclipse \u200bfever in the land of sagas<\/h2>\n<p>In Iceland\u2019s capital Reykjavik, eclipse glasses have been sold out for days as the Nordic country of roughly 400,000 people \u200cexpects to \u2060welcome up to 80,000 visitors.<\/p>\n<p>A narrow path of totality will reach Iceland\u2019s westernmost coast at about 5:44 p.m. (1744 GMT), before the Moon\u2019s shadow races east.<\/p>\n<p>Totality will last up to 2 minutes and 13 seconds in the far west, though most cities will see shorter periods of darkness. <\/p>\n<p>Authorities have warned of heavy traffic and urged viewers to arrive early.<\/p>\n<p>Singer Bj\u00f6rk was due to perform a DJ set at an eclipse-themed \u200bevent south of Reykjavik.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Two people test their eclipse glasses during sunset at Arija beach, Spain, Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. <span class=\"credit\">REUTERS<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>People observe the sunset the day before the solar eclipse on the Costa da Morte in northwestern Spain on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. <span class=\"credit\">REUTERS<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>A gaggle of photographers gather outside of Pe\u00f1afiel, Spain in preparation for a total solar eclipse against the village\u2019s landmark castle on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.  <span class=\"credit\">ZUMAPRESS.com<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>U.S. space agency \u200bNASA plans to fly a \u2060high-altitude WB-57 aircraft from Iceland to follow the Moon\u2019s shadow, and NASA-funded teams will launch balloons to study how the sudden darkness and cooling affect the lower atmosphere.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh man, it\u2019s so cool,\u201d said Krista Kern, \u200ba visitor from North Carolina who described her expectations of totality as a \u201cwhole-body feeling,\u201d adding though she \u200bwas nervous about \u2060the Icelandic weather.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Chasing the shadow<\/h2>\n<p>Aside from casual observers, the event also draws \u201ceclipse chasers,\u201d enthusiasts who crisscross the globe to be in the path of totality whenever an eclipse occurs.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Tourists look at the sunset the day before the solar eclipse on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, on the Costa da Morte in northwestern Spain. <span class=\"credit\">REUTERS<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Gordon Telepun, a retired plastic surgeon and amateur astronomer from the U.S. who has photographed six total eclipses, said he would \u2060watch from \u200bthe island of Mallorca because Spain checked all the boxes for eclipse chasers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt has \u200bpretty reasonable weather chances in August, a decent totality duration at over one-and-a-half minutes and is easy to travel to,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MADRID\/REYKJAVIK \u2014 Millions of people across Spain and Iceland \u200bgeared up to witness a total solar eclipse on Wednesday, packing their protective glasses and travelling to areas where \u200cthe rare astronomical event can be observed in full. Humans\u2019 fascination with eclipses is well-documented. Historically, the sudden darkening of the sky was often interpreted as an&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":41379,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/crop-40301136.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1200","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41378","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-hub"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41378","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=41378"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41378\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/41379"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=41378"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=41378"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=41378"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}