Wednesday August 12 il The Sun will largely disappear behind the Moon, giving Europe one of the most anticipated astronomical events of recent decades.the eclipse will be total along a band that will cross Greenland, Iceland, Spain and a small portion of Portugal, while in Italy the phenomenon will be visible only in partial form.
Lo show will start in the late afternoon, shortly before sunset, with the lunar disk gradually covering the solar one. In our country the best conditions are expected in Northwest and in northwestern Sardinia, where the blackout could approach 95%. To observe the phenomenon, however, it will be essential to choose a location with a completely clear western horizon and use certified protection. Be careful, however, with direct exposure. The Ministry of Health has released a notice to remind you to look at the Sun, even for just a few seconds, can cause permanent damage to the retina.
When will the eclipse begin and where will it be best seen in Italy?
The eclipse will begin in Italy approximately between 7.25pm and 7.40pm, with slight variations depending on the location. The time of greater coverage It is expected between 19:50 PM and 20:25 PM, but in many areas the Sun will set before the astronomical conclusion of the phenomenon. The percentage of darkening will increase. proceeding from the South-East towards the North-WestThe most favored regions will be Liguria, Piedmont, Valle d'Aosta, and Lombardy, along with the northwestern part of Sardinia. The highest value is expected in Ventimiglia, where the Moon could obscure approximately 95,8% of the solar disk. Percentages above 93% are also expected in Imperia, Savona, Genoa, Turin, and Milan.
In the Piedmont capital, the phenomenon is expected to begin around 19:28 PM, peaking at 19:21 PM with coverage exceeding 93%. In Milan, the onset is expected at 20:27 PM and peaking at 20:20 PM, with over 92% of the sun obscured. In Florence, coverage is expected to exceed 83%, while in Rome, various models indicate values ranging approximately between 58% and 69%. The show in the South is more modestIn Naples, the blackout could stop at between 36% and 46%, in Palermo around 25% and in Bari just under 19%. In some areas of Calabria and southern Puglia, the sun could set earlier than the theoretical maximum.
The main obstacle, however, will not be the percentage of coverage, but the position of the SunDuring the eclipse it will in fact be very low towards the west and could be hidden by buildings, mountains, hills or trees. For this reason it will be it is better to choose a beach, a promontory, a panoramic terrace or an elevated area with an unobstructed view towards the sunset.
Certified glasses and filters: a warning from the Ministry of Health.
The Ministry of Health has invited to never observe the Sun with the naked eye, even when the disc appears almost completely covered. Even a small portion still visible will continue to emit enough light to cause permanent damage. main danger and the solar retinopathy, also called phototraumatic maculopathy. The damage can occur without causing immediate pain, and the first visual disturbances may appear only after a few hours or in the following days.
The only safe system for direct observation consists in theuse appropriate glasses from eclipses conforming to the international norm "ISO 12312-2“Protection must be put on before looking at the Sun and kept on for the entire duration of observation. Regular sunglasses are not sufficient, even if very dark or worn one over the other. Smoked glass, photographic film, X-rays, CDs, homemade filters, and unprotected photographic eyepieces should also be avoided.
Eclipse glasses must be inspected before use for scratches, holes, or cuts. Those who wear corrective lenses must wear protective goggles over their prescription glasses. Children and adolescents must be especially careful and must be supervised at all times by adults. Binoculars, telescopes, cameras, and telephoto lenses may only be used with certified solar filters mounted in front of the lens. Looking through an unprotected optical instrument increases the risk, as the lenses concentrate solar radiation.
Those who are unable to get glasses can resort to theindirect observation, projecting the image of the Sun onto a light surface through a small hole made in a piece of cardboard.
Spain is the best place in Europe to see totality
To attend the full phase it will be necessary to leave Italy and reach one of the areas included in the Moon's shadow cone. The main European options are theWest Iceland , Spain, with the latter considered the most accessible and potentially most favorable solution from a meteorological point of view. The eclipse will enter the Iberian Peninsula from Galicia It will move across the country from northwest to southeast around 19:31 PM, reaching Valencia and the Balearic Islands around 19:38 PM. The totality phase will affect cities and regions such as A Coruña, Oviedo, Santander, Bilbao, Burgos, Zaragoza, Teruel, Valencia, and Palma de Mallorca. Madrid and Barcelona will remain just outside the path and will only experience a partial phase.
The Atlantic coast will offer picturesque scenery, but carries a higher risk of cloud cover. The chances of finding clear skies tend to improve as you move inland and towards the Mediterranean coast, particularly in the areas of Zaragoza, Teruel, Castellón, Valencia, and the Balearic Islands. Even in Spain, the sun will be very low on the horizon. The choice of location will therefore be as crucial as the weather conditions. Open plains, west-facing hills, and unobstructed coastlines will be preferred. maximum duration of totality will reach 2 minutes and 18 seconds off the coast of Iceland, while in Spanish locations it will vary according to the distance from the center of the band.
Iceland remains a spectacular destination, with Reykjavik, the Westfjords, and the Snæfellsnes Peninsula all included in the itinerary. However, the highly variable weather in August makes observing more difficult and may require last-minute travel.
The live broadcast and the new appointment in 2027
Those who cannot observe the eclipse live will also have access to a international live broadcast organized by the European Space AgencyThe images will be transmitted from the Javalambre Astrophysical Observatory, in the Spanish province of Teruel, starting approximately at 19:30 PM. The event on August 12th will be particularly significant because it will bring a total solar eclipse to the European continent after many years. In Italy, however, neither the completely dark sky nor the solar corona will be visible, since a portion of the disk will always remain uncovered.
For the southern regions, less favored this time, the wait will be short. On August 2, 2027, a new total eclipse will cross the Mediterranean and North Africa., offering much more favorable conditions in southern Italy. Totality will pass off the coast of Lampedusa, while southern Sicily will experience particularly severe darkening.
To enjoy the show on August 12th, three precautions will be enoughGet certified sunglasses ahead of time, find a spot open to the west, and check the weather forecast for the days before. Even without totality, the Italian sunset can be one of the most evocative spectacles of the summer.
