News
How to find out if you can see the eclipse from your balcony in Barcelona
Just hours before the solar eclipse on 12 August, an official tool lets you check exactly how it will look from any spot in Barcelona or elsewhere in Spain. The Instituto Geográfico Nacional’s viewer calculates the timing of the phenomenon, the degree of coverage, and the viewing conditions based on your chosen location.
The process is simple: just zoom in on the map to the place from which you want to observe the eclipse and select the exact spot. You can use it to check what will happen from a square, a beach, a mountain, or even from near your home before deciding whether it’s worth travelling.
The tool shows the exact time when the partial phase will begin, when the moment of maximum coverage will occur, and, in areas within the path of totality, when the Sun will be completely covered and how long that phase will last. It also lets you see the percentage of darkening in places where the eclipse will only be partial.
This information is especially useful in Catalunya because the phenomenon will take place very close to sunset. IGN warns that the Sun will be very low on the horizon, so choosing the right spot will be almost as important as being inside or outside the path of totality. A building, a mountain, or a line of trees could be enough to miss the most spectacular moment.
In Barcelona the eclipse will be partial, although the coverage will be very high, while to see totality it will be necessary to travel to areas within the relevant path. For this reason, checking the map in advance allows you to compare different locations and avoid unnecessary trips to places where the horizon does not offer good conditions.
The viewer can also be useful for those who have already decided to watch from a terrace, a park, or a viewpoint. By entering the exact location, you can find out what time you need to be ready and check in advance which part of the horizon should be kept clear.
Eye protection will still be essential during the partial phases. IGN reminds us that looking directly at the Sun without certified glasses can cause serious eye injuries; only those within a zone of totality can remove them during the brief moments when the solar disc is completely covered.
With the eclipse expected this Wednesday afternoon, the tool offers a simple way to answer one of the most common questions in Barcelona: whether it will be necessary to travel or if it will be enough to go up to the rooftop, step out onto the balcony, or head to a nearby spot with a clear western horizon.