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Madrid prepares for the solar eclipse with free glasses at museums and libraries
Madrid is getting ready to look up at the sky this summer. The solar eclipse on 12 August has become one of the most anticipated astronomical events, and the City Council will be handing out free certified glasses so that residents and visitors can observe the phenomenon safely.
Distribution will take place from 17 July to 12 August, coinciding with the special programme at the Planetario de Madrid dedicated to eclipses that will be visible from Spain in the coming years. The glasses will be given out free of charge, but only while stocks last at each location.
The glasses can be collected at various cultural venues in the city, including the Planetario de Madrid, the Museo de Historia, the Museo de San Isidro, the Imprenta Municipal – Artes del Libro, the Centro Cultural Conde Duque, and the network of municipal libraries.
There will be no reservation system. Anyone wishing to get a pair will need to go directly to one of the centres during their usual opening hours. In principle, one pair will be given per person, although each venue may adjust distribution according to demand and available stock.
The main message is clear: the eclipse should never be viewed with ordinary sunglasses, smoked glass, X-rays, or improvised filters. Looking at the Sun requires specific, certified protection designed to block harmful radiation.
The glasses being distributed are certified to ISO 12312-2, the international standard for direct solar observation. They allow you to look at the eclipse for short periods and drastically reduce the amount of light entering the eyes, preventing eye damage that can occur even without immediate pain.
In Madrid, the eclipse will be partial, but that does not lessen the need for protection. The phenomenon will still be intense enough to require caution, especially for children, older people, and anyone wishing to watch for several minutes.
The initiative makes the eclipse more than just an astronomical event. Museums, libraries, and the Planetario de Madrid serve as gateways to science, bringing a rare experience to everyone without the need to buy specialised equipment.
The event offers a different image of summer in Madrid: a city focused not only on the heat, festivals, or football, but also on the sky. On 12 August, Madrid will have the chance to pause, look up, and experience the eclipse with curiosity, care, and the right glasses.
UPD: In addition to the free glasses distribution promoted by the City Council and the Comunidad de Madrid, a nationwide campaign has now been launched. The Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, together with Grupo Social ONCE, will distribute two million certified glasses to allow safe observation of the solar eclipse on 12 August. The initiative, part of the campaign "Una vista única. Cuídala", will expand the distribution points across the country and reinforce recommendations for following the phenomenon without risk to eyesight.