Eclipse Sweeps Iceland and Spain as Millions Chase Rare Celestial Show
Day turned to darkness over Iceland’s western coast on Wednesday afternoon as a total solar eclipse cut across the North Atlantic and pushed millions of
Day turned to darkness over Iceland’s western coast on Wednesday afternoon as a total solar eclipse cut across the North Atlantic and pushed millions of people in Iceland and Spain outside to look up.
In Reykjavik, a break in the clouds gave holidaymakers and locals a brief view of the spectacle. A Reuters witness said cheers rose from the crowd gathered near Hallgrimskirkja church when the sky suddenly went black overhead. Brief. Then gone.
Rare path over Western Europe
The eclipse marked Western Europe’s first total solar eclipse in 27 years, drawing huge crowds to Iceland and to northern Spain, where officials warned people to stay clear of wildfire-prone areas during a heatwave.
Spain’s Secretary of State for Science, Juan Cruz, said authorities expected up to 6 million visitors in mostly rural areas along the eclipse path across the north of the country and the Balearic Islands. He said he hoped the event would inspire a new generation of astrophysicists.
“I hope that tonight will see the emergence of a wonderful generation of astrophysicists,” Cruz said. “It’s such a special moment.”
Spain waits for darkness
Tourists and eclipse enthusiasts crowded villages and beaches across the north of Spain, where the Moon’s shadow was expected to sweep diagonally from the Atlantic coast toward the Mediterranean. The eclipse was due to be followed quickly by sunset, adding to the attraction for viewers on the ground.
The rare alignment had already set off a rush of interest in places that are usually quiet. In parts of Spain, police, aircraft and helicopters were on standby as authorities prepared for both the crowds and the wildfire risk.
From Russia’s remote Arctic north to Greenland, Iceland and mainland Europe, the Moon’s shadow traced its path across the hemisphere before moving on. But for the people standing under clear patches of sky in Reykjavik and northern Spain, the moment was simpler than that. The lights went out. The crowd roared. And for a few seconds, the century’s sky show belonged to them.
