The forecast that the Serra de Tramuntana will be one of the most crowded areas in Mallorca during the total solar eclipse on August 12 has led the Government to prepare an exceptional traffic restriction device. The objective is to avoid a collapse, but the foreseen exceptions have generated much controversy. While thousands of residents of municipalities located a few minutes from the Serra will not be able to access it by vehicle, tourists who have paid hundreds or even thousands of euros to stay in a hotel in the area will be exempt from the limitations. Thus, the exceptions set by the Government project, once again, the idea of a privatization of the territory of the Balearic Islands and reinforce the perception that those who pay have more rights to transit this territory than those who live there. "Once again, the rights of tourists who pay are above those of the residents who live on the island," remarks Joan Moranta, president of GOB.

Expectation? People coming from abroad to witness a very infrequent phenomenon? Nothing new. Another August, but this one 121 years ago, Mallorca became an international focus of attraction for a total solar eclipse, with the presence of six scientific collectives from four countries and three hundred Italian tourists who traveled expressly to the island to witness this exceptional phenomenon. It was August 30, 1905, at noon.

Mallorca has become one of the most sought-after locations to observe the solar eclipse on August 12. Thousands of people will travel to the island to witness the astronomical phenomenon, while Majorcans eagerly await an event that has not occurred in the Archipelago for over a century. Flights with no availability, full hotels, and residents searching for the best spot to observe it. There is, however, a possibility that almost no one has foreseen: what if it cannot be seen from Mallorca after all?

Amado Carbonell has traveled around Mallorca by car to mark the official eclipse observation points in collaboration with the Government of the Balearic Islands. Furthermore, he is the president of the Foundation Institute of Astronomy and Astronautics of Mallorca (FIAAM) and the Astronomical Association of Andratx.

The location from which the total solar eclipse of August 12 will be visible is beginning to be decided this week in the Balearic Islands. Between this Tuesday and Wednesday, citizens can check from which points they will have good visibility of the phenomenon in a test that will serve both to choose the observation site in advance and to create a map with recommended areas throughout the archipelago.

The location from where the total solar eclipse of August 12th can be seen is beginning to be decided this week in the Balearic Islands. Between this Tuesday and Wednesday, citizens can check from which points they will have good visibility of the phenomenon in a test that will serve both to choose the observation site in advance and to create a map with recommended areas throughout the Archipelago.

The Government of the Balearic Islands today held the second meeting of the Plenary of the Commission for the Management of Actions Related to the Total Solar Eclipse of 2026, created in December and formally constituted on January 15. During that month, the groups for Mobility, Prevention, Civil Protection and Environmental Risk Management; Public Health; Communication and Tourism, and Scientific Dissemination identified needs and potential problems and submitted proposals to the plenary.

This Sunday, September 7th, a total lunar eclipse will be visible, in which the Earth's shadow will be completely projected onto our satellite. The event will take place Sunday night and can be followed from several locations in the Balearic Islands. However, it's important to keep an eye on the weather forecast, as the day could be marked by suspended clouds and cloud cover.

Reentry into the atmosphere of the fourth stage of the rocket Jielong-3, launched by China on August 8, generated a striking luminous phenomenon this Sunday, visible from various points in the Balearic Islands, Almería, Granada, Murcia, and Alicante, as confirmed by the Fireball and Meteorite Research Network (SPMN).