The place from which you will see the total eclipse is decided this week in the Balearic Islands

The location from which the total solar eclipse of August 12 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 eclipse will be an exceptional event: the Balearic Islands will be one of the few places in Europe from which it can be observed in its entirety. But it also presents a key difficulty: the sun will be very low on the horizon, so any obstacle —a building, a tree, or a rise in the terrain— can prevent its view.

Therefore, the Government and the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), with the collaboration of AstroMallorca and Civil Protection volunteers, have launched a simple visibility test open to everyone. The results will allow the identification of ideal observation points and help to avoid mass displacements on the day of the eclipse.

A simple test to know if the place is suitable

The test takes place on April 29 and 30. At the indicated time for each zone, you must position yourself at the point from which you want to observe the eclipse and look towards the sunset.

If the sun is visible at that moment, it will also be on August 12 during totality. If, on the other hand, it is obscured or has already set, you will have to look for another nearby point with a more open horizon. Often, it is enough to move a few hundred meters to find a better location.

Times vary by island:

• Menorca: 8:25 PM
• North and central Mallorca: 8:26 PM
• South Mallorca: 8:27 PM
• Ibiza and Formentera: 8:28 PM

The sun's position these days is practically the same as it will be on August 12th at the moment of totality, a fact that makes the test a very reliable simulation of real conditions.

A map to avoid crowds

With the data collected in recent days, a map with optimal and safe observation points is expected to be produced in the coming weeks on all the Islands. The objective is for each municipality to have adequate spaces to gather the population and thus avoid saturations, especially in sensitive areas such as the Serra de Tramuntana.

The Government is also working with the tourism sector so that hotels and establishments provide their own observation spaces, with the intention of reducing travel during peak season.

Precautions and recommendations

During this week's test, it is not necessary to observe the sun for a prolonged period: a brief check to see if it is visible is sufficient. In any case, it is recommended to avoid looking at it directly for more than a few seconds.