A solar eclipse will sweep across Europe next week, and for those unable to witness it in person, the European Space Agency (ESA) will host a live broadcast.
Eclipse Details
On Wednesday, August 12, the Moon will pass directly between the Earth and the Sun, blocking some or all of its light and casting its shadow across parts of Europe. The eclipse's narrow path of totality, where the Sun will be completely obscured, will cross Greenland, Iceland, and parts of Portugal and Spain. Other parts of Europe will experience a partial eclipse.
ESA Live Broadcast
The ESA livestream will run from the Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre in Teruel, Spain, starting at 5.30pm BST (7.30pm CEST). Hosted by British space scientist Dame Dr Maggie Aderin, the broadcast will feature live interviews, explainers, and imagery, covering topics such as the Sun's corona, a famous eclipse that changed our understanding of gravity, and ESA's efforts to create artificial solar eclipses in space.
At 6.31pm BST (8.31pm CEST), the Moon will plunge Javalambre into complete darkness for one minute and 21 seconds. Viewers can ask questions using #AskESA on Bluesky or X, with some answered live.
Observatory and Viewing
The Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre is a world-class facility within the path of totality, housing two professional telescopes for astronomical surveys. Viewing conditions are excellent, with rare cloud cover and low light pollution. Additional small telescopes will provide close-up views of the eclipse phases.
Those watching the eclipse in person must use certified solar viewing glasses and never look directly at the Sun. Several videos about the eclipse are available on ESA's YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok channels.
