The Parc Astronòmic del Montsec offers special sessions this Saturday, March 29 to observe the first solar eclipse of the year

During the morning sessions, visitors will be able to see this astronomical phenomenon with telescopes and receive detailed explanations

An observation point will also be set up at the Vall de Núria mountain resort

This eclipse is the prelude to three consecutive solar eclipses that will take place in the Iberian Peninsula in 2026, 2027 and 2028

The Parc Astronòmic del Montsec, managed by Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC), is offering special sessions this Saturday, March 29, to observe the first solar eclipse of the year. This is a partial eclipse that, from Àger, where the Park is located, can be seen between 10:59 a.m. and 12:38 p.m., when the light will change and the shadows will be perceived weaker. At this point in Catalonia, the partial eclipse will be 26.9% and the reduction in light or darkness, 16.3%. In Catalonia, the best place to see this eclipse will be in Terres de Ponent. Details of the duration of the eclipse for each provincial capital here.

During the morning sessions of the Parc Astronòmic del Montsec, visitors will have the opportunity to observe the phenomenon with telescopes (a solar eclipse can never be looked at directly) and receive detailed explanations about solar eclipses and other astronomical events from the park’s technical staff. Tickets can be purchased on the Parc Astronòmic del Montsec website: www.parcastronomic.cat.

The Parc Astronòmic del Montsec will also offer the opportunity to observe the partial solar eclipse from another privileged environment: the Vall de Núria mountain resort, also managed by FGC.

Astronomers from the park will install an observation point in the meadow, in front of the Núria Sanctuary, equipped with all the necessary materials to enjoy this astronomical phenomenon. In this sense, approved glasses for safe observation of the eclipse will be distributed and chairs and loungers will be placed for greater comfort for attendees. In addition, there will be a refractor to observe the Sun using the projection technique and a scale model of the Sun to provide the corresponding explanation. The activity will be held from 10:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

The prelude to an unprecedented event

This year’s solar eclipse serves as a warm-up for the so-called “Iberian Triplet”, an extraordinary astronomical event that will take place in the coming years 2026, 2027 and 2028, when the Iberian Peninsula will be the protagonist of an unprecedented event: the observation of three consecutive solar eclipses in three years.

Although solar eclipses are relatively frequent events globally, the fact that three are visible from the same region in a short period of time is an extraordinary fact. The first of the eclipses will be total and will occur on August 12, 2026. The second, also total, will take place on August 2, 2027, and finally, the third will be an annular eclipse (when the apparent disk of the Moon is smaller than that of the Sun and a bright ring appears surrounding the Moon) and can be observed on January 26, 2028.

Why are there solar eclipses?

A solar eclipse is an astronomical phenomenon that occurs when the Moon comes between the Earth and the Sun, partially or totally blocking the sunlight that reaches the Earth. For it to form, it is essential that the Sun, Moon and Earth are aligned in this order, which is called a New Moon.

Although there is a New Moon every month, the Moon’s orbital plane is slightly inclined with respect to the Earth’s orbital plane around the Sun (ecliptic). This tilt causes the Moon to pass above or below the Sun most of the time. Only occasionally do the Moon, Sun, and Earth align perfectly.