Portugal will watch the total eclipse of the Sun for the first time since 1912

In the remaining national territory, the eclipse will be partial, varying percentage of sun concealment between 92% and 99% on the continent and between 74% and 77% in the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira.

In addition to Portugal, where observation sessions are planned throughout the country, this eclipse will be visible if the conditions of observation of the sky allow it, in a strip across the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland and Spain.

The previous total eclipse of the Sun in Portugal occurred in 1912 and the next one will be only in 2144.

Rare phenomenon, a total eclipse of the Sun occurs when the Earth, the Moon and the Sun are perfectly aligned and the Moon completely hides the solar disk for a few moments, making the effect of ‘diamond ring’ visible in the sky.

In regions where concealment will be more accentuated a darkening of luminosity, air temperature falls, ambient noise decreases, shadows become clearer, birds stop singing.

For a moment, the day will be night and the sky will be full of stars.

The eclipse will last about two hours, starting around 6:30 and ending at 8:30. Your maximum will be around 7:30.

Observatórios, localities, associations and centers Ciência Viva promote observation sessions with telescopes with sunscreens or with certified protective glasses.

As an alternative to the observation in Rio de Onor, in the Natural Park of Montesinho, where the inscriptions are exhausted, the curious can travel to the Aerodrome of Bragança, where the eclipse, although partial, will have a percentage of concealment of 99.8%.

Observation sessions are planned, among other actions, at the castle of Estremoz, at the dam of Bravura, in Lagos, at the beaches of Barril and Arraial, in Tavira, at the Observatory of the Moinho de Cardosas, in Arruda dos Vinhos, at the Astronomical Observatory of Travancinha, in Seia, and at the Astronomy Park of Constance.

Faro, Vila do Porto, Vila do Conde, Mafra, Sintra and Lisbon are other locations with scheduled observation sessions.