Total Solar Eclipse on August 12 Will Dazzle the Canary Islands
On August 12, a rare astronomical event will unfold across the Canary Islands—a partial solar eclipse that won’t be seen again for many years. Although it won’t be a total eclipse here, it promises significant obscuration, with La Graciosa witnessing a 74% coverage and El Hierro at 66.53%. Lanzarote will see 73%, Fuerteventura at 72.5%, northern Tenerife at 70%, northern Gran Canaria at 69.9%, La Palma at 69.10%, and La Gomera at 68%.
Solar eclipses have historically evoked deep emotions. “The darkness of a daytime eclipse disrupts one of our fundamental certainties—the rising and setting of the sun,” explains Eva Villaver, deputy director of the Canary Island Astrophysics Institute.
The word “eclipse” originates from the Greek ‘ékleipsis’, meaning “abandonment”, reflecting how early humans felt when the sun and moon darkened. Ancient texts, including the Gospels, use eclipses to signify apocalyptic events. Cultures have woven numerous myths around these occurrences, often depicting a fierce creature attempting to devour the sun.
For instance, the Aztecs believed it was a jaguar, while in Vietnam, it was a giant frog. Villaver shares the Indian tale of the demon Rahu Ketu, who was punished by the god Vishnu for seeking immortality. His head forever chases the sun and moon, leading to momentary eclipses.
While these celestial events have historically sparked fear, many cultures have viewed them as reflections of love or conflict between the sun and moon. Tahitian mythology, for instance, describes an embrace between the two during an eclipse.
In ancient societies, eclipses were often seen as divine messages. The Aymara believed the sun fell ill, prompting rituals to warm the earth. Similarly, Incas and Greeks associated eclipses with divine displeasure.
Interestingly, a solar eclipse in Spain in 939 was erroneously reported as a portent of victory in the Battle of Simancas, revealing early examples of misinformation.
Despite modern scientific understanding of eclipses, Villaver believes that the awe they inspire remains. On August 12, observers will likely exchange fear for fascination, making the event a captivating experience.
