Spain experienced a total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, with millions of people across the country observing the event [4].
The phenomenon provided a rare opportunity for both professional astronomers and the public to witness a total blackout of the sun. For many in Spain, the event served as a significant cultural and scientific moment, drawing massive crowds to watch the horizon.
At the Observatorio de YEBES in the province of Guadalajara, El País captured a one-minute recording of the totality [2]. To obtain the footage, technicians used a Lunt telescope equipped with an H-alpha filter [1]. This specific filter operates at a wavelength of 656.3 nm [1].
The use of the H-alpha filter is critical for solar observation. According to the El País YouTube channel, the filter reduces solar radiation to allow for a safe observation [3]. This technical setup produced a striking, red-colored view of the sun during the eclipse [1].
Across the country, the reaction was one of widespread amazement. El País editorial staff said that at 8:30 p.m., millions of people looked toward the horizon, astonished by an unrepeatable astronomical phenomenon [5]. One Spanish citizen, quoted by El País, expressed the public's enthusiasm by asking, "Quiero otro, cuándo hay otro?" [6].
While the YEBES Observatory provided a central Spanish perspective, other regions also monitored the event. Reports from Diario de Avisos indicated live coverage was also conducted from the Canary Islands [7]. The duration of the totality varied slightly by location, but the recording from YEBES captured approximately 60 seconds of the event [2].
“"Quiero otro, cuándo hay otro?"”
The use of H-alpha filtration allows astronomers to see the chromosphere—the layer of the sun's atmosphere just above the photosphere—which is typically invisible to the naked eye or standard telescopes. By isolating the 656.3 nm wavelength, the YEBES Observatory was able to document solar activity safely during totality, providing a high-contrast visual record of the sun's outer atmosphere that differs from the white-light images typically seen during eclipses.
