APOD: 2026 August 13 – Total Solar Eclipse Over Spain

A total solar eclipse swept across Siberia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and Portugal, with Spain witnessing its first major total eclipse since nineteen oh five. In Zaragoza, observers captured the eclipse reflected in the Ebro River and framed against a cathedral—and those in the path of totality experienced a chill in the air, a sudden quieting of birds, and a shared sense of awe as the Sun's corona blazed into view. Per NASA Science, such eclipses are invaluable for studying why the Sun's corona reaches millions of degrees—far hotter than the visible surface itself, a paradox scientists are still working to understand. Citizen observers can contribute to this research by recording how wildlife responds to the eclipse and monitoring changes in temperature and cloud cover.

Listen to this story

Hear this and more stories in a personalized audio briefing.

Open The Chonkerton