NASA chooses tiny Spanish village to broadcast total solar eclipse

A team of about thirty researchers from NASA and the Exploratorium of San Francisco has set up in Villalibado, a nearly abandoned village in Burgos, Spain, to study and live-stream the total solar eclipse of August 12, 2026. The broadcast is expected to reach more than 10 million viewers worldwide Source: Infobae. The village, which had been uninhabited for over thirty years, was chosen for its clear horizon, low light pollution, and quiet environment Source: El Mundo.

Why Villalibado

The team selected the village after a reconnaissance tour of Castilla y León, drawn by the elevated terrace of the 12th-century Church of San Salvador Source: Clarin. Dr. Desiré Whitmore of the Exploratorium explained that they needed a tranquil spot with few interruptions and good visibility Source: Infobae. The eclipse is unusual because it begins in Greenland but will be visible in Spain at dusk, another factor in the choice Source: El Mundo.

The setup

Three telescopes with different filters are installed on the church esplanade, while equipment and computers are housed inside the temple Source: Infobae. A public viewing area with a screen will be set up on August 12, separate from the researchers Source: El Mundo. The team arrived on Sunday and has been collecting solar data around the clock Source: Infobae.

Local reaction

Juan Ansótegui, the entrepreneur who revived Villalibado as a rural tourism complex, said he initially thought the NASA contact was a hoax Source: La Vanguardia. He recalled, "They called me about 16 or 18 months ago, when nobody was talking about the eclipse yet" Source: Clarin. The event is expected to boost tourism, with the Spanish Economy Ministry projecting 446,700 additional visitors that week Source: Clarin.