NASA names Zaragoza eclipse image its photo of the day

NASA has selected as its Astronomy Picture of the Day a photograph of the total solar eclipse taken in Zaragoza, Spain, on August 12. The image shows the solar corona above the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, with its reflection in the Ebro River, a composition the agency described as showing "two eclipses." Source: infobae

The August 12 eclipse was the first major total solar eclipse visible in Spain in over a century, with the shadow also crossing Siberia, Greenland, Iceland, and Portugal. Source: elmundoes The event was particularly striking because the Sun was near the horizon just before sunset, allowing observers to see totality alongside recognizable landmarks. Source: euronewses

Why it matters

NASA explains that studying such phenomena helps scientists understand why the corona is millions of degrees hotter than the Sun's surface. Source: infobae The agency is also calling on "enthusiastic citizens" to contribute to research by recording wildlife reactions, photographing the corona, and monitoring air temperature and clouds. Source: elmundoes

What's next

For Spain, this eclipse marks the start of a rare sequence: two more total solar eclipses will be visible in the country in 2027 and 2028. Source: euronewses