Sky show over Mallorca: How we will experience the total solar eclipse on August 12

Sky show over Mallorca: How we will experience the total solar eclipse on August 12

An evening that will bathe the island in an unusual light for minutes

It smells of sea and sunscreen, the air hangs warm over the Passeig Mallorca, and somewhere the cathedral bells ring softly from the harbor. That's how the evening on the island begins when the moon completely covers the sun: on August 12. For many here this is not everyday — and that's exactly what gives the moment its special atmosphere. People stream to coves like Sant Elm, to promenades in Port d'Andratx and to squares in Palma to experience a small wonder of nature together.

If you don't have a clear view or want to be sure the clouds won't swallow the spectacle, you can click your way upward thanks to modern technology: the Spanish airline with flight number IB1473 departs that evening from Madrid and flies an Airbus A321XLR toward the zone where totality will be visible. Equipped with a GoPro camera attached to a right-hand window, the aircraft records the journey above the cloud layer. From about 19:33 the images will be broadcast live — carried by the new onboard Wi‑Fi based on a satellite solution.

That's not just an offer for curious onlookers: scientists are also on board. A research team uses the flight to make observations of the eclipse — an opportunity that is rare in this constellation. For people on the island this means additional camera positions, unusual perspectives and images that can show how the moon's shadow moves across the cloud cover.

On Mallorca itself there are several official and unofficial meeting points. In Sant Elm and Port d'Andratx groups have already formed in the afternoon. Old fishermen in their boots, families with picnic blankets, youngsters with binoculars — the scenes are familiar and yet newly mixed because suddenly everyone looks up. Even in busier corners like the Santa Catalina neighborhood or along the Paseo Marítimo you hear less traffic and more murmurs from the spectators, occasionally the shriek of a seagull.

For those who want to follow the event online, there are several reputable streams: in addition to the onboard images, international agencies and space organizations will also broadcast the phenomenon. That complements local viewing spots, especially if a cloud layer obscures the view at lower altitudes. Tip: bring certified protective glasses or use projection techniques instead of looking directly at the sun without protection.

Why is this more than just a natural event for Mallorca? Such shared moments connect people. The island, usually shaped by tourism, port operations and beach traffic, comes together for an evening. Local bars and cafés report busy business, smaller communities receive visits from neighbors and newcomers. For science and photos on social channels it is a rare bonus — and for people here a piece of collective memory.

And what remains afterwards? The memory of a dusky moment on a hot August evening, the conversation about the unfamiliar technology on the plane, the encounter with people you otherwise only pass on the street. Maybe curiosity about astronomy will grow from it: a teenager using a tin bucket as a sundial, a class discussing the event in biology lessons. Small things like these keep the memory alive.

Practical notes to finish: allow enough time to reach viewing spots, expect increased traffic on access roads to popular calas, and check official streams and scientific broadcasts in advance if you want to be on the safe side. Above all: watch together. It's one of those evenings when the island, despite heat and everyday noise, falls quiet for a short time and looks up.

Outlook: If you miss the sky this time, such an event is rarely offered again. But the shared curiosity remains — and the memory of a Mallorca that that August evening lifted its gaze and for a moment turned into an observation platform.