I’m contemplating an adventure. I want to go wild camping in France and Spain (I know, not legal) with a full solar eclipse as destination. However, I’m worried that this solar eclipse might not be worth the long drive. It will only be 8 degrees above the horizon at sun dawn. Of course I’d have to look for a hill with clear view to the west, but I worry about two things:
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At sun dawn, the sun appears bigger than mid day. So I wonder if the sun will indeed be fully eclipsed and if the corona effect will be visible.
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At sun dawn it will become darker anyway, so will I notice much of a difference?
As a solar eclipse in Europe is a once in a lifetime event, I believe the next one is in 60 years, I’m willing to drive if it’s worth it.
What do you think?
by ddej
19 Comments
Yes! Totality is a very rare experience
yes.
1. the sun is no larger or smaller on the horizon. it may appear larger due to the “moon illusion” but will have no real effect on the solar eclipse.
2. the sun being 8 degrees in the sky means it’ll still be day. the world around you is going to briefly transform from day to night and it is a genuine once (or a few times) in a lifetime experience. it’s not just about the moon eclipsing the sun.
Yes. I saw 4 minutes of totality and it was magical
Yess!
yes
Of course….
The only reason I’m not going traveling from the US is I don’t know Spanish and the Spanish hate tourists. I imagine they are going to go overdrive on that with the eclipse.
Yes. I got to experience totality in 2017 and it was the best thing I’ve experienced. If I could drive 17 hours to see it again, I absolutely would in a heartbeat.
Yes 100%. But be prepared to pivot and drive even further if there’s risk of cloud cover wherever you end up!
You really don’t know until you actually see totality. You can’t explain it with words or photos. You must experience it. If you can do it, you should!
A 100% solar eclipse is a million times better than even a 99.99% eclipse. That last sliver of the sun going behind the moon is crazy.
You along other several hundreds of thousands of people camping in illegal areas disrupting wildlife and the environment with total disregard for local regulations.
No wonder why another user pointed we Spanish people don’t like tourists…
I experienced a total solar eclipse when I was in high school, and it was so incredible that I *wish* I could drive 17 hours and illegally rough it to see another. That’s not an option for me, so I am going to fly to Australia in a couple years to see another.
If you have the opportunity, take it. It is an experience like no other. Partial eclipses — even ones that are near-totality — do not compare.
this this will be good 😉
For my first eclipse, I flew to the other side of the world. For my second, I drove 22 hours. For both, I would do it again.
200% coolest thing I’ve seen in my life. Yes
It’s a no for me dawg
100% worth it. I’d drive a week to see one, no question. I’ve seen two now and they’re absolutely incredible.
I was at the American total eclipse in April a few years ago, and it is one of my most vivid memories. Honestly a life event and memory
The next solar eclipse in Europe will be in 2027 in southern Spain. It will also be one of the longest in the century, with totality lasting almost 5 minutes.
That said, I also want to see the 2026 one, in case the sky is overcast in 2027.