The total solar eclipse on August 12 is being billed as one of the most spectacular astronomical events of the year. Thousands of people have traveled to Spain, Iceland and Greenland to watch up close as the Moon completely covers the Sun, creating a spectacle that lasts just a few minutes.
For Albanians, the eclipse will not be total, but will be visible as a partial eclipse. In Tirana, the phenomenon begins around 19:31, peaks at 19:41, when about 19% of the Sun's disk will be covered by the Moon, and ends around 19:44, just before sunset.
What makes a total eclipse so special are certain phenomena that can only be seen along the band where the Moon completely covers the Sun.
One of them is the so-called “Diamond Ring Effect”. Just a few seconds before or just after the totality phase, a single ray of light passes through the relief of the Moon, while the Sun’s outer atmosphere creates a bright ring. The sight gives the impression of a diamond set on a ring and is considered one of the most photographed moments of an eclipse.
Another phenomenon is the “Bailey Beads,” small dots of light that appear along the edge of the Moon as the Sun’s rays pass between its mountains and valleys. This spectacle also lasts only a few seconds.
The highlight of a total eclipse is the appearance of the solar corona, the Sun's outer atmosphere, which is normally invisible due to its intense brightness. When the Sun is completely obscured by the Moon, the corona becomes visible as a white halo around the Moon's dark disk.
Astronomers also point out that, using certified eclipse glasses or telescopes with special filters, sunspots can also be seen before and after the peak of the phenomenon. They are darker areas on the Sun's surface, created by strong magnetic activity and not directly related to the eclipse.
The total eclipse will be visible from parts of Spain, Iceland, Greenland, Portugal, Russia, Canada and the US, as well as in some other areas of Europe, the Arctic and the North Atlantic.
While cities like New York, Berlin, London, and Tirana will only see a partial eclipse, for observers in the zone of totality it will be one of the most impressive spectacles the sky can offer.
