After the thrill of a total solar eclipse captured the attention of Ontario two years ago, some sky watchers from southwestern Ontario couldn’t resist making the trip for the next one.
This Wednesday, the sun and moon teamed up again for a spectacular display, featuring a total solar eclipse across Europe.
While folks in Ontario only had a partial view, the path of totality – where the moon completely obscures the sun – extended through parts of Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and Portugal, drawing eclipse enthusiasts to Europe for a better experience.
Catherine Neish, an earth sciences professor at Western University, jumped on a plane with family and friends to catch totality from northern Spain’s countryside.
“I think once you’ve seen one eclipse, you’re hooked and you’ve got to see them all,” Neish said. “It’s one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen.”
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The moon completely covers the sun during a total solar eclipse as seen from the Javalambre Astrophysical Observatory in Arcos de las Salinas, near Teruel, Spain, August 12, 2026. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann (Christian Hartmann/Reuters)
Even though it had been sunny all week, there was worry when clouds appeared in their chosen spot in Spain. Neish mentioned that she decided to drive another two hours to find clearer skies.
“This eclipse is a little bit unusual because it’s happening near sunset, so you want a clear view of the horizon. You don’t want to be somewhere where it’s going to be blocked by trees or hills or a building; so we picked this out very carefully.”
Planetary scientist travels from London, Ont., to Spain to watch the eclipse
London Morning5:43Eclipse watching in a front-row seat.. from Spain
Most people in London won’t get an amazing view of today’s solar eclipse; however, one Londoner will. Western University planetary scientist Catherine Neish talked with London Morning from Spain while anticipating an incredible view of this celestial event.
Neish shared that she saw her first eclipse back in 2017 in Idaho and caught another one in April 2024 at Long Point Provincial Park along Lake Erie.
“It really should be on everyone’s bucket list. It’s probably the most alien thing I’ve ever seen. It’s incredible,” she said. “Although I understand what’s happening from a scientific perspective, it really is almost a spiritual experience seeing a total solar eclipse.”
Although I understand what’s happening from a scientific perspective, it really is almost a spiritual experience seeing a total solar eclipse.- Catherine Neish
While many bring fancy tools like telescopes and cameras for great photos, Neish prefers just soaking up the moment.
“I just want to experience it as a moment with my friends and my family; so that’s all I’m hoping to get out of this.”
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A photo of the total solar eclipse captured from the Spanish island of Mallorca shows the moment of totality with the reddish corona low in the sky. (Submitted by Clark Muir)
‘An extraordinary transition’
A resident from Woodstock, Ont., Clark Muir and his wife traveled to Mallorca in Spain where they enjoyed watching the eclipse on the beach. “The weather was great and thousands like me were on the beach witnessing how the sun reached totality right above some distant mountains,” Muir told Afternoon Drive guest host Nav Nanwa. “It’s an extraordinary transition from a reddish sky and reddish sun turning into complete darkness. Then it turned black with this beautiful corona surrounding it.”Muir explained he chose Mallorca because there; he could see sunlight about three degrees above horizon level providing both an exciting mix of sunset along with viewing part of an eclipse.
Muir has been passionate about stargazing since childhood and mentioned that this trip marks his fourth time traveling for such celestial events as part of Kitchener-Waterloo Royal Astronomical Society. “I remember being in high school back in 1979 watching TV when there was one over Winnipeg; it was fantastic! That’s when I thought: I must see one live myself,” he said. People are lucky if they witness even one total eclipse throughout their lives; however over these next two years Earth will host three more total solar eclipses across three different continents. The next chance for Canada’s residents won’t come until August 2044.LISTEN | Woodstock man describes whatthetotal solareclipse looked likein Spain :Afternoon Drive9:07Woodstockman describeswhatthe totalsolareclipse lookedlikein Spain
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