On August 12, 2026, we had the opportunity to enjoy an impressive solar eclipse from the bridge on Avenida del Cid in Valencia, Spain. It was one of those special moments when it is worth stopping for a while and simply looking up at the sky.
The Moon Begins to Cover the Sun
At first, we watched as the Moon gradually moved in front of the Sun. Minute by minute, it covered more and more of the solar disk until we reached the most eagerly awaited moment: totality.
For a brief period, the atmosphere around us changed dramatically. The daylight faded surprisingly quickly, and we could even feel a slight drop in temperature and cooler air, as though the time of day had suddenly changed.
📱Our Images Were Taken Simply with Mobile Phones
We did not have professional cameras or sophisticated photographic equipment. The images accompanying this article were taken with our ordinary mobile phones, held in our hands.
We used protection in front of the phone camera when attempting to photograph the Sun. To protect our eyes, we used special eclipse glasses.
Important: The Sun should only be viewed directly using eclipse glasses specifically designed for solar observation and compliant with the ISO 12312-2 safety standard. Ordinary sunglasses are not sufficient. Appropriate solar filters should also be used when photographing the Sun.
A Moment Difficult to Forget
After the darkest moments of the eclipse, the process gradually reversed. Little by little, the Moon moved away from the Sun and sunlight began to return.
The surroundings became brighter again, the atmosphere changed once more, and eventually the Sun reclaimed its familiar place in the Valencia sky.
Taking perfect photographs was not the most important thing. What really mattered was being there and experiencing the phenomenon ourselves.
A Personal Experience of an Extraordinary Natural Phenomenon
Watching the eclipse from Valencia gave us a simple but powerful opportunity to appreciate the extraordinary relationship between the Sun, the Moon and the Earth.
For a few minutes, we watched the landscape around us change and saw how an astronomical event taking place on an enormous scale could transform the light and atmosphere of our own city.
The solar eclipse of August 12, 2026 left us with photographs and videos taken on our mobile phones, but above all, it left us with the memory of witnessing together an extraordinary spectacle of nature and the sky.
