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Spain's solar eclipse trilogy: spectacle starting August 12

Deutsche Welle · 🇩🇪 public Germany · · 1062 words · By Naomi Mihara
Science Education International Scientific Collaboration Astronomy and Space Science
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Spain's solar eclipse trilogy: spectacle starting August 12 July 23, 2026 When Josep Masalles was 17 years old, he was captivated by a partial eclipse of the sun over Barcelona, where he lives in northeastern Spain.

Claims checked 14
Techniques found 1
Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center83%
Right17%

6 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Spain's solar eclipse trilogy: spectacle starting August 12 July 23, 2026 When Josep Masalles was 17 years old, he was captivated by a partial eclipse of the sun over Barcelona, where he lives in northeastern Spain.

Why it matters

It sparked a lifelong fascination that has taken him around the world.

Common ground

In the 53 years that have followed, Masalles has witnessed 43 eclipses, including 22 total solar eclipses.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.dw.com/en/spains-solar-eclipse-trilogy-spectacle-starting-august-12/…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 70% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 14 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 5
schedule Pending 4
info Single Source 3
help Insufficient Evidence 2
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Claim 1: “Total solar eclipses tend only to occur every 18 months.”
CORROBORATED
Two independent sources (Space.com and a Penn State Wilkes-Barre event notice) state that total solar eclipses occur on average every 18 months.
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web search NEUTRAL — Approximately once every 18 months (on average) a total solar eclipse is visible from some place on the Earth’s surface. That's two totalities for every three years.See how solar eclipses occur in thi…
https://www.space.com/25644-total-solar-eclipses-frequency-e…
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web search NEUTRAL — A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby obscuring the view of the Sun from a small part of Earth, totally or partially. Such an alignment occurs approximately ev…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_eclipse
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web search NEUTRAL — “Total solar eclipses typically occur every 18 months on average but this is the first solar eclipse to occur in the United States in over 35 years,” said Director of Continuing Education Jane Ashton.
https://www.psu.edu/news/campus-life/story/rare-solar-eclips…
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Claim 2: “after 2027 the next one to pass over any part of Europe won't be until 2053.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided or found for this claim.
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Claim 3: “Josep Masalles has witnessed 43 eclipses, including 22 total solar eclipses.”
CORROBORATED
Two independent web sources (Yahoo News UK and Solar Eclipse Log) confirm that Josep Masalles has witnessed 43 eclipses, including 22 total solar eclipses.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — When Josep Masalles was 17 years old, he was captivated by a partial eclipse of the sun over Barcelona, where he lives in northeastern Spain.In the 53 years that have followed, Masalles has witnessed …
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/spains-solar-eclipse-trilogy-spect…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Log your solar eclipses and find out how long you have been in the shadow of the moon.Josep Masalles. Nationality: Spain Spain. Seen eclipses: 43.
https://www.eclipse-chaser-log.com/eclipse-log/b4783468-30a1…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Total solar eclipse on понедельник 2 август 2027 г.: Where and when is the Sun eclipse visible? Path map, animation, and local times.2 авг 07:49:54. Last location to see the partial eclipse end. 2 авг…
https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2027-august-2
schedule
Claim 4: “A citizen science project led by IAC, in collaboration with Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Morocco and the US National Solar Observatory (NSO), is laying the groundwork for observing that eclipse.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
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Claim 5: “And in January 2028, an annular eclipse will pass from southwest to northeast Spain.”
CORROBORATED
Yahoo News UK and a solar eclipse calendar both confirm an annular solar eclipse will be visible in Spain in January 2028.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — January is the first month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Its length is 31 days. The first day of the month is known as New Year's Day. It is, on average, the coldest month of the …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Morocco–Spain border consists of three non-contiguous lines totalling 18.5 km (11.5 miles) around the Spanish territories of Ceuta (8 km; 5 miles), Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera (85 metres; 279 feet…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morocco–Spain_border
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spain
+ 3 more evidence sources
schedule
Claim 6: “Valentin Juan Martinez Pillet, director of the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (IAC), Spain's largest astronomy institution.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
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Claim 7: “On August 12, a total eclipse will pass from Galicia in the northwest of Spain to the Balearic Islands in the east, as well as Greenland and the western edge of Iceland.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources (NASA Science, National Solar Observatory, and a total solar eclipse map) confirm a total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026, passing through Greenland, Iceland, and Spain.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Iberian plate is a microplate typically grouped with the Eurasian plate that includes the microcontinent Iberia, Corsica, Sardinia, the Balearic Islands, the Briançonnais zone of the Penninic napp…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iberian_plate
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This list of autonomous areas arranged by country gives an overview of autonomous areas of the world. An autonomous area is defined as an area of a country that has a degree of autonomy, or has freedo…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_autonomous_areas_by_co…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — On Monday, 28 April 2025, at 12:33 CEST (11:33 WEST; 10:33 UTC), a major power blackout occurred across the Iberian Peninsula affecting mainland Portugal and peninsular Spain, where electric power was…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Iberian_Peninsula_blackou…
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
Claim 8: “A total eclipse hasn't been seen from the Iberian Peninsula since 1912”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence consists of dictionary definitions and song lyrics for the word 'No', and contains no information regarding solar eclipses in the Iberian Peninsula.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — No is an English word that has a negative meaning. It is the opposite of the word yes, which is a positive term. No is used when someone is turning away something. It is also used when opposing an ide…
https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/No
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web search NEUTRAL — A dance-pop song inspired by 1990s pop music and R&B, "No" has lyrics about sexual consent and empowerment, encouraging women to reject unwanted advances from men. Music critics praised "No" as a show…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_(Meghan_Trainor_song)
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web search NEUTRAL — 1. not any, not a, or not one: there's no money left; no card in the file. 2. not by a long way; not at all: she's no youngster. 3. (followed by comparative adjectives and adverbs) not: no fewer than …
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/no
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Claim 9: “the moment of totality is predicted to last more than 6 minutes at its peak over Egypt [on August 2, 2027].”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
info
Claim 10: “Josep Masalles is president of the Barcelona Astronomical Society (ASTER).”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this claim discusses a different person named Josep Bartolí and general information about the name Josep, but does not mention the Barcelona Astronomical Society (ASTER) or Masalles' presidency.
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web search NEUTRAL — Josep is a Catalan masculine given name equivalent to Joseph (Spanish José). People named Josep include: This page or section lists people that share the same given name.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josep
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web search NEUTRAL — Ce film relate la vie du dessinateur et homme politique Josep Bartolí au temps de la guerre civile espagnole, puis de la Seconde guerre mondiale et sa relation avec la peintre mexicaine Frida Kahlo.
https://fr.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josep_(film)
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web search NEUTRAL — In February 1939, artist Josep Bartolí had to flee his native Spain, which fell under Franco's dictatorship after the Spanish Civil War. Like thousands of other Spanish refugees, he went to France, bu…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josep_(film)
schedule
Claim 11: “The North African Telescope Eclipse project (NATE) aims to bring together scientists and high school students from Spain, Morocco and the US.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
help
Claim 12: “ESA's Proba-3 spacecraft... creates artificial solar eclipses in space”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided or found for this claim.
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Claim 13: “A second total eclipse will follow on August 2, 2027, visible from the tip of southern Spain, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm a total solar eclipse on August 2, 2027, visible from southern Spain, North Africa, and the Middle East.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — North Africa, also known as Northern Africa, is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region. However, it is sometimes defi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Africa
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — North African and Middle Eastern Australians are the Australians of North African and Middle Eastern ancestry, including naturalised Australians who are immigrants from various regions in the North Af…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_African_and_Middle_Easte…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spain
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
Claim 14: “There are two to three solar eclipses every year.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists of definitions of the number '2' and unrelated YouTube trailers, providing no factual information about the frequency of solar eclipses.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Two is a noun when it refers to the number two as in two plus two is four. The word two is derived from the Old English words twā (feminine), tū (neuter), and twēġen (masculine, which survives today i…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2
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web search NEUTRAL — 2 (Two; / ˈtuː / ( ⓘ)) is a number, numeral, and glyph. It is the number after 1 (one), followed by 3 (three), then 4 (four). In Roman numerals, it is II.
https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/2_(number)
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web search NEUTRAL — Jan 29, 2021 · friday. februrary 26. 2021.Watch the second official trailer for Sean Lew's #II. Streaming on this channel only. Learn more: https://www.instagram.com/twot...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkEoViReeu0
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.