The Colmenar Viejo Town Hall has set up a space on Avenida de Adolfo Suárez for residents to enjoy the total solar eclipse on August 12. Protective glasses will be distributed, and there will be children's activities and music.
On August 12, Colmenar Viejo will be one of the eleven official points in the Community of Madrid for observing the total solar eclipse. The Town Hall has prepared a special setup on the Avenida de Adolfo Suárez with free and open access for all residents.
The Councillor for the Environment, Agustín de la Fuente Jiménez, explained that the aim is to “bring the observation of the eclipse closer to the people of Colmenar, making it easier for children, young people, and the elderly to enjoy such a unique phenomenon with all safety guarantees.” The event will kick off at 18:30 hours with a water bouncy castle and a food area.
Schedule and phases of the eclipse
The eclipse will begin around 19:35 hours and will reach its totality phase at 20:31 hours, almost coinciding with sunset. The totality will last about 41 seconds, during which the sky will darken as if it were night, a phenomenon that will not occur again in the area for several years.
The Town Hall warns that visibility will depend on the horizon, so they recommend going to the designated point, where professionals will guide the observation. “We encourage the people of Colmenar to attend these official points, as they offer a safer, controlled, and more suitable environment than remote or improvised locations,” the councillor emphasized.
Protective glasses and complementary activities
At 19:30 hours, the free distribution of protective glasses will begin for attendees, which are essential for observing the eclipse without damaging eyesight. Additionally, from 19:30 to 21:30 hours, chill-out music will play to entertain while waiting.
As a preliminary activity, on Monday, August 10, children enrolled in the urban camp at CPB ‘Fuentesanta’ will be able to participate in a workshop to make their own observation glasses at 10:30 hours. The Town Hall expects a large turnout, as Colmenar Viejo is one of the municipalities selected by the Community of Madrid for this astronomical event.
The other ten designated points are Somosierra, Buitrago del Lozoya, La Cabrera, El Molar, Meco, San Agustín del Guadalix, Puerto de Navacerrada, Alcalá de Henares, Tres Cantos, and San Sebastián de los Reyes. All of them will have support and security personnel to ensure a safe experience.
The total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, completely obscuring it. Although the phenomenon is brief, the Town Hall invites residents to “experience this unrepeatable astronomical event, which reminds us of the importance of looking at the sky and caring for our environment.”
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