I planned for this year's eclipse two years in advance, and it was a bit disappointing: the eclipse, just before sunset, disappeared behind some wisps of clouds just before the totality.

Now I'm wondering if this is as good as it's likely to get, or if I should book again for next year. Honestly, the idea of combining Tatooine with an eclipse sounds awesome, but that particular trip is already sold out.

Hotels in the path of the eclipse were already expensive on those dates in Gibraltar and Spain. Now with the press coverage they'll be unattainable.

Somehow it feels like social media spread ever more FOMO for this year's eclipse, there were long queues for eclipse glasses at local opticians, although where I lived we only had 90% totality (people think each person needs a pair, not aware that you're not going to stare at the thing the whole time, and sharing is possible).

And since the 2026 one is fresh, the 2027 one has a lot of hype and more FOMO for those who MO'ed.

I don’t see the hype as inherently related to social media. There was a lot of hype for the 1999 eclipse that passed through Europe. Everyone was talking about it and where they would go. That’s what it felt like.

It’s a rare and impressive occasion. It’s ok for people to be excited about it.

Buy your glasses in advance.

For us banned by archive.is: https://unwall.app/www.nytimes.com/2026/08/13/travel/solar-e...

fancy ad placement

don't miss that can't-miss appeal!

I got a really cool picture out of this years eclipse:

https://i.imgur.com/mrcV1V9.jpeg

If you zoom in, you realize that every little pinhole between the leaves of the trees, works as a pinhole camera, drawing a little sun circle- and that during a eclipse, the whole shadow is made of thousands of little eclipsed suns.

That’s an amazing shot. Thanks for sharing!

Is this about the non-existent EU foreign policy?