The city of Castelló is preparing to welcome thousands of visitors to witness the total solar eclipse on August 12th, an exceptional astronomical event not seen under these conditions for over a century. Visitors are expected from various parts of the country and even from continents like the United States, Australia, or China.
To ensure safety during the observation of the phenomenon, the Castelló City Council acquired a batch of 12,000 specially approved glasses months ago. Some of these glasses are being distributed to attendees of the 'Eclipse Saturdays' educational series, held at the Planetari de Castelló on June 13th and 27th, and July 11th and 25th. Attendees of these free conferences receive a pair at the end.
The free distribution of more glasses will continue on the day of the eclipse itself, August 12th. The City Council will set up distribution points on the beaches where a special program will take place. The mayor, Begoña Carrasco, has indicated that priority will be given to children for this distribution, although she acknowledged that the number of available units will be insufficient to cover the expected large turnout.
Given this forecast, the council advises visitors planning to come to the beach and the Planetari area to bring their own approved glasses to ensure they can safely observe the phenomenon.
Glasses for observing solar eclipses have been on sale in various establishments in the city for weeks. Opticians, pharmacies, and shopping centers are selling these approved devices, with prices ranging from two to six euros per unit. Specialists emphasize the importance of using only certified devices for direct solar observation, as unapproved or homemade systems can cause severe and irreversible eye damage.
