La entrada Alert in Ibiza for the total solar eclipse of 2026: fear of crowds in es Vedrà se publicó primero en La Voz De Ibiza.
]]>As explained in an interview in IB3 the spokesman of the Astronomical Association of Ibiza, Pedro Perez, the eclipse will be visible in a band of about 200 kilometers and will have a total duration of approximately two hours, although the most anticipated moment, the totality, will only last for a minute. This moment will occur at 20.33 hours, coinciding almost at sunset, when the star is only two degrees above sea level, a fact that adds uniqueness to the event.
The expectation generated by the eclipse has raised alarms about the massive influx of people that could be registered in certain parts of the island. Pérez warned that, without proper organization, the day could become a real «total chaos«, especially in areas such as Vedrà, an enclave already very frequented during the summer and which also concentrates a strong symbolic and mystical component associated with this type of phenomena.
In view of this situation, the Astronomical Association of Ibiza has already started meetings with the Consell Insular to identify the most conflictive points and design a security and access plan to manage the event with guarantees. The objective, according to the spokesman, is that the eclipse is experienced as a cultural and scientific celebration, and not as a problem of public order.
The attractiveness of the day will be reinforced by an unusual coincidence: the night of the eclipse will also coincide with the maximum activity of the Perseids, known as the Tears of St. Lawrence, and with the New Moon phase. This combination will make it possible to enjoy almost total darkness after sunset, creating optimal conditions for observing the star shower, without the interference of lunar light.
From the astronomical group stress that this is a unique opportunity for scientific dissemination and astronomical tourism on the island, but insist that the success of the event will depend largely on a rigorous planning. «An event of this magnitude can not be improvised,» said Perez, recalling that Ibiza will only experience an eclipse of these characteristics once per generation.
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La entrada Alert in Ibiza for the total solar eclipse of 2026: fear of crowds in es Vedrà se publicó primero en La Voz De Ibiza.
]]>La entrada Winter skies in Formentera: ‘Mira el cielo’ returns, the program to rediscover the stars se publicó primero en La Voz De Ibiza.
]]>This time of the year, considered one of the best for observing the firmament, offers clear, dark skies that allow you to enjoy deep space with exceptional clarity.
Programming
The first observation will take place on December 17, from 21 to 23 hours, in the garden of ses Eres. During the session some of the most emblematic celestial objects of the season, such as the Orion Nebula, the planet Jupiter, the Andromeda Galaxy or the Pleiades and Sirius, visible even without instruments. In addition, attendees will be able to photograph these astronomical bodies through the telescope.
The proposal maintains the essence of the already consolidated meetings, but incorporates a renewed route that seeks to place the public in the context of the cosmos and to value the night sky of Formentera, recognized with the Starlight certification for its quality and low light pollution.
A second session is scheduled for January 16, 2026, also at 9 p.m., in Cala Saona, one of the darkest enclaves of the island and, therefore, particularly suitable for astronomical observation in winter.
With these free activities open to all audiences, the Consell reaffirms its commitment to cultural and scientific dissemination. At the same time, it takes advantage of the off-peak tourist months to offer quality experiences that highlight the natural and astronomical heritage of the island.
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Incredible nebula captured from Ibiza shines again more than a decade later
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A cosmic jewel from Ibiza: stunning «smiling cat nebula» captured
La entrada Winter skies in Formentera: ‘Mira el cielo’ returns, the program to rediscover the stars se publicó primero en La Voz De Ibiza.
]]>La entrada Supermoon that will not be seen again until 2042 opens a December full of astronomical phenomena se publicó primero en La Voz De Ibiza.
]]>The December supermoon, also known as the Cold or Long Nights Moon, will be larger and brighter than a usual full moon, as the satellite will be at a point especially close to the Earth. In fact, it will be
Although it will be visible to the naked eye, astronomers recommend staying away from areas with light pollution and look to the west at sunrise or sunset, when it will be at its brightest. The Moon will also be seen especially high on the horizon, an unusual detail in this type of phenomena.
A supermoon bidding farewell to the year under the constellation of Gemini
The full moon will arrive under the constellation Gemini, marking the beginning of an astronomically charged December. The lunar calendar for the last month of the year continues its cycle with the waning quarter on December 11 (21:51 hours), the new moon on December 20 (2:43 hours) and the waxing quarter on the 27th (20:10 hours).
The lunar calendar, used for more than 5,000 years since ancient Mesopotamia, continues to be a reference not only for astronomy, but also for those who follow the natural rhythms associated with the satellite, from tides to crops.
December arrives full of events: star shower and winter solstice
The month opens with this supermoon, but it will not be the only remarkable phenomenon. December brings two meteor showers especially awaited by amateurs and experts.
The Geminids, active between December 4 and 17, will reach their maximum activity on the 14th and can offer up to 150 fireballs per hour, with bright, slow and intensely colored meteors. The Ursids, visible between December 17 and 26, will peak on the 22nd. They are a minor shower, but with flashes from the wake of comet 8P/Tuttle.
In addition to these events, the winter solstice will arrive on Sunday, December 21, 2025 at 16:03 hours, starting the shortest season of the year: 88 days and 23 hours. The explanation lies in the elliptical orbit of the Earth, which accelerates its motion when it is closer to the Sun, according to Kepler’s second law.
The solstice marks the day with the least sunlight of the year, with up to six hours less than the summer solstice. Even so, it will not be the day with the latest sunrise or the day with the earliest sunset: that occurs, respectively, at the beginning of January and on December 10. During December, in practically all of Spain (except the Canary Islands), it gets dark before six o’clock in the evening.
December planets: Jupiter and Saturn rule the night
The month also offers a good planetary showcase. Mercury will be difficult to observe: it lasts less than an hour after sunset and loses brightness. Venus bids farewell until February; it is still the dawn star, but its rising almost coincides with the sunrise. Mars will be invisible: its sunset will be barely half an hour after sunset.
Jupiter will be the main protagonist, visible more than half of the night in Gemini and increasing its brightness to magnitude -2.5. With a telescope, its clouds, the Great Red Spot and the movement of Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto can be seen. Saturn, located in Aquarius, will still be easily seen even though its rings are less than one degree of inclination.
La entrada Supermoon that will not be seen again until 2042 opens a December full of astronomical phenomena se publicó primero en La Voz De Ibiza.
]]>La entrada Incredible nebula captured from Ibiza shines again more than a decade later se publicó primero en La Voz De Ibiza.
]]>The Agrupación Astronómica de Ibiza, which manages the observatory together with the Consell de Ibiza, has republished the image on its social networks, highlighting the scientific quality of the archive generated from the island.
«This image has about 40 hours of LHaRGB integration,» the author explained in his networks, where he regularly shares work from observatories around the world.
Young stars and cosmic dust over Cala d’Hort
The star cluster NGC 2264, located 2,700 light-years away in the constellation Monoceros, is an active star-forming region. The image clearly shows a dark nebula of cold molecular hydrogen, about ten light-years in length, and more than 600 young stars between one and four million years old.
The star S Monocerotis, the brightest star in the cluster, is responsible for ionizing the gas cloud that forms the conical structure, giving rise to this visual phenomenon of high astronomical impact.
The Cala d’Hort telescope, in the protected environment of ses Païsses, continues to provide valuable scientific material even a decade after its first captures.
A scientific jewel in the southwest of Ibiza
The Cala d’Hort Observatory, located in the protected environment of ses Païsses, is one of the most important astronomical observation points in the western Mediterranean. Its sky, far from light pollution, allows high-precision captures such as this one, which has been shared in the international scientific community through the AstroBin platform.
The initiative demonstrates how the Ibiza telescope’s scientific archive remains an active source of discovery, even a decade after the original capture.
La entrada Incredible nebula captured from Ibiza shines again more than a decade later se publicó primero en La Voz De Ibiza.
]]>La entrada Astronomical observation «Cel de tardor sobre els Illots de Ponent» (Late afternoon sky over the Illots de Ponent). se publicó primero en La Voz De Ibiza.
]]>Time: From 18:00 to 20:00
Place: Exact point communicated after registration (Illots de Ponent, Natural Reserve of es Vedrà, es Vedranell i els Illots de Ponent).
Free activity with obligatory registration
The Natural Reserves of es Vedrà, es Vedranell and els Illots de Ponent organize a free outdoor astronomical observation, aimed at all audiences and guided by the IBANAT environmental education team. Under the title «Cel de tardor sobre els Illots de Ponent», the session will allow to observe the Moon and the autumn constellations with a telescope, as well as to deepen in the importance of the night darkness for the biodiversity of the environment.
Participation requires prior registration by e-mail or through the official form. Minors must be accompanied by an adult.
A unique opportunity to enjoy the autumn sky in one of the most emblematic and protected natural areas of Ibiza.
La entrada Astronomical observation «Cel de tardor sobre els Illots de Ponent» (Late afternoon sky over the Illots de Ponent). se publicó primero en La Voz De Ibiza.
]]>La entrada A cosmic jewel from Ibiza: stunning «smiling cat nebula» captured se publicó primero en La Voz De Ibiza.
]]>The photograph, the result of 21 hours of integration, reveals with exceptional sharpness the details of this vast region of dust and gas known as Sh2-284, considered a true stellar nursery. Its brightest region is approximately 150 light-years across and is located about 15,000 light-years from Earth, in the constellation Monoceros, at the end of one of the outer spiral arms of the Milky Way.
At the heart of Sh2-284 is the open star cluster Dolidze 25, whose young stars emit powerful winds that shape the nebula and pierce its interior, creating columns and structures that frame the cluster. These processes energize the surrounding gas and generate the intense luminosity characteristic of this giant H II region.
The «smiling cat nebula».
Sh2-284, popularly known as the «smiling cat nebula» because of its appearance in certain images, has been studied because of its low metallicity, a feature that makes it possible to investigate how stars formed in early times in the universe.
The new capture obtained from Ibiza not only stands out for its visual beauty, but also for the scientific value of observing from the island one of the most striking and active star formation zones in our galaxy.
La entrada A cosmic jewel from Ibiza: stunning «smiling cat nebula» captured se publicó primero en La Voz De Ibiza.
]]>La entrada What time to see the ‘Beaver Moon’ today? The biggest and brightest supermoon of the year will light up Spain’s sky se publicó primero en La Voz De Ibiza.
]]>The event promises to leave postcard images all over Spain, especially at sunset and in the early evening, when the contrast with the still illuminated sky will enhance its size and golden color.
What time will the ‘Beaver Moon’ be visible in Spain?
The time of appearance of the ‘Beaver Moon’ varies depending on the geographical area, due to the autumn time change and the position of the sun. In the eastern part of the Peninsula, the supermoon will begin to be visible around 17:19 hours, shortly after sunset. In Madrid, it will appear a few minutes later, around 17:30 hours.
In the case of the Canary Islands, being further west, we will have to wait until approximately 18:15 hours to see it peeking over the horizon.
Although it will be visible from dusk, its maximum splendor will occur between 22:00 and 23:00 hours, when the sky is completely dark and the atmosphere offers the best conditions to observe it.
The phenomenon will be prolonged during the night of November 5 to 6, so it can also be enjoyed at dawn on Wednesday, between 6:00 and 7:30 a.m., when the moon will set in the west.
An astronomical phenomenon visible to the naked eye
The ‘Beaver Moon’ can be seen with the naked eye from anywhere in the country. However, experts recommend choosing places with low light pollution to enjoy it more clearly.
The best places to observe it are the so-called Starlight destinations, areas certified for their night sky quality. In Spain, some of the most emblematic ones stand out:
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La Palma, in the Canary Islands, internationally recognized for its Roque de los Muchachos observatory.
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Menorca, Biosphere Reserve, with several ideal observation points.
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Sierra Morena, with astronomical viewpoints in Córdoba and Jaén.
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The Regional Park of Gredos, in Ávila, with skies free of light pollution.
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The Montsec mountain range, in Lleida, with its well-known Astronomical Park.
For those who wish to observe finer details of the lunar surface – such as craters or visible «seas» – binoculars or medium-range telescopes will be useful.
The brightness of the Moon and the phenomenon of perigee.
The spectacular brightness of the ‘Beaver Moon’ is not because it emits its own light, but because it reflects the sun’s light. On this occasion, the perigee phenomenon places it closer to the Earth, which intensifies its brightness and makes it appear larger on the horizon.
Throughout the year, the moon passes through several perigee and apogee points (the farthest), but November’s is the closest in 2025, making it the brightest and largest supermoon of the year.
This visual effect is most noticeable at moonrise or moonset, when the moon is close to the horizon and its apparent size is amplified by an optical illusion known as the «lunar effect».
Why is it called ‘Beaver Moon’?
The name ‘Beaver Moon’ has its origins in Native American cultures, which named the full moons of each month after the natural cycles and activities of the season.
There are two main theories about the origin of the name:
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November was believed to be the month when beavers built their pre-winter dams in preparation for the cold weather.
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Or, that the hunters called it that way because it coincided with the time when the beavers’ fur was thickest and most valuable, intensifying their capture to obtain skins before the frosts.
However, this astronomical phenomenon receives other names in different cultures. In Spain and Europe it is also known as the «Frost Moon» or «Ice Moon», because it coincides with the arrival of the first frosts. In China, it is the «White Moon», and for the Celts, the «Dark Moon». In the southern hemisphere, where spring is celebrated, it is called the «Corn Moon», «Flower Moon», «Milk Moon» or «Hare Moon», depending on local traditions.
How to photograph the supermoon
The ‘Beaver Moon’ offers a unique opportunity for night photography lovers. Experts advise capturing it during its rising or setting, when it is close to the horizon and can be composed next to landscapes, monuments or buildings to highlight its size.
The use of a tripod and a camera with a telephoto lens allows you to obtain sharper images. In case of using a cell phone, the ideal is to reduce the exposure to prevent excessive brightness from burning the details of the lunar disk.
La entrada What time to see the ‘Beaver Moon’ today? The biggest and brightest supermoon of the year will light up Spain’s sky se publicó primero en La Voz De Ibiza.
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