With the total solar eclipse of August 12 approaching, Castellón is stepping up its preparations and special programming at the Planetarium. The conference series ‘Eclipse Saturdays’ has been fully booked, attracting over 600 attendees who have listened to astronomy experts.
Valencian astrophotographer Jessica Rojas, internationally recognized for her solar and lunar photography, gave the conference “How to Photograph an Eclipse,” sharing techniques for capturing the phenomenon. Her images have been published by NASA, the ESA, National Geographic, and Photopills.
The next event is on July 25 with the conference-roundtable “Preparing for Castellón's Total Eclipse,” free until full capacity. Councilor for Culture, María España, highlighted that the Planetarium is positioned “at the epicenter of science with renowned figures,” while Councilor for Tourism, Arantxa Miralles, emphasized the high interest in the special program, with participants from various countries.
On August 12, Castellón will offer a full day of free programming across two main venues: the Sun Stage (next to the Planetarium and Pinar beach) and the Moon Stage (at Gurugú beach). The phenomenon will be visible along 3 km of coastline between these two beaches.
The day will include talks and educational activities with leading science communicators such as Javier Santaolalla and Josep Calatayud, family and children's workshops, projections in the Planetarium dome, pre-eclipse entertainment, live tracking of the phenomenon, and a nighttime observation of the Perseids.
A total of 140 volunteers will assist with information, guidance, and public support. The City Council has held specific training sessions to prepare them in visitor assistance, basic scientific aspects, and safety measures, ensuring the smooth running of an event expected to attract thousands of visitors and place Castellón at the forefront of astronomical tourism.
