To celebrate International Moon Day 2026, the Él Viejo Pancho Municipal Library in Ribadeo, Spain, will host the public lecture “Eclipses Throughout History: Fear, Myth and Science”, presented by Juan Nolasco from Planetário do Porto – Centro Ciência Viva, Portugal.

Taking the total solar eclipse of 12 August 2026 as its starting point, the lecture will explore the essential role of the Moon in producing solar eclipses and the relationship between the Earth, the Moon and the Sun.

The audience will be taken on a journey through the history of eclipses, examining how different cultures interpreted these phenomena, from ancient myths, fear and superstition to our current scientific understanding.

The session will also explore the presence of eclipses in art, literature and culture, while providing practical information on how to observe solar eclipses safely.

By connecting astronomy, history, culture and scientific knowledge, the event supports the International Moon Day 2026 theme, “One Moon, One Vision, One Future”, and celebrates the Moon as a shared source of curiosity, discovery and inspiration for all humanity.