Today the national team is not playing, the prime minister is not addressing the nation, there are no press conferences about COVID-19, but the country will still come to a standstill at the same time to look at the same thing: the total solar eclipse.
At around 19:30, in the Bragança region, a total solar eclipse will occur, meaning day will briefly turn into night as the Sun is covered by the Moon. As well as darkening, ambient noise decreases, the temperature changes and many more shadows appear.
It will be an astronomical spectacle nobody will want to miss, not least because it is extremely rare, and the last total eclipse visible from mainland Portugal took place in 1912.
But the eclipse will not be the only phenomenon to amaze skywatchers tonight. From 21:30 on Wednesday, roughly an hour after the eclipse ends over mainland Portugal, a meteor shower will also take place. These meteors, known as Perseids, leave a trail of light as they cross the atmosphere.
This is an annual meteor shower, usually active from mid-July until the end of August. Its peak generally occurs around 12 and 13 August.
