Today the national team are not playing, the prime minister is not addressing the country, there are no COVID-19 press conferences, but the country will still stop at the same time to look at the same thing: the total eclipse of the Sun.
Around 19:30, in the Bragança region, the total eclipse of the Sun will occur, meaning day will turn into night as the Sun is covered by the Moon. As well as getting darker, ambient noise drops, the temperature changes and many more shadows are cast.
This will be an astronomical spectacle nobody will want to miss, not least because it is highly unusual and the last total eclipse visible from mainland Portugal took place in 1912.
But the eclipse will not be the only phenomenon to amaze this evening. From 21:30 on Wednesday, about an hour after the eclipse ends in mainland Portugal, there will also be a meteor shower. These meteors, known as the Perseids, leave a trail of light as they pass through the atmosphere.
This is an annual meteor shower, usually active from mid-July until the end of August. The peak generally occurs around 12 and 13 August.
