Europe's first solar eclipse since 1999

**Georgie** (0:00)
From BBC Learning English, this is Learning English from the News, our podcast about the news headlines.

**Becca** (0:06)
In this program, first solar eclipse in Europe for over 25 years.

**Georgie** (0:16)
Hello, I'm Georgie.

**Becca** (0:17)
And I'm Becca.

**Georgie** (0:18)
In this program, we look at one big news story and the vocabulary in the headlines that will help you understand it.

**Becca** (0:24)
You can find all the vocabulary and headlines from this episode, as well as a worksheet on our website, pbclearningenglish.com.

**Georgie** (0:32)
OK, Becca, let's hear more about this story.

**Becca** (0:41)
Many parts of Europe will experience a solar eclipse on Wednesday evening. A solar eclipse is when the moon blocks the light from the sun.

**Georgie** (0:50)
The sun will be completely covered for people watching from parts of Spain and Iceland. Other parts of Europe will get a partial eclipse. For example, in Berlin, 85% of the sun will be covered, 92% in Paris and in London, 90%.

**Becca** (1:06)
It will be the first solar eclipse in Europe since 1999

**Georgie** (1:10)
Wow. Becca, are you going to be watching the eclipse?

**Becca** (1:13)
I am. I'm really excited about it. How about you, Georgie?

**Georgie** (1:17)
Well, I only heard about it this week, so I don't feel very prepared. But I probably will try and watch it. I just need to find a safe way to do it.

**Becca** (1:25)
Yeah, we'll talk more about that a little bit later.

**Georgie** (1:28)
So total eclipses are rare events, and many people travel to see them. And there's going to be a few solar eclipses in the next few years. Following the eclipse this summer, there will be a total eclipse in Egypt next August and a third eclipse in Australia and New Zealand in July, 2028

**Becca** (1:45)
And our first headline is about this. This headline is from Forbes, a global news organization.
A golden age of total solar eclipses begins tomorrow.

**Georgie** (1:56)
And that headline again, a golden age of total solar eclipses begins tomorrow. And that's from Forbes.

**Becca** (2:04)
This headline is about this week's solar eclipse and the eclipses that will happen around the world over the next couple of years.

**Georgie** (2:11)
Yes, the headline says there will be a golden age of total solar eclipses. And we are looking at this expression, a golden age. Becca, what can you tell us?

**Becca** (2:21)
Well, a golden age is a particularly good or successful period of time.

**Georgie** (2:26)
Yes, golden describes the colour of gold, the precious metal. We use golden metaphorically to mean something is very good and valuable, for example, a golden opportunity.

**Becca** (2:37)
You might hear the expression golden age used to talk about the past. For example, we could describe the 1800s as a golden age for manufacturing. Or we could talk about the golden age of the internet at the end of the 20th century when new technology was developing.

**Georgie** (2:55)
With the expression golden age, there's a sense that the period of time we're referring to is rare and will not be repeated, that it's a particularly special time.

**Becca** (3:04)
Yes, to return to our headline, it says a golden age of solar eclipses is beginning. This is because there will be three total eclipses over the common years for people around the world to experience.
And it isn't common to get so many opportunities to witness this spectacular event.

**Georgie** (3:22)
Becca, we could have an extra meaning here because golden could be describing the light from the sun as well.

**Becca** (3:27)
Ooh, that's true.

**Georgie** (3:32)
We've had golden age, a particularly good or successful period of time.

**Becca** (3:40)
For example, scientists say that we are in a golden age of cancer treatment. New medicines are being discovered all the time.

**Georgie** (3:50)
This is Learning English from the News, our podcast about the news headlines. Today, we're talking about Europe's first solar eclipse since 1999

**Becca** (4:00)
As we mentioned, one of the best places to see the solar eclipse will be in northern Spain, where the sun will be completely covered by the moon.

**Georgie** (4:08)
Depending on the location, the peak of the total eclipse will be around 8.30pm local time.

**Becca** (4:15)
Many people are travelling to Spain to experience the eclipse. Spanish authorities estimate about 1.5 million additional car journeys will be made in the region.

**Georgie** (4:26)
And our next headline is about this. This one is from The Guardian, a British newspaper.
People flocking to Spain to view solar eclipse could spark more devastating wildfires.

**Becca** (4:37)
And that headline again from The Guardian. People flocking to Spain to view solar eclipse could spark more devastating wildfires.