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When Josep Masalles was 17 years old, he was captivated by a partial eclipse of the sun over Barcelona, where he lives in northeastern Spain. It sparked a lifelong fascination that has taken him around the world. In the 53 years that have followed, Masalles has witnessed 43 eclipses, including 22 total solar eclipses.
“The beauty of an eclipse is incomparable,” explained Masalles when we spoke at the headquarters of the Barcelona Astronomical Society, or ASTER, where he is president. “For me, it has also meant a way to travel, to see other…