  Solar eclipses play an important role in the history of astronomy because
their observation allowed astrophysics to expand. The eclipse of August 30th,
1905 is particularly interesting since the line of totality passes through
Spain and Algeria, and that it will last 3 minutes and 45 seconds.
Consequently, all the French observatories send astronomers to observe it.
About a hundred amateur astronomers of the French Astronomical Society also go
to various sites, as well as quite a few individuals who are simply curious,
like Camille Saint-Sa\"ens. Count Aymar de la Baume Pluvinel and his two young
assistants settle in at Alcala de Chisvert, between Tarragona and Valencia.
