Spain will experience a unique astronomical event this summer: a total solar eclipse. A total one has not been seen since 1905 on the Iberian Peninsula — although there was one that passed over the Canary Islands in 1959 — so, without a doubt, it will be something exceptional for millions of Spaniards who will enjoy an unparalleled sensory experience for the first time. Although we have already published many articles about the eclipse, EL PAÍS begins its special coverage today with a tour of the minute and a half of fame of depopulated Spain. Here, moreover, are the keys not to miss this phenomenon.
When is the solar eclipse?
The eclipse will take place on Wednesday, August 12, at sunset: the climax will arrive around 8:30 p.m., depending on the specific point in Spanish territory. It will enter through the Galician and Asturian coast at 7:30 p.m. and will start to be total almost an hour later.
Map with the time and visibility at each point in the country
How the eclipse will be seen from each municipality in Spain comparing times, percentage of obscuration, and duration, three key factors to understand the intensity of the event.
Where will this astronomical phenomenon be seen in Spain?
The next solar eclipse will be total in almost 40% of Spain, in a band that crosses the north of the country, entering through Galicia and Asturias and exiting through the Mediterranean coast and the Balearic Islands. It will pass through 13 of the 17 autonomous communities, covering at least part of 31 of the 50 provinces. In the rest of Spain, it will be a very pronounced partial eclipse.
More than 350 official observation points to see the eclipse
A map and a search tool allow locating the viewpoints enabled by the communities and municipalities to observe the phenomenon.
Only in Spain?
Spain will be the only country where this eclipse can be observed with guarantees, although it will also pass through uninhabited areas of Greenland, the western tip of Iceland, and a small corner of Portugal.
How long does it last?
In the areas blessed with totality, that day it will get dark twice; the first — around 8:30 p.m. — if the clouds allow, a black sun surrounded by a white halo will be visible for up to 1 minute and 50 seconds.
Will it be unique?
Spain will experience three eclipses of the highest category in three consecutive years: August 12, 2026, August 2, 2027, and January 26, 2028. The first two will be total and the last one annular.
What places to avoid?
The big drawback is that the eclipse arrives in Spain when the sun is setting. Therefore, obstacles near the horizon — such as buildings, trees, and mountains — can prevent its view. For example, it will not be visible in towns like San Lorenzo del Escorial (Madrid), located on the slope of a mountain that blocks the sun at sunset. The other drama that can ruin the show will be the clouds, which will depend on the weather of the day at each point in the territory.
How to find the perfect spot?
The general recommendation to “look for a place with a clear horizon free of obstacles towards the sunset, between the west and northwest” may raise doubts for many people. With these three free apps and a website, you can find the perfect place to see the eclipse (without needing to go to one of the official viewpoints approved by the different public administrations).
How to watch it safely?
The only safe way to look at the Sun at any time during an eclipse is to use glasses certified with the ISO 12312-2 standard, properly marked with this certification and with the European Union CE mark. They must also obligatorily include the manufacturer’s address, usage instructions in the language of the country where they are sold, and the expiration period. “It terrifies me that the possibility of using X-rays or photographic negatives is even mentioned,” warned Juan Cruz Cigudosa, Secretary of State for Science.
Is it very different if the eclipse is 99%?
A 99.9% eclipse and a total one are almost not equivalent: only in totality does the solar corona appear and the sky takes on a nighttime appearance. For example, in the center of Madrid city, the obscuration will be 99.96%; but experts emphasize that such a pronounced partial eclipse has little to do with the sensations of a total eclipse, which will be visible for a few seconds around 8:32 p.m. from some streets in the northernmost neighborhoods of the city.
