Total Solar Eclipse to Cross Spain in August 2026
AI-generated context summary requested by a Free News Reader user. Sourced via Gemini from publicly available information — no paywalled content was accessed.
You hit a paywall. Here’s the context on this topic based on publicly available information. We did not access any paywalled content. View original article.
Total Solar Eclipse to Cross Spain in August 2026
- On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse will be visible across a narrow path in Spain, marking the first such event for mainland Spain since 1905.
- The eclipse will occur in the late afternoon, with totality lasting over a minute in many areas and the sun being low on the horizon.
Full Summary — powered by AI
On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse will be observable from various locations across Spain. This celestial event will also traverse Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, and a small part of Portugal. For Spain, it is particularly significant as it marks the first total solar eclipse visible from the mainland in over a century, with the last one occurring in 1905.
The path of totality in Spain will extend from the Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean coast, including major cities such as A Coruña, Oviedo, León, Bilbao, Zaragoza, Valencia, and Palma. Residents in Madrid and Barcelona will experience a partial solar eclipse, as these cities lie just outside the path of totality.
The eclipse will take place in the late afternoon and early evening. For instance, in A Coruña, the eclipse is expected to begin around 7:31 PM, with maximum totality at 8:28 PM, and concluding by 9:22 PM, shortly before sunset. The duration of totality will vary by location; A Coruña will experience about 76 seconds of totality, while other areas like Burgos will see approximately 104 seconds. Observers in the Balearic Islands, such as Palma, will see the eclipse begin around 7:38 PM and reach its maximum at 8:32 PM, just before sunset, with the sun very low on the horizon.
Due to the sun’s low elevation during the eclipse, particularly in the later parts of the path across Spain, clear sightlines to the west will be crucial for optimal viewing. This 2026 eclipse is the first in a series of three solar eclipses visible from Spain in a short period, with another total solar eclipse anticipated on August 2, 2027, and an annular solar eclipse on January 26, 2028.