August 12, 2026 · Spain

Palencia: 2026 solar eclipse

Best overall on mainland Spain — 1m 42s over the flat Tierra de Campos plains, sun ~9° high.

Eclipse type

Total

Central phase

1m 42s

Maximum (local)

20:29 GMT+2

Coordinates

42.0096°N, 4.5286°W

Local circumstances

The consensus sweet spot for Spain 2026: open Tierra de Campos plains around Palencia deliver about 1 minute 42 seconds of totality at 20:29 with the sun near 9°, flat western horizons, and strong inland August clear-sky odds. Boring fields beat scenic ridges here — this sunset eclipse punishes any hill or tree line that blocks the west-northwest.

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Viewing safety

Use ISO 12312-2 certified solar viewers for every partial phase. Only during totality (when the Moon fully covers the Sun) is it safe to look without a filter, and only if you are inside the path.

Eclipse safety & standards

Nearby path locations

A Coruña

Spain's Atlantic landfall — 1m 15s of totality at 20:28 with the sun ~12° up, the highest on the Spanish track.

León

ESA science day in the city — ~1m 44s of totality at 20:29, free public programme at the Palacio de Congresos.

Burgos

Centerline drama — 1m 44s of totality at 20:29 over the Castilian meseta, with AVE access from Madrid.

Somosierra

Best pin in Madrid — Dehesa de Majadrades, ~1m 29s of totality an hour north of the capital.

Zaragoza

Best clear-sky odds on mainland Spain — 1m 24s of totality at 20:29, sun low over the Ebro valley.

Palma

Mediterranean sunset climax — 1m 36s of totality with the sun only ~2° above the sea.

Ibiza

Final landfall — ~1m 5s of totality with the sun just 3° up, turning the Mediterranean sky to impossible dusk at 8:30 PM.

Certified eclipse glasses for this path

ISO 12312-2 solar viewers for families, schools, and trip groups. Inspect filters before eclipse day.

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