August 12, 2026 · Spain
Somosierra: 2026 solar eclipse
Best pin in Madrid — Dehesa de Majadrades, ~1m 29s of totality an hour north of the capital.
Eclipse type
Total
Central phase
1m 26s
Maximum (local)
20:31 GMT+2
Coordinates
41.1332°N, 3.5815°W
Local circumstances
Somosierra is the single best place in the Community of Madrid to watch this eclipse: about 1 minute 29 seconds of totality — the longest in the region — at a 1,440 m mountain pass roughly 99 km / one hour up the A-1 from Madrid. The capital itself stays outside the path at 99.9% partial, so there is never a glasses-off moment downtown; César González (Planetario de Madrid) puts it plainly — travel the ~100 km for totality. The official municipal pin is Dehesa de Majadrades, open mountain meadow west of the village with limited parking (mayor Alejandro Trillo Sanz; Telemadrid). Partial begins ~19:35:25, maximum ~20:31:52 CEST, sun only ~7–10° above the west-northwest horizon — so clear WNW sightlines beat forest. Do not confuse Majadrades with Dehesa Bonita (birch woodland): tree cover will eat a 7° sun. The village has ~93 residents; ~400 official registration slots against an expected ~2,000 walk-ups. Arrive early, prioritize mobility parking, bring certified ISO 12312-2 glasses for every partial minute, and only remove them during totality.
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 & standardsNearby 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.
Palencia
Best overall on mainland Spain — 1m 42s over the flat Tierra de Campos plains, sun ~9° high.
Burgos
Centerline drama — 1m 44s of totality at 20:29 over the Castilian meseta, with AVE access from Madrid.
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.