One month from today, millions will turn their eyes to the skies for one of the most anticipated skywatching events of the year: the total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026.
The eclipse will sweep across parts of Greenland, Iceland and Spain, briefly turning day into night for those lucky enough to be within the narrow path of totality.
It's been a long time coming for European skywatchers, as the event marks Europe's first total solar eclipse since 1999.
Where can I see the total solar eclipse?
If you're hoping to experience totality, now is the time to finalize your plans. Thepath of totality crosses Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain, with maximum eclipse lasting up to 2 minutes and 18 seconds.
Path of totality over Iceland.Created using MapHub.net. Source: Esri, Maxar, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and the GIS User CommunityPath of totality over Spain.Created using MapHub.net. Source: Esri, Maxar, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and the GIS User CommunityEntire path of totality. From Greenland through Iceland and Spain. Created using MapHub.net. Source: Esri, Maxar, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and the GIS User Community
Spain is expected to be one of the most popular destinations thanks to its favorable weather prospects, though it's not without a catch! Viewers will need to secure a clear view of the western horizon because the eclipsed sun will sit very low in the sky during totality.
Notable locations and timings of totality
Location
Totality duration
What time?
Sun height
Scoresby Sund, Greenland
1 minute, 46 seconds
4:35 p.m. CGST
24 degrees above west
Reykjavik, Iceland
1 minute, 1 second
5:48 p.m. GMT
25 degrees above west
Snæfellsjökull National Park, Iceland
2 minutes, 10 seconds
5:45 p.m. GMT
25 degrees above west
Gijón, Spain
1 minute, 46 seconds
8:26 p.m. CEST
10 degrees above west-northwest
A Coruña, Spain
1 minute, 15 seconds
8:27 p.m. CEST
12 degrees above west-northwest
Palencia, Spain
1 minute, 42 seconds
8:29 p.m. CEST
9 degrees above west-northwest
Burgos, Spain
1 minute, 44 seconds
8:28 p.m. CEST
8 degrees above west-northwest
Segovia, Spain
54 seconds
8:31 p.m. CEST
8 degrees above west-northwest
Sigüenza, Spain
1 minute, 38 seconds
8:30 p.m. CEST
7 degrees above west-northwest
Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
1 minute, 36 seconds
8:31 p.m. CEST
2.7 degrees above west-northwest
Will I see the eclipse from where I live?
Not inside the path of totality? Don't worry. A spectacular partial solar eclipse will be visible across much of Europe, with more than 90% of the sun covered from locations including London, Paris and Dublin.
Over the coming weeks, Space.com will bring you everything you need to prepare for eclipse day. We'll publish viewing guides, safety advice and information on how to watch the eclipse online.
Closer to the event, we'll launch a dedicated live blog covering the latest eclipse news and insights from our reporters in the field.
Skywatching Editor Daisy Dobrijevic will join an eclipse expedition to Greenland with HX, while Skywatching Writer Anthony Wood will travel to northern Spain with the DEB initiative and citizen scientists to report firsthand from the path of totality.
There are several ways you can help scientists study this year’s eclipse
Sirbouman/Alamy
During the total solar eclipse on 12 August, scientists from around the world will have their eyes – and scientific instruments – on the sun. But even if you aren’t a scientist, you can help in their investigations, both during the eclipse and year-round.
A total solar eclipse occurs when the sun and moon line up just right so that the moon blocks out the entire disc of the sun from the perspective of Earth. It is a huge cosmic coincidence that both the sun and the moon happen to be just the right size and at the right distance to give us such a spectacle, and a scientifically useful one at that.
On 12 August, a total eclipse will be visible over parts of Europe and the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, with a partial eclipse covering much of Europe, Canada, north-west Africa and parts of the US. An eclipse like this one is visible from somewhere on Earth just once every 18 months approximately, so during each eclipse, scientists rush out to gather as much data as they can. Here are some ways that you can help out:
1. Record shadow bands from the path of totality: In the moments before and after a total solar eclipse, strange phenomena called shadow bands billow across the ground. These bands are caused by the combination of Earth’s atmosphere and the hidden disc of the sun – it is similar to the effect that causes more distant stars to twinkle. If you are in the path of totality, all you have to do to see them is set out a white sheet or piece of cardboard perpendicular to the direction of the sun. To help out with this citizen science project, which aims to quantify how shadow bands differ based on altitude and distance from the centre of totality, just set up a camera to film the sheet.
2. Photograph the sun with your smartphone: The sun is very nearly spherical, but it isn’t perfect. One of the best ways to measure its shape with precision is to have lots of pictures taken from lots of different locations – that’s what SunSketcher does. It’s a smartphone app that you can set up and leave running as you enjoy watching the eclipse, and it will take carefully timed pictures to capture a phenomenon called Baily’s Beads, or the diamond ring effect. When the very last of the sun is about to be covered by the moon, the lunar landscape lets through tiny points of light, which shine along its edge. The same happens when the other side of the moon is just about to let the sun shine past it again, and these points of light are Baily’s Beads. When lots of photos of the beads, all precisely geolocated, are combined with a map of the lunar topography, that can give us an extraordinarily precise measurement of how far the disc of the sun is from a perfect circle.
3. Measure the darkening of the sky during the eclipse: Even if you are only going to see a partial eclipse, you can still help with scientific research. The Gaia4Sustainability project requires a little bit more equipment and set-up time, but once you have it sorted, you can leave it running all year round and keep collecting useful data. It consists of a small device with a bunch of sensors on it to measure the brightness of the sky and other meteorological factors, and the overarching goal of the programme is to measure light pollution so we can better understand its effects. But during the eclipse, the same sensors can be used to measure atmospheric changes caused by the blocking of sunlight, and the more different spots the team has data from, the more they will be able to learn about atmospheric dynamics during eclipses.
4. Hunt for sun-grazing comets: As is the case for pretty much all astronomical events, a huge portion of the world won’t be able to see August’s total eclipse at all. Not to worry! There are still ways to get involved in solar science. In the Sungrazer project, you can download satellite pictures of the sun and look for moving objects on its outskirts. Some of the objects will be comets skimming past the sun, and once researchers know those comets are there, they can do more detailed research. A huge proportion of the known comets were discovered through Sungrazer. All it takes is a computer, an internet connection and some spare time.
5. Join a DEB observation team for next year: If you want to do something a bit more involved, the Dynamic Eclipse Broadcast (DEB) Initiative might be more up your street. It’s an scheme where teams receive training and some relatively basic equipment to observe eclipses across the path of totality, building up a huge repository of data that can then be used to study the evolution of the corona, the outermost layer of the sun’s atmosphere. Because of the training required, it is too late to join or create a DEB team for this year, but if you are going to be able to spot the 2027 eclipse that will sweep over northern Africa, you can sign up ahead of time.
Even during the eclipse, you shouldn’t look directly at the sun without a solar filter or eclipse glasses to protect your eyes.
For the Aug. 12, 2026, total solar eclipse, Spain's great cities will be pulling in eclipse-chasers from across Europe, but not every famous destination is equally well placed. In Barcelona and Madrid, the eclipse is a near miss — dramatic on paper, yet ultimately disappointing. Madrid gets a 99.96% partial eclipse, which means no totality, so no corona, no twilight sky and no plunge in temperature. Cue a mass exodus from Spain's two biggest cities in search of totality.
To experience a total solar eclipse, you need to be inside the narrow path of totality stretching across northern Spain, from the northwest coast to the east coast. Timing and geography matter because this is a very low-sun eclipse, with totality arriving close to sunset. Coastal beaches, riverbanks, hilltop miradors and elevated parks with unobstructed west-northwest horizons will become prime real estate for one of Europe's most anticipated astronomical events. Here are 10 cities for the eclipse, with recommended viewpoints.
Essential resources for checking and re-checking intended destinations for totality include Xavier Jubier's Interactive Google Map, which has timings and built-in sight lines from Peak Finder, as well as The Eclipse App, Eclipse Horizon Checker and the Instituto Geográfico Nacional. However, nothing beats being in place the night before to check for trees and other obstructions at the time of the eclipse. All times and cloud statistics come from Time and Date and are for totality only.
1. Valladolid
Clear skies are likely in Valladolid. (Image credit: Rodolfo Rodríguez Castro via Getty Images)
Location: Castilla y León, northwestern Spain
Time and duration of totality: 8:29 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 29 seconds
Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 8.7 degrees
Chance of clouds: 19% (since 2000)
Surrounded by flat land and with an excellent chance of clear skies, Valladolid is one of the top spots for the eclipse. There will be some clear sight lines from the east bank of the Pisuerga River, specifically its Playa de las Moreras river beach, though buildings will complicate things, so play it safe and head to the Parque Urbano de las Contiendas on the west side.
2. Palencia
The cathedral in Palencia, Spain. (Image credit: Sergio Formoso via Getty Images)
Location: Castilla y León, northwestern Spain
Time and duration of totality: 8:29 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 42 seconds
Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 8.7 degrees
Chance of clouds: 23% (since 2000)
One of the destinations most likely to have clear skies, Palencia is surrounded by flat, open landscapes perfect for viewing a low-altitude eclipse. Key locations include the scenic Mirador de Palencia, overlooking the city from the southwest, and the elevated Cristo del Otero, overlooking the city from the north.
3. León
The cathedral of Santa Maria and the old town of León. (Image credit: Carlos Ciudad Photos via Getty Images)
Location: Castilla y León, northwestern Spain
Time and duration of totality: 8:28 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 44 seconds
Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 10 degrees
Chance of clouds: 26% (since 2000)
This historic city south of the Cantabrian Mountains is bound to be one of the hotspots for the eclipse. Considered one of the best spots to watch the sunset because of its panoramic views of the city, Mirador de las Lomas (specifically Mirador de Las Lomas Tres), overlooks León from the east and offers panoramic sunset views across the city.
4. Zaragoza
Zaragoza's Puente de Piedra bridge and Basilica of Nuestra Señora del Pilar. (Image credit: Schroptschop via Getty Images)
Location: Aragon, northern Spain
Time and duration of totality: 8:29 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 23 seconds
Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 6 degrees
Chance of clouds: 19% (since 2000)
On the Ebro River between Madrid and Barcelona, Zaragoza is best known for its spectacular Basilica of Nuestra Señora del Pilar (Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar). It just so happens that, from the historic Puente de Piedra bridge, photographers may be able to capture the totally eclipsed sun just above the silhouette of its spires. Expect crowds here, and also on the San Lázaro riverfront behind. For a quieter spot, follow the Ebro River northwest away from the city center.
5. Burgos
A view of Burgos Cathedral at sunrise. (Image credit: Sergio Formoso via Getty Images)
Location: Castilla y León, northwestern Spain
Time and duration of totality: 8:28 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 44 seconds
Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 8.3 degrees
Chance of clouds: 31% (since 2000)
Famed for its medieval architecture, this provincial capital will be busy for the eclipse, but pay close attention to sight lines. Many will be close to the historic Arco de Santa María, but it's poorly placed, so instead get yourself on the northwest bank of the elevated Parque del Castillo for a low panoramic view of the city — and the eclipse.
6. Logroño
Logroño in La Rioja will see a short totality. (Image credit: F.J. Jimenez via Getty Images)
Location: La Rioja, northern Spain
Time and duration of totality: 8:28 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 19 seconds
Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 7.5 degrees
Chance of clouds: 38% (since 2000)
A stop on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, Logroño — 92 miles (148 km) south of Bilbao — is famed for the twin towers of its Cathedral of Santa María de la Redonda. Its Parque de Ebro, on the banks of the River Ebro, is ideal for eclipse-viewing, with the Puente de Piedra bridge also offering a clear view.
7. A Coruña
Riazor and Orzan beaches in A Coruña. (Image credit: Elizabeth Fernandez via Getty Images)
Location: Galicia, northwestern Spain
Time and duration of totality: 8:27 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 16 seconds
Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 12.1 degrees
Chance of clouds: 53% (since 2000)
The first major city on mainland Europe to experience totality will be A Coruña in northwestern Spain, where its crescent-shaped Riazor and Orzan beaches will doubtless be crowded for the occasion. They're close to the city center, home to exquisite Galician seafood restaurants.
8. Gijón
Gijón's Playa de Poniente is perfect for the eclipse. (Image credit: saulgranda via Getty Images)
Location: Asturias, northern Spain
Time and duration of totality: 8:26 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 44 seconds
Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 10.3 degrees
Chance of clouds: 54% (since 2000)
There are lots of places to watch the eclipse from this large coastal city in northern Spain. The clifftop park on Santa Catalina hill is bound to be busy, but there's plenty of space on the beaches on either side — the crescent-shaped Playa de San Lorenzo on the east and artificial Playa de Poniente on the west.
9. Bilbao
The Artxanda funicular railroad in Bilbao. (Image credit: We-Ge via Getty Images)
Location: Basque Country, northern Spain
Time and duration of totality: 8:27 p.m. CEST; 26 seconds
Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 8.2 degrees
Chance of clouds: 57% (since 2000)
Bilbao, on the Bay of Biscay at the northern edge of the path, gets a short totality, but has a spectacular elevated spot to watch the eclipse close to the center. Artxanda Viewpoint is a three-minute journey viafunicular railway and gives panoramic views of the city. It's a popular sunset spot in August, so it's bound to be busy.
10. Madrid (San Sebastián de los Reyes)
Madrid will see only a 99.96% partial solar eclipse. (Image credit: fitopardo via Getty Images)
Location: San Sebastián de los Reyes, Madrid, central Spain
Time and duration of totality: 8:31 p.m. CEST; 24 seconds
Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 7.3 degrees
Chance of clouds: 15% (since 2000)
Frustratingly for madrileñas, madrileños, and eclipse planners, Puerta del Sol (Gate of the Sun), at the heart of Madrid, gets a 99.96% partial solar eclipse. Only its northern suburbs see totality, including San Sebastián de los Reyes, 12 miles (20km) north. El Mirador de Pichón has a clear sight line to a short, dramatic totality. San Sebastián de los Reyes is one of11 observation points curated by the Community of Madrid.
A deep partial lunar eclipse on August 27-28, 2026, will be visible in North America and will be the best lunar eclipse anywhere on Earth until New Year's Eve 2028.
With the eclipse occurring near sunset over a complex landscape, eclipse chasers must do their research before the big moment on Aug. 12, 2026. Here's what to do.
From urban beaches and hidden capes to lighthouses and mountain peaks, here's where to see the total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026, if you're on Spain's east coast or in the Balearic Islands.
