Spain's Total Solar Eclipse Is on 12 August — Here's How to Rehearse for It This Week

On 12 August 2026, Spain will experience a total solar eclipse — one of the most significant astronomical events of the year. Those who want to prepare in advance have a unique opportunity: on 30 April, the Sun will follow almost exactly the same path across the sky as it will on eclipse day.

Both dates fall at nearly equal distances from the summer solstice, which occurs on 21 June. On 30 April, there will be 52 days until the solstice; on 12 August, 52 days will have passed since it. Because of Earth's elliptical orbit and the tilt of its axis, the symmetry is not exact — so on 30 April, the Sun should be observed approximately 7 minutes earlier than the eclipse time.

Depending on the region, the maximum phase of the eclipse will occur between 8:27 PM and 8:33 PM local time. This means that on 30 April, the Sun should be watched from approximately 8:20 PM to 8:26 PM. The rehearsal can also be carried out on neighbouring dates, but the time difference with the eclipse must be taken into account: on 27 April it is 10 minutes, and on 4 May it is 3 minutes.

The eclipse of 12 August will be challenging to observe, as the Sun will be very low on the western horizon at the moment of maximum phase — around 10 degrees in Galicia and as little as 3 degrees in the Balearic Islands. This means that any obstacle could completely block the view. The rehearsal is therefore an ideal opportunity to find the best unobstructed vantage point near you.

Full information about the 12 August eclipse and the two subsequent eclipses — 2 August 2027 (also total) and 26 January 2028 (annular) — is available on the website created by the Inter-Agency Commission for the Three Eclipses.