2026 archive

The 12 August 2026 eclipse has passed

The information below describes the 2026 event. For the next total solar eclipse, use our guide to 2 August 2027: the path and timings are different.

Santander, Spain

Photo: Noreenlam / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Eclipse solar total · 12 August 2026

Where to watch the 2026 total solar eclipse in Santander

Santander is inside the path of the 12 August 2026 total solar eclipse, with about 1 minute 7 seconds of totality at about 20:27 CEST and the Sun only ~9° above the west-northwest horizon.

Na sombra da totalidade Get certified eclipse glasses
Início da totalidade~20:27 CESTCantabria · Spain · 12 Aug 2026
Duraçãoabout 1 minute 7 secondsMeasured for the city centre; a few seconds either way depending on exactly where you stand.
Altitude do Sol~9° above the WNW horizonlow in the west — an open horizon is essential
Cobertura100% (total)Santander is INSIDE the path of totality — the corona is briefly visible with the naked eye during the ~1m 07s of totality itself, and only then.
Probabilidade de céu limpo Cloud-prone · ≈50%The Cantabrian and Atlantic coast of Spain sees frequent low cloud and sea haze in August. Inland and southward prospects improve markedly.
Contagem decrescente para a totalidade
—dias —h —min —seg

Santander is inside the path of the 12 August 2026 total solar eclipse, with about 1 minute 7 seconds of totality at about 20:27 CEST and the Sun only ~9° above the west-northwest horizon.

Below: exactly what Santander sees and when, where to stand for the low western Sun, an honest read on the August cloud odds, and the safety rules for the partial phases.

A cronologia

Quando ocorre o eclipse

~19:31 CESTComeça a fase parcial — primeira "mordida" no Sol
~20:27 CESTTotalidade — about 1 minute 7 seconds. Retire os óculos apenas se for total.
~21:23 CESTEclipse ends ~21:19 CEST

The eclipse runs from about 19:31 to 21:19 CEST, with maximum at around 20:27 and the Sun ~9° above the west-northwest horizon. The eclipse finishes before sunset at 21:23 CEST, so you are not racing the horizon here.

Onde se posicionar

Os melhores locais para observar

Cabo Mayor

Lighthouse · headland

Clear sea horizon west

The lighthouse cape north of the city has an entirely open western sea horizon — the single best viewpoint in Santander for a low Sun.

Península de la Magdalena

Park · peninsula

Water on three sides

The royal palace peninsula gives open sky in almost every direction with the bay below.

Playa del Sardinero

Beach · open front

Space and an open outlook

Santander's main beach faces north-east but the promenade and cliffs above give access to open western views.

Faro de Cabo de Ajo

Headland · east of city

Alternative weather draw

A short drive east, this cape offers another open sea horizon and can sit under different cloud on the same evening.

South to the meseta (plan B)

Longer + clearer

Burgos ~1m 47s

Inland to the south, Castilla y León gives both far longer totality and much better August cloud odds than the Cantabrian coast.

Local astronomy societies and science centres often organise safe public viewing with filtered telescopes — worth checking closer to the date.

Plan your trip

Where to stay near the eclipse

Accommodation around the viewing area for eclipse night (11–13 Aug 2026). Compare hotels and rentals live on the map below.

A previsão do tempo

O céu vai estar limpo?

The Cantabrian and Atlantic coast of Spain sees frequent low cloud and sea haze in August. Inland and southward prospects improve markedly.

The deciding factor here is simply whether the sky is clear at the right moment. Check the forecast in the final 48 hours and, if you can, keep the option of moving to a gap in the cloud.

Planeia o dia

A sua lista de verificação para o dia do eclipse

  • Certified ISO 12312-2 / CE eclipse glasses — one pair per person
  • An open west-northwest horizon — the Sun is only ~9° up
  • Arrive early — totality lasts only ~1m 07s
  • Scout your viewpoint the evening before, at the same time of day
  • Glasses ON for every part of the eclipse except totality itself
  • Glasses back on the instant the Sun's edge reappears
  • Don't spend ~1m 07s of totality fiddling with a camera
  • Check the cloud forecast in the final 48 hours

Observe com segurança

Seja qual for a sua forma de observar, faça-o com segurança

Todos os produtos Absolute Eclipse são certificados de forma independente e fabricados na UE. Os óculos só se retiram durante a totalidade — use-os em toda a fase parcial.

  • Certificado ISO 12312-2
  • CE · UE 2016/425 EPI
  • Fabricado e enviado da UE

A observar em grupo? Packs famílias e retalho → O stock certificado reduz-se à medida que o 12 de agosto se aproxima.

Respostas rápidas

FAQ sobre o eclipse em Santander

Does Santander get a total solar eclipse on 12 August 2026?
Yes. Santander is inside the path of totality and sees a genuine total eclipse lasting about 1 minute 7 seconds, with 100% of the Sun covered. Outside the path — even a short distance away — the eclipse is only partial, which is a completely different experience.
What time is the eclipse in Santander?
The partial phase begins at about 19:31 CEST and totality is centred on roughly 20:27 CEST, with the Sun about 9° above the west-northwest horizon. The eclipse finishes before sunset at 21:23 CEST, so you are not racing the horizon here.
Do I need eclipse glasses in Santander?
Yes. Throughout the partial phases — over an hour before and after totality — you must wear certified ISO 12312-2 / CE eclipse glasses. You may remove them only during the ~1m 07s of totality itself, and must put them back on the instant the Sun's edge reappears.
Where should I watch from in Santander?
The Sun is only about 9° above the horizon, so you need an open, unobstructed view to the west-northwest. Buildings, hills and trees in that direction will hide the deepest phase.
Will the weather be clear in Santander on eclipse day?
The Cantabrian and Atlantic coast of Spain sees frequent low cloud and sea haze in August. Inland and southward prospects improve markedly.

Continue a explorar o caminho

Regiões próximas de onde observar

Fontes: timeanddate.com · nationaleclipse.com · eclipsophile.com (meteorologia) · Gobierno de Aragón · BBC Sky at Night. Os horários são locais (CEST).