Alcalá de Henares
40.482°, -3.360° · 597 m a.s.l.
Visible
The Sun clears local terrain by 6.69° at C3.
80/100Very good
100%
You'll see full totality, but the Sun will set before the partial phase ends — an unusually epic finale.
Total eclipse · 100% obscuration
See the eclipse from Alcalá de Henares minute by minute
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Photo: santiago lopez-pastor · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
About Alcalá de Henares
Alcalá de Henares is a municipality of 193,751 inhabitants located in the Community of Madrid, on the banks of the Henares River and at an elevation of about 597 metres above sea level. Situated east of Spain's capital, it lies in the alluvial plain that stretches towards the Meseta plateau. The city shares its province with Madrid and forms part of its eastern metropolitan area, standing as one of the region's most populous centres.
For this eclipse
On 12 August 2026, Alcalá de Henares will experience the total solar eclipse within the path of totality. Maximum eclipse occurs at 20:31 local time, with the Sun just 7.1° above the topographic horizon and a positive margin of 6.7°, confirming visibility of contact C3. The Sun's low altitude demands a completely clear western horizon, with no obstacles such as buildings or trees.
The weather in August
August in Alcalá de Henares is hot and dry: average temperature hovers around 25.2 °C, with highs typically reaching 33.3 °C and lows around 17.1 °C. Average monthly precipitation is merely 8.9 mm and skies remain clear on 83 % of days, with an average of 344 hours of sunlight recorded. The risk of convective storms is moderate; most frequent storms occur in the second half of the month. Data: AEMET (1991–2020).
Past eclipses
The last total eclipse visible from Alcalá de Henares occurred on 8 July 1842, 184 years ago, with a duration of approximately 2 minutes. More recently, on 3 October 2005, an annular eclipse could be seen, covering 90.3 % of the solar disc for just over 4 minutes. Following the 2026–2028 eclipses, the next significant annular event over this area will not arrive until the year 2377.
Direction and altitude of the Sun
At maximum eclipse, the Sun will be 7.1° above the horizon at an azimuth of 284°, pointing towards the west-northwest. In practice, this means looking almost due west, slightly tilted towards the north. At such a low angle, any element on the horizon—hills, buildings, or vegetation—can interfere with the view, so it is recommended to seek an elevated vantage point with a clear line of sight in that direction.
Editorial text by eclipses.app · Data: Wikidata, AEMET, NASA and astronomy-engine.
Eclipse schedule in Alcalá de Henares
| Phase | UTC | Local time | Sun alt. | Sun az. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C1 — Partial begins | 17:36 UTC | 19:36 | +17.5° | 274.8° |
| C2 — Totality begins | 18:31 UTC | 20:31 | +7.2° | 283.4° |
| Maximum | 18:32 UTC | 20:32 | +7.1° | 283.5° |
| C3 — Totality ends | 18:32 UTC | 20:32 | +7.1° | 283.5° |
| C4 — Partial ends | 19:24 UTC | 21:24 | -1.8° | 291.8° |
Sun direction and altitude at C4
Look toward WNW (291.8°)
Azimuth at C4
291.8° WNW
Sun altitude at C4
-1.79°
Terrain horizon
0.37°
Sun−terrain margin
+6.69°
What the contact points (C1-C4) mean
A solar eclipse is described by four key moments, the contact points between the discs of the Sun and the Moon:
- C1First contact: the Moon touches the edge of the Sun and the partial eclipse begins.
- C2Second contact: the Moon fully covers the Sun and totality begins.
- C3Third contact: the Sun reappears and totality ends.
- C4Fourth contact: the Moon leaves the Sun's disc and the eclipse ends.
Where the eclipse is only partial, the Moon never fully covers the Sun: only C1 and C4 occur, with no totality in between.
Peaks near Alcalá de Henares
| Peak | Elevation | Distance | Azimuth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peña Parda | 845 m | 24.8 km | 118° ESE |
| Cerro de la Virgen | 837 m | 3.9 km | 81° E |
| Ecce-Homo | 836 m | 3.1 km | 87° E |
| Cerro del Castillo | 749 m | 16.1 km | 309° NW |
| La Tortuga | 731 m | 2.7 km | 74° ENE |
| Cerro Almodóvar | 726 m | 22.8 km | 242° WSW |
| Cerro del TordoIn the Sun's direction | 716 m | 12.9 km | 293° WNW |
| Cerro Pajero | 702 m | 17.9 km | 312° NW |
Weather in Alcalá de Henares in August
Avg. temp.
25.2°C
Max / min
33.3° / 17.1°
Precipitation
8.9 mm
Storm risk
Medium
Station TORREJÓN DE ARDOZ, 7 km away · Period 1991-2020 · Source: AEMET
Historical cloud cover
P25 — clearer days
8%
Median cloud cover
63%
P75 — cloudier days
70%
Source: ERA5 (ECMWF), 10-year average at the eclipse hour.
Other eclipses seen from Alcalá de Henares
- Last total eclipseJuly 8, 1842184 years ago
- Last annular eclipseOctober 3, 200521 years ago
- Next annular eclipseOctober 3, 2377
Solar eclipses computed from astronomical ephemerides for the city's coordinates.
Frequently asked questions about the eclipse in Alcalá de Henares
Will the eclipse of August 12, 2026 be visible from Alcalá de Henares?
Yes — Alcalá de Henares is inside the totality path and the horizon allows the total phase to be fully visible.
What time is the eclipse maximum in Alcalá de Henares?
Maximum occurs at 20:32 local time (18:32 UTC) in Alcalá de Henares.
Which direction to look to watch the eclipse from Alcalá de Henares?
Look WNW (azimuth 283°); the Sun will be 7° above the horizon at maximum from Alcalá de Henares.
How long does totality last in Alcalá de Henares?
Totality lasts 0 min 49 s in Alcalá de Henares (C2 to C3).
Is Alcalá de Henares a good place to watch the eclipse?
Alcalá de Henares will see totality (C2-C3) very close to the western horizon. The partial end (C4) falls below the horizon: you need a clear western view for an epic experience.
Do I need special glasses to watch the eclipse?
Yes, you need ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses during every partial phase. Regular sunglasses do NOT protect. Glasses can only be removed during the totality phase (when the Sun is fully covered); never during annular or partial eclipses. Pages flagged "visible" assume a clear horizon, not a viewing recommendation.
Nearby cities
All cities in Community of Madrid →Where to stay in Alcalá de Henares
For the August 12 eclipse. Recommended stay: Aug 10–14, 2026.
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