Alcobendas
40.547°, -3.642° · 696 m a.s.l.
Visible
The Sun clears local terrain by 5.68° at C3.
90/100Excellent
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 Alcobendas minute by minute
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Photo: Carlos Delgado · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
About Alcobendas
Alcobendas is a municipality in the Community of Madrid, located north of the capital in Madrid province, at an altitude of 696 meters. With over 116,000 inhabitants, it forms part of the urban corridor connecting Madrid to Barajas International Airport. Its territory spreads across the Castilian plateau, with a landscape of plains and gentle undulations, and shares with Madrid a continental climate of dry, hot summers.
For this eclipse
On August 12, 2026, Alcobendas lies within the path of totality of the solar eclipse. The Sun reaches its maximum coverage at 20:31 local time, at 7.3° above the horizon, with a topographic clearance of 6.2°: the celestial body will be sufficiently above the horizon for totality (contact C3) to be visible unobstructed from flat vantage points. Given its position on the plateau, it is advisable to choose a location with an open western horizon.
The weather in August
The AEMET meteorological station nearest Alcobendas does not have complete records for August, so temperature data or probability of clear skies are not available. However, it can be noted that the risk of thunderstorms in August is low, suggesting that convective disturbances are less frequent here than in other areas of the plateau. The general climate of the Community of Madrid points to summers with abundant sunshine hours.
Past eclipses
The last total eclipse seen from Alcobendas occurred on July 8, 1842, 184 years ago, with a totality phase of just under two minutes. More recently, on October 3, 2005, the city experienced an annular eclipse with a coverage of 90.3% and an annular phase lasting just over four minutes. After the eclipses of 2026 and 2028, the next annular eclipse to reach this area will arrive on December 8, 2113.
Direction and altitude of the Sun
At the moment of maximum eclipse, the Sun will be at 7.3° altitude above the horizon, in a direction of 283° azimuth, that is, nearly toward the west-northwest. At that altitude, the solar disk will be low but visible from open areas. It is recommended to position yourself in a location with a clear western horizon free of buildings or trees, since small artificial elevations can interfere with observation of the totality phase.
Editorial text by eclipses.app · Data: Wikidata, AEMET, NASA and astronomy-engine.
Eclipse schedule in Alcobendas
| Phase | UTC | Local time | Sun alt. | Sun az. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C1 — Partial begins | 17:36 UTC | 19:36 | +17.7° | 274.6° |
| C2 — Totality begins | 18:31 UTC | 20:31 | +7.4° | 283.2° |
| Maximum | 18:32 UTC | 20:32 | +7.4° | 283.3° |
| C3 — Totality ends | 18:32 UTC | 20:32 | +7.3° | 283.3° |
| C4 — Partial ends | 19:24 UTC | 21:24 | -1.6° | 291.6° |
Sun direction and altitude at C4
Look toward WNW (291.6°)
Azimuth at C4
291.6° WNW
Sun altitude at C4
-1.57°
Terrain horizon
1.62°
Sun−terrain margin
+5.68°
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 Alcobendas
| Peak | Elevation | Distance | Azimuth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cerro de San Pedro | 1425 m | 21.0 km | 344° NNW |
| Pico de MatalasgrajasIn the Sun's direction | 1207.8 m | 24.1 km | 299° WNW |
| Cerro SaludaIn the Sun's direction | 1200 m | 23.2 km | 300° WNW |
| Cerro SaludaIn the Sun's direction | 1199 m | 23.3 km | 300° WNW |
| Cerro CalvacheIn the Sun's direction | 1188 m | 23.7 km | 300° WNW |
| Cerro de NavalospinosIn the Sun's direction | 1171 m | 21.9 km | 300° WNW |
| Cerro de la Haya del PajarIn the Sun's direction | 1169 m | 22.8 km | 300° WNW |
| Cerro del Cancho | 1117 m | 20.3 km | 352° N |
Weather in Alcobendas in August
Historical cloud cover
P25 — clearer days
0%
Median cloud cover
11%
P75 — cloudier days
27%
Source: ERA5 (ECMWF), 10-year average at the eclipse hour.
Other eclipses seen from Alcobendas
- Last total eclipseJuly 8, 1842184 years ago
- Last annular eclipseOctober 3, 200521 years ago
- Next annular eclipseDecember 8, 2113
Solar eclipses computed from astronomical ephemerides for the city's coordinates.
Frequently asked questions about the eclipse in Alcobendas
Will the eclipse of August 12, 2026 be visible from Alcobendas?
Yes — Alcobendas is inside the totality path and the horizon allows the total phase to be fully visible.
What time is the eclipse maximum in Alcobendas?
Maximum occurs at 20:32 local time (18:32 UTC) in Alcobendas.
Which direction to look to watch the eclipse from Alcobendas?
Look WNW (azimuth 283°); the Sun will be 7° above the horizon at maximum from Alcobendas.
How long does totality last in Alcobendas?
Totality lasts 0 min 40 s in Alcobendas (C2 to C3).
Is Alcobendas a good place to watch the eclipse?
Alcobendas 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 Alcobendas
For the August 12 eclipse. Recommended stay: Aug 10–14, 2026.
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