Alhaurín el Grande
36.643°, -4.687° · 249 m a.s.l.
Visible
Partial eclipse · 94% obscuration
The Sun clears local terrain by 4.31° at peak.
60/100Good
94%
Partial eclipse · 94% obscuration
See the eclipse from Alhaurín el Grande minute by minute
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Photo: vreimunde · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
About Alhaurín el Grande
Alhaurín el Grande is a municipality in the province of Málaga with over 23,000 inhabitants, nestled in the foothills of the Sierra de Mijas at 249 meters above sea level. It is part of the Guadalhorce region in Mediterranean Andalusia and occupies a territory with marked relief where olive and almond groves coexist with a varied mountain landscape. Its position in the interior of Málaga, just kilometers from the coast, gives it a Mediterranean microclimate with warm, dry summers.
For this eclipse
On August 12, 2026, Alhaurín el Grande will experience a partial solar eclipse. Maximum will occur at 20:38 local time, when the Sun will have descended to just 6° above the horizon. Despite the low solar altitude, the calculated margin above the topographic horizon is 4.3°, so the solar disk should be visible as long as the western horizon is not obstructed by buildings or mountains. It is recommended to seek an elevated point with clear visibility in that direction.
The weather in August
August in Alhaurín el Grande is the warmest and driest month of the year. According to records from the AEMET station for the period 1991–2020, the average temperature is around 27.7 °C, with highs typically reaching 33.8 °C and night lows rarely dropping below 21.5 °C. Average August precipitation is virtually zero—barely 1 mm—and the risk of thunderstorms is low, creating a favorable scenario for observing the eclipse under clear skies.
Past eclipses
The last total solar eclipse visible from Alhaurín el Grande occurred on December 22, 1870, 156 years ago, lasting just over two minutes of totality. After the eclipses of 2026, 2027, and 2028, the next annular eclipse will arrive on July 13, 2075; we will have to wait until June 20, 2327 for another total eclipse, making the coming decades a truly generational astronomical window.
Direction and altitude of the Sun
At the moment of maximum, at 20:38, the Sun will be at an azimuth of 284°, in the west-northwest direction, slightly offset toward the north from the exact sunset point. The altitude of 6° above the geometric horizon is low—roughly equivalent to the width of three fingers held at arm's length—so observation will require a clear western horizon. A location on elevated terrain with a view in that direction will allow the Sun to be seen without obstruction during the phenomenon.
Editorial text by eclipses.app · Data: Wikidata, AEMET, NASA and astronomy-engine.
Eclipse schedule in Alhaurín el Grande
| Phase | UTC | Local time | Sun alt. | Sun az. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C1 — Partial begins | 17:43 UTC | 19:43 | +16.9° | 276.2° |
| Maximum | 18:38 UTC | 20:38 | +6.0° | 284.1° |
| C4 — Partial ends | 19:29 UTC | 21:29 | -3.3° | 291.7° |
Sun direction and altitude at C4
Look toward WNW (291.7°)
Azimuth at C4
291.7° WNW
Sun altitude at C4
-3.32°
Terrain horizon
1.73°
Sun−terrain margin
+4.31°
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 Alhaurín el Grande
| Peak | Elevation | Distance | Azimuth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra Prieta | 1519 m | 22.2 km | 309° NW |
| La Sierra | 1517 m | 22.2 km | 309° NW |
| Cerro de la BlanquillaIn the Sun's direction | 1506 m | 23.5 km | 306° NW |
| Pico del Grajo, Alcaparaín o Valdivia | 1293 m | 24.7 km | 325° NW |
| Cerro del Lastonar | 1276 m | 22.7 km | 246° WSW |
| Picacho de Castillejos | 1231 m | 19.2 km | 254° WSW |
| La Concha | 1215 m | 23.5 km | 244° WSW |
| La Concha | 1215 m | 23.6 km | 244° WSW |
Weather in Alhaurín el Grande in August
Avg. temp.
27.7°C
Max / min
33.8° / 21.5°
Precipitation
1 mm
Storm risk
Low
Station COÍN, 7 km away · Period 1991-2020 · Source: AEMET
Historical cloud cover
P25 — clearer days
0%
Median cloud cover
0%
P75 — cloudier days
0%
Source: ERA5 (ECMWF), 10-year average at the eclipse hour.
Other eclipses seen from Alhaurín el Grande
- Last total eclipseDecember 22, 1870156 years ago
- Next total eclipseJune 20, 2327
- Next annular eclipseJuly 13, 2075
Solar eclipses computed from astronomical ephemerides for the city's coordinates.
Frequently asked questions about the eclipse in Alhaurín el Grande
Will the eclipse of August 12, 2026 be visible from Alhaurín el Grande?
Yes, partial eclipse: the Sun will be 94% covered at maximum from Alhaurín el Grande.
What time is the eclipse maximum in Alhaurín el Grande?
Maximum occurs at 20:38 local time (18:38 UTC) in Alhaurín el Grande.
Which direction to look to watch the eclipse from Alhaurín el Grande?
Look WNW (azimuth 284°); the Sun will be 6° above the horizon at maximum from Alhaurín el Grande.
Is Alhaurín el Grande a good place to watch the eclipse?
Alhaurín el Grande is a good option (score 60/100): all eclipse phases are visible, though not the regional optimum.
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 Andalusia →Where to stay in Alhaurín el Grande
For the August 12 eclipse. Recommended stay: Aug 10–14, 2026.
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