Castro-Urdiales
43.383°, -3.220° · 18 m a.s.l.
Visible
The Sun clears local terrain by 4.52° at C3.
70/100Good
100%
You'll see full totality. C3 — the end of totality — is visible above the horizon.
Total eclipse · 100% obscuration
See the eclipse from Castro-Urdiales minute by minute
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Photo: kallerna · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
About Castro-Urdiales
Castro-Urdiales is a coastal municipality in Cantabria that stretches along the shores of the Bay of Biscay at barely 18 metres above sea level. With just under 32,000 inhabitants, it is one of the most populated centres on the eastern Cantabrian coast. Its natural bay has sustained a fishing and port tradition for centuries, and the city preserves a historic urban layout where the medieval castle of Santa Ana coexists with the lighthouse that stands alongside it.
For this eclipse
On 12 August 2026, Castro-Urdiales will lie within the path of totality of the solar eclipse. The moment of maximum phase (C3) will occur at 20:27 local time, with the Sun positioned just 8.5° above the horizon in the west-northwest direction (azimuth 282°). The clearance above the topographic horizon is 3.8°, so it is advisable to choose a location with a clear horizon towards the west to avoid missing the moments of totality.
The weather in August
AEMET climate data for the 1991–2020 period shows that Castro-Urdiales faces a low risk of thunderstorms during August. This is favourable for eclipse observation, as the probability of storm activity on those dates is low. As a coastal city with Atlantic influence, cloud cover can change more rapidly than inland; monitoring the forecast in the days before 12 August will be essential.
Past eclipses
The last total eclipse visible from Castro-Urdiales occurred on 18 July 1860, 166 years ago, with a totality lasting 2 minutes and 54 seconds. Before that event, on 1 April 1764, an annular eclipse covered 86.9% of the solar disc. After the 2026 eclipse, the next annular will arrive on 27 February 2082, and the next total will not occur until 17 November 2180.
Direction and altitude of the Sun
At the moment of eclipse maximum on 12 August 2026 at 20:27, the Sun will be 8.5° above the geographic horizon, oriented towards the west-northwest at an azimuth of 282°. At such a low altitude, having a clear view towards the west is decisive: any obstruction in that quadrant—buildings, trees or terrain features—could block your field of view during the critical minutes of totality.
Editorial text by eclipses.app · Data: Wikidata, AEMET, NASA and astronomy-engine.
Eclipse schedule in Castro-Urdiales
| Phase | UTC | Local time | Sun alt. | Sun az. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C1 — Partial begins | 17:31 UTC | 19:31 | +18.5° | 273.1° |
| C2 — Totality begins | 18:27 UTC | 20:27 | +8.6° | 282.4° |
| Maximum | 18:27 UTC | 20:27 | +8.5° | 282.4° |
| C3 — Totality ends | 18:27 UTC | 20:27 | +8.5° | 282.5° |
| C4 — Partial ends | 19:19 UTC | 21:19 | -0.1° | 291.3° |
Sun direction and altitude at C4
Look toward WNW (291.3°)
Azimuth at C4
291.3° WNW
Sun altitude at C4
-0.12°
Terrain horizon
3.94°
Sun−terrain margin
+4.52°
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 Castro-Urdiales
| Peak | Elevation | Distance | Azimuth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burgueño | 1044.2 m | 21.9 km | 192° SSW |
| Ilso de las Estacas | 1037 m | 24.9 km | 199° SSW |
| Maza de Pando | 1018 m | 23.9 km | 197° SSW |
| Terreros | 911 m | 21.1 km | 188° S |
| La Comba | 911 m | 23.7 km | 246° WSW |
| La Cabaña Martin | 906 m | 23.1 km | 196° SSW |
| Eretza | 887 m | 21.6 km | 141° SE |
| Kolitza | 883 m | 20.4 km | 187° S |
Weather in Castro-Urdiales in August
Historical cloud cover
P25 — clearer days
0%
Median cloud cover
100%
P75 — cloudier days
100%
Source: ERA5 (ECMWF), 10-year average at the eclipse hour.
Other eclipses seen from Castro-Urdiales
- Last total eclipseJuly 18, 1860166 years ago
- Last annular eclipseApril 1, 1764262 years ago
- Next total eclipseNovember 17, 2180
- Next annular eclipseFebruary 27, 2082
Solar eclipses computed from astronomical ephemerides for the city's coordinates.
Frequently asked questions about the eclipse in Castro-Urdiales
Will the eclipse of August 12, 2026 be visible from Castro-Urdiales?
Yes — Castro-Urdiales is inside the totality path and the horizon allows the total phase to be fully visible.
What time is the eclipse maximum in Castro-Urdiales?
Maximum occurs at 20:27 local time (18:27 UTC) in Castro-Urdiales.
Which direction to look to watch the eclipse from Castro-Urdiales?
Look WNW (azimuth 282°); the Sun will be 9° above the horizon at maximum from Castro-Urdiales.
How long does totality last in Castro-Urdiales?
Totality lasts 0 min 40 s in Castro-Urdiales (C2 to C3).
Is Castro-Urdiales a good place to watch the eclipse?
Castro-Urdiales 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 Cantabria →Where to stay in Castro-Urdiales
For the August 12 eclipse. Recommended stay: Aug 10–14, 2026.
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