Colmenar Viejo
40.659°, -3.768° · 889 m a.s.l.
Visible
The Sun clears local terrain by 5.95° 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 Colmenar Viejo minute by minute
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Photo: Balles2601 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
About Colmenar Viejo
Colmenar Viejo is a municipality in the province of Madrid, situated on the southern slope of the Guadarrama mountain range at 889 meters elevation. With roughly 43,700 inhabitants, it is part of Madrid's northern metropolitan area and retains the distinctive urban-rural character typical of the mountainous towns surrounding the capital. Its elevated position gives it an atmosphere noticeably cooler than central Madrid, along with clear views down toward the Manzanares valley.
For this eclipse
On August 12, 2026, Colmenar Viejo lies within the path of totality: the Sun will be completely obscured by the Moon at approximately 20:31 local time. At that moment totality will be visible as long as the western horizon is clear, since the Sun will stand just 7.4° above the horizon with a 5.8° margin above the local topographic profile. It is essential to find an elevated vantage point with an unobstructed view toward the northwest to witness the final contact of totality.
The weather in August
August in Colmenar Viejo records average temperatures of 23.7 °C—highs around 29.7 °C and lows of 17.6 °C—milder than central Madrid thanks to the altitude. Monthly precipitation is sparse (13.8 mm average), but the risk of afternoon thunderstorms is high: mountain convective storms can develop rapidly. The probability of clear skies is around 78 %, so mornings are typically bright, though afternoons warrant weather monitoring. Data: AEMET 1991–2020.
Past eclipses
The last total eclipse visible from Colmenar Viejo occurred on July 8, 1842, 184 years ago, lasting 81 seconds of totality. In October 2005 an annular eclipse occurred, covering 90.2 % of the solar disk for about 244 seconds. After the 2026 and 2028 eclipses, the next annular eclipse will not arrive until August 16, 2175; no total eclipse is predicted for this location before that date.
Direction and altitude of the Sun
At the moment of maximum eclipse, the Sun stands 7.4° above the horizon at an azimuth of 283°—almost due west-northwest, barely offset from true west. At that hour—20:31—the light already takes on the warm tone of late afternoon. The 5.8° margin above the local terrain means that the mountainous topography can interfere: from low areas or surrounded by woodland, totality may be hidden, while from higher, open ground visibility will be assured.
Editorial text by eclipses.app · Data: Wikidata, AEMET, NASA and astronomy-engine.
Eclipse schedule in Colmenar Viejo
| Phase | UTC | Local time | Sun alt. | Sun az. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C1 — Partial begins | 17:36 UTC | 19:36 | +17.9° | 274.5° |
| C2 — Totality begins | 18:31 UTC | 20:31 | +7.6° | 283.1° |
| Maximum | 18:31 UTC | 20:31 | +7.5° | 283.2° |
| C3 — Totality ends | 18:32 UTC | 20:32 | +7.4° | 283.2° |
| C4 — Partial ends | 19:24 UTC | 21:24 | -1.4° | 291.6° |
Sun direction and altitude at C4
Look toward WNW (291.6°)
Azimuth at C4
291.6° WNW
Sun altitude at C4
-1.42°
Terrain horizon
1.48°
Sun−terrain margin
+5.95°
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 Colmenar Viejo
| Peak | Elevation | Distance | Azimuth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabeza de Hierro Mayor | 2383 m | 20.9 km | 318° NW |
| Cabeza de Hierro Menor | 2376 m | 20.9 km | 317° NW |
| Cerro de Valdemartín | 2282 m | 22.1 km | 312° NW |
| Alto de las Guarramillas (Bola del Mundo) | 2265 m | 22.7 km | 308° NW |
| Asomate de Hoyos | 2242 m | 19.0 km | 329° NNW |
| Loma de Pandasco | 2238 m | 20.0 km | 323° NW |
| Navahondilla | 2234 m | 19.3 km | 329° NNW |
| La MaliciosaIn the Sun's direction | 2227 m | 20.8 km | 305° NW |
Weather in Colmenar Viejo in August
Avg. temp.
23.7°C
Max / min
29.7° / 17.6°
Precipitation
13.8 mm
Storm risk
High
Station COLMENAR VIEJO, 4 km away · Period 1991-2020 · Source: AEMET
Historical cloud cover
P25 — clearer days
8%
Median cloud cover
20%
P75 — cloudier days
95%
Source: ERA5 (ECMWF), 10-year average at the eclipse hour.
Other eclipses seen from Colmenar Viejo
- Last total eclipseJuly 8, 1842184 years ago
- Last annular eclipseOctober 3, 200521 years ago
- Next annular eclipseAugust 16, 2175
Solar eclipses computed from astronomical ephemerides for the city's coordinates.
Frequently asked questions about the eclipse in Colmenar Viejo
Will the eclipse of August 12, 2026 be visible from Colmenar Viejo?
Yes — Colmenar Viejo is inside the totality path and the horizon allows the total phase to be fully visible.
What time is the eclipse maximum in Colmenar Viejo?
Maximum occurs at 20:31 local time (18:31 UTC) in Colmenar Viejo.
Which direction to look to watch the eclipse from Colmenar Viejo?
Look WNW (azimuth 283°); the Sun will be 8° above the horizon at maximum from Colmenar Viejo.
How long does totality last in Colmenar Viejo?
Totality lasts 0 min 50 s in Colmenar Viejo (C2 to C3).
Is Colmenar Viejo a good place to watch the eclipse?
Colmenar Viejo 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 Colmenar Viejo
For the August 12 eclipse. Recommended stay: Aug 10–14, 2026.
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