El Puerto de Santa María
36.594°, -6.233° · 11 m a.s.l.
Visible
Partial eclipse · 93% obscuration
The Sun clears local terrain by 6.56° at peak.
55/100Marginal
93%
Partial eclipse · 93% obscuration
See the eclipse from El Puerto de Santa María minute by minute
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Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
About El Puerto de Santa María
El Puerto de Santa María is a municipality in Cádiz province, Andalusia, with approximately 88,000 inhabitants. Situated just 11 metres above sea level, it occupies the northern shore of Cádiz Bay at the mouth of the Guadalete River. Its position at the southwestern extreme of the Iberian peninsula gives it a climate marked by strong Atlantic influence, with warm, sunny summers tempered by marine breezes.
For this eclipse
On 12 August 2026, El Puerto de Santa María will experience a partial solar eclipse. Maximum occurs at 20:38, when the Sun will be just 7.1° above the horizon at an azimuth of 283°—that is, towards the west-northwest, very close to the sunset point. With a horizon margin of 6.5°, the eclipse will be visible from locations with a clear western horizon, though the low solar altitude requires finding an unobstructed vantage point in that direction.
The weather in August
August in El Puerto de Santa María is, according to AEMET data for the period 1991–2020, the sunniest month of the year: the city accumulates approximately 344 hours of sunshine per month. The average temperature reaches 25.3 °C, with highs around 30.7 °C tempered by the Atlantic westerlies. Average precipitation in August is just 2 mm, the risk of thunderstorms is low, and the probability of clear skies exceeds 83 %, which favours highly reliable observing conditions.
Past eclipses
The last total eclipse visible from El Puerto de Santa María occurred on 22 December 1870, 156 years ago, with a duration of just over two minutes. Before that, an annular eclipse crossed the region in April 1764. After the eclipses of 2026 to 2028, one must wait until 13 July 2075 for the next annular eclipse, and until 17 July 2205 for the following total eclipse visible from this latitude.
Direction and altitude of the Sun
At the moment of maximum eclipse, the Sun will be oriented at 283° azimuth, a direction almost exactly west-northwest, and 7.1° in altitude above the horizon. At that time—20:38 on 12 August—the star will already be descending towards sunset. To observe the eclipse without obstruction, position yourself in an open area with a clear view towards the northwest, away from buildings or trees in that direction.
Editorial text by eclipses.app · Data: Wikidata, AEMET, NASA and astronomy-engine.
Eclipse schedule in El Puerto de Santa María
| Phase | UTC | Local time | Sun alt. | Sun az. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C1 — Partial begins | 17:43 UTC | 19:43 | +18.1° | 275.3° |
| Maximum | 18:38 UTC | 20:38 | +7.1° | 283.2° |
| C4 — Partial ends | 19:30 UTC | 21:30 | -2.3° | 290.9° |
Sun direction and altitude at C4
Look toward WNW (290.9°)
Azimuth at C4
290.9° WNW
Sun altitude at C4
-2.32°
Terrain horizon
0.57°
Sun−terrain margin
+6.56°
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 El Puerto de Santa María
| Peak | Elevation | Distance | Azimuth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sierrezuela 3 | 145.9 m | 20.5 km | 122° ESE |
| Cerro de la Espartosa | 137 m | 24.6 km | 133° SE |
| Cerro de las Yeseras | 129 m | 20.9 km | 132° SE |
| Sierra de San Cristóbal | 125 m | 8.5 km | 57° ENE |
| Cerro de las Canteras | 110 m | 7.0 km | 46° NE |
| Cerro de la Caridad Alta | 96 m | 5.9 km | 38° NE |
| Cerro Gordo | 82 m | 24.8 km | 123° ESE |
| Cabeza de Aceña | 54 m | 13.4 km | 58° ENE |
Weather in El Puerto de Santa María in August
Avg. temp.
25.3°C
Max / min
30.7° / 19.8°
Precipitation
2 mm
Storm risk
Low
Station ROTA, BASE NAVAL, 10 km away · Period 1991-2020 · Source: AEMET
Historical cloud cover
P25 — clearer days
0%
Median cloud cover
50%
P75 — cloudier days
100%
Source: ERA5 (ECMWF), 10-year average at the eclipse hour.
Other eclipses seen from El Puerto de Santa María
- Last total eclipseDecember 22, 1870156 years ago
- Last annular eclipseApril 1, 1764262 years ago
- Next total eclipseJuly 17, 2205
- Next annular eclipseJuly 13, 2075
Solar eclipses computed from astronomical ephemerides for the city's coordinates.
Frequently asked questions about the eclipse in El Puerto de Santa María
Will the eclipse of August 12, 2026 be visible from El Puerto de Santa María?
Yes, partial eclipse: the Sun will be 93% covered at maximum from El Puerto de Santa María.
What time is the eclipse maximum in El Puerto de Santa María?
Maximum occurs at 20:38 local time (18:38 UTC) in El Puerto de Santa María.
Which direction to look to watch the eclipse from El Puerto de Santa María?
Look WNW (azimuth 283°); the Sun will be 7° above the horizon at maximum from El Puerto de Santa María.
Is El Puerto de Santa María a good place to watch the eclipse?
El Puerto de Santa María is a good option (score 55/100): 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 El Puerto de Santa María
For the August 12 eclipse. Recommended stay: Aug 10–14, 2026.
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