Gáldar
28.147°, -15.650° · 148 m a.s.l.
Visible
Partial eclipse · 70% obscuration
The Sun clears local terrain by 9.81° at peak.
50/100Marginal
70%
Partial eclipse · 70% obscuration
See the eclipse from Gáldar minute by minute
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Photo: Bengt Nyman from Vaxholm, Sweden · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
About Gáldar
Gáldar sits on the northwestern slope of Gran Canaria, in the province of Las Palmas, within the autonomous community of the Canary Islands. With some 24,200 inhabitants and an altitude of 148 meters above sea level, this city was historically the capital of the ancient Guanche kingdom of Gáldar before the Castilian conquest. Its position on the slopes of the homonymous volcano, between the mountainous interior and the northern coast of the island, gives it a distinctive character within the Canarian midlands.
For this eclipse
On August 12, 2026, Gáldar will witness a partial solar eclipse whose maximum will occur at 19:54 local time. At that moment, the Sun will be 10 degrees above the horizon, with sufficient clearance from nearby terrain to guarantee visibility from open locations. As it is a partial eclipse, the Moon will cover a portion of the solar disk without completely obscuring it, so there will be no total darkness at any point, nor a visible corona to the naked eye.
The weather in August
August is the driest and most stable summer month in northern Gran Canaria. AEMET records for the period 1991–2020 at the local station indicate a very low risk of thunderstorms on these dates, a favorable factor for astronomical observation. The influence of the northeast trade wind, characteristic of the archipelago at this time of year, tends to keep skies clear especially in the evening hours, coinciding with the moment when the eclipse maximum will occur.
Past eclipses
The last total solar eclipse that crossed Gáldar's sky was on October 2, 1959, now 67 years ago, with a phase of totality lasting just over two minutes. After the eclipse cycle of 2026 to 2028, the next opportunity to see an annular eclipse will arrive on April 1, 2136, and we will have to wait until May 6, 2236 for a total eclipse to once again completely darken the Sun over these Canary lands.
Direction and altitude of the Sun
At 19:54 on August 12, the Sun will be 10 degrees above the horizon at an azimuth of 282 degrees, a direction that corresponds to west with a slight tilt toward the north: practically face-on for anyone looking toward the sunset. For this reason, the best observation sites will be those with a clear horizon toward the side where the Sun sets, whether it be an elevated promontory, a westward-facing slope, or an unobstructed coastal front in that direction.
Editorial text by eclipses.app · Data: Wikidata, AEMET, NASA and astronomy-engine.
Eclipse schedule in Gáldar
| Phase | UTC | Local time | Sun alt. | Sun az. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C1 — Partial begins | 17:58 UTC | 18:58 | +22.1° | 275.5° |
| Maximum | 18:53 UTC | 19:53 | +10.0° | 281.5° |
| C4 — Partial ends | 19:44 UTC | 20:44 | -0.4° | 287.4° |
Sun direction and altitude at C4
Look toward WNW (287.4°)
Azimuth at C4
287.4° WNW
Sun altitude at C4
-0.37°
Terrain horizon
0.22°
Sun−terrain margin
+9.81°
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 Gáldar
| Peak | Elevation | Distance | Azimuth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morrón de la Agujereada | 1956 m | 22.1 km | 159° SSE |
| Pico de las Nieves | 1949.96 m | 22.0 km | 159° SSE |
| Roque Redondo | 1921 m | 22.6 km | 157° SSE |
| Campanario | 1917 m | 22.3 km | 162° SSE |
| Montaña de Los Bizcochos | 1842 m | 22.9 km | 155° SSE |
| Roque Nublo | 1813 m | 19.9 km | 169° S |
| Puntón de la Agujereada | 1809 m | 22.5 km | 164° SSE |
| Morro de la Salvia | 1806 m | 21.0 km | 160° SSE |
Weather in Gáldar in August
Historical cloud cover
P25 — clearer days
24%
Median cloud cover
47%
P75 — cloudier days
69%
Source: ERA5 (ECMWF), 10-year average at the eclipse hour.
Other eclipses seen from Gáldar
- Last total eclipseOctober 2, 195967 years ago
- Last annular eclipseApril 1, 1764262 years ago
- Next total eclipseMay 6, 2236
- Next annular eclipseApril 1, 2136
Solar eclipses computed from astronomical ephemerides for the city's coordinates.
Frequently asked questions about the eclipse in Gáldar
Will the eclipse of August 12, 2026 be visible from Gáldar?
Yes, partial eclipse: the Sun will be 70% covered at maximum from Gáldar.
What time is the eclipse maximum in Gáldar?
Maximum occurs at 19:53 local time (18:53 UTC) in Gáldar.
Which direction to look to watch the eclipse from Gáldar?
Look WNW (azimuth 282°); the Sun will be 10° above the horizon at maximum from Gáldar.
Is Gáldar a good place to watch the eclipse?
Gáldar is a good option (score 50/100): 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 Canary Islands →Where to stay in Gáldar
For the August 12 eclipse. Recommended stay: Aug 10–14, 2026.
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