Guadalajara
40.629°, -3.162° · 722 m a.s.l.
Visible
The Sun clears local terrain by 6.80° at C3.
95/100Excellent
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 Guadalajara minute by minute
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Photo: Pavlemadrid · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons
About Guadalajara
Guadalajara is the capital of its namesake province, located in Castilla-La Mancha, about 60 km northeast of Madrid. It sits in the valley of the Henares River at an elevation of 722 metres, with a population of roughly 93,000 inhabitants. Its position in the Alcarria region gives it a marked continental climate, with hot, dry summers and a topography of plateaus and plains that shapes the local horizon.
For this eclipse
On 12 August 2026, Guadalajara lies within the path of totality of the solar eclipse. Contact C3—the end of the total phase—occurs at 20:31, with the Sun just 7° above the horizon. The clearance from the topographic relief is 6.8°, sufficient for the solar corona to be fully visible from points with an unobstructed horizon toward the west-northwest.
The weather in August
The AEMET weather station associated with Guadalajara records a low thunderstorm risk for August, which is favourable for the eclipse. August on this part of the Meseta is typically dry and sunny, with clear skies for much of the day. The available meteorological station does not provide temperature or precipitation figures, but the continental climate pattern of the Alcarria points to generally stable conditions at that time of year.
Past eclipses
The last total eclipse visible from Guadalajara occurred on 8 July 1842, 184 years ago, with a totality duration of approximately 116 seconds. More recently, on 3 October 2005, an annular eclipse covered 90.3% of the solar disc for nearly four minutes. After the eclipses of 2026 and 2028, the next annular one is not forecast until 3 October 2377; no total eclipse is expected in the calculated horizon.
Direction and altitude of the Sun
At the moment of maximum eclipse, at 20:31, the Sun will be at 7° altitude above the horizon, with an azimuth of 284°, oriented toward the west-northwest. This low position in the sky demands a clear horizon free of obstacles in that direction—buildings, trees, or terrain—to ensure complete visibility during totality. The 6.8° clearance above the topographic horizon offers a reasonable margin from unobstructed viewpoints.
Editorial text by eclipses.app · Data: Wikidata, AEMET, NASA and astronomy-engine.
Eclipse schedule in Guadalajara
| Phase | UTC | Local time | Sun alt. | Sun az. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C1 — Partial begins | 17:36 UTC | 19:36 | +17.4° | 274.9° |
| C2 — Totality begins | 18:31 UTC | 20:31 | +7.2° | 283.5° |
| Maximum | 18:31 UTC | 20:31 | +7.1° | 283.6° |
| C3 — Totality ends | 18:32 UTC | 20:32 | +7.0° | 283.6° |
| C4 — Partial ends | 19:23 UTC | 21:23 | -1.8° | 291.9° |
Sun direction and altitude at C4
Look toward WNW (291.9°)
Azimuth at C4
291.9° WNW
Sun altitude at C4
-1.82°
Terrain horizon
0.16°
Sun−terrain margin
+6.80°
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 Guadalajara
| Peak | Elevation | Distance | Azimuth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cerro de Hita | 981.2 m | 24.2 km | 24° NNE |
| La Muela | 960 m | 24.6 km | 10° N |
| Cerro de la Virgen | 837 m | 20.3 km | 219° SW |
| Ecce-Homo | 836 m | 21.1 km | 220° SW |
| La Tortuga | 731 m | 21.0 km | 222° SW |
| Malvecino | 698 m | 22.7 km | 223° SW |
Weather in Guadalajara in August
Historical cloud cover
P25 — clearer days
5%
Median cloud cover
17%
P75 — cloudier days
66%
Source: ERA5 (ECMWF), 10-year average at the eclipse hour.
Other eclipses seen from Guadalajara
- Last total eclipseJuly 8, 1842184 years ago
- Last annular eclipseOctober 3, 200521 years ago
- Next annular eclipseOctober 3, 2377
Solar eclipses computed from astronomical ephemerides for the city's coordinates.
Frequently asked questions about the eclipse in Guadalajara
Will the eclipse of August 12, 2026 be visible from Guadalajara?
Yes — Guadalajara is inside the totality path and the horizon allows the total phase to be fully visible.
What time is the eclipse maximum in Guadalajara?
Maximum occurs at 20:31 local time (18:31 UTC) in Guadalajara.
Which direction to look to watch the eclipse from Guadalajara?
Look WNW (azimuth 284°); the Sun will be 7° above the horizon at maximum from Guadalajara.
How long does totality last in Guadalajara?
Totality lasts 1 min 13 s in Guadalajara (C2 to C3).
Is Guadalajara a good place to watch the eclipse?
Guadalajara 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 Castilla-La Mancha →Where to stay in Guadalajara
For the August 12 eclipse. Recommended stay: Aug 10–14, 2026.
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