León
42.600°, -5.570° · 844 m a.s.l.
Visible
The Sun clears local terrain by 8.95° at C3.
100/100Excellent
100%
You'll see full totality. C3 — the end of totality — is visible above the horizon.
Total eclipse · 100% obscuration
See the eclipse from León minute by minute
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Photo: David Jiménez Llanes · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
About León
León is the capital of its namesake province in northwestern Castile and León, situated at the confluence of the Bernesga and Torío rivers at an altitude of 844 meters. With around 124,000 inhabitants, the city was founded as a camp of Legio VII Gemina around 28 BCE, an origin that gives the city its name. Its position on the southern edge of the Cantabrian Cordillera gives it a transitional climate between Atlantic and inland Spain.
For this eclipse
On August 12, 2026, León will lie within the path of totality of the solar eclipse. The Moon will completely cover the Sun's disk, and the phenomenon will be visible at the moment of maximum phase (C3) at 20:28, local time. With the Sun at 9.6° above the horizon and a topographic margin exceeding 9°, there is no geometric obstruction: conditions are favorable for witnessing totality from any open point in the city.
The weather in August
In August, León registers a low risk of thunderstorms, which sets it apart from other inland capitals of the peninsula that accumulate afternoon convective showers in the middle of summer. Being a city at considerable altitude and close to the foothills of the Cantabrian Cordillera, humid air masses from the north are largely blocked before reaching the León plain. These factors make August one of the driest and most stable months of the year for astronomical observation.
Past eclipses
The most recent total eclipse visible from León occurred on August 30, 1905, 121 years ago, with a totality lasting 3 minutes and 27 seconds. Before that event, an annular eclipse crossed the region on April 1, 1764. After the eclipses of 2026 and 2028, no total eclipse is expected over León for the remainder of the century; one must wait until February 27, 2082 to witness an annular eclipse, whose duration in the central band will exceed 6 minutes.
Direction and altitude of the Sun
At the moment of maximum phase, the Sun will be at 9.6° above the horizon, oriented nearly due west (281° azimuth), very close to the cardinal point of west. That direction means looking down a street oriented east to west or an open field with a clear view to the west. Although the height is moderate for an evening eclipse, the margin relative to the topographic horizon exceeds 9°, so any man-made obstacle lower down should be kept in mind when choosing the observation point.
Editorial text by eclipses.app · Data: Wikidata, AEMET, NASA and astronomy-engine.
Eclipse schedule in León
| Phase | UTC | Local time | Sun alt. | Sun az. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C1 — Partial begins | 17:32 UTC | 19:32 | +20.0° | 272.0° |
| C2 — Totality begins | 18:28 UTC | 20:28 | +9.9° | 281.1° |
| Maximum | 18:29 UTC | 20:29 | +9.7° | 281.3° |
| C3 — Totality ends | 18:29 UTC | 20:29 | +9.6° | 281.4° |
| C4 — Partial ends | 19:21 UTC | 21:21 | +0.7° | 290.0° |
Sun direction and altitude at C4
Look toward WNW (290.0°)
Azimuth at C4
290.0° WNW
Sun altitude at C4
0.70°
Terrain horizon
0.61°
Sun−terrain margin
+8.95°
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 León
| Peak | Elevation | Distance | Azimuth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alto Santiago | 1374 m | 25.0 km | 341° NNW |
| Alto del Negrón | 1343 m | 23.9 km | 331° NNW |
| Sierros | 1330.5 m | 24.9 km | 355° N |
Weather in León in August
Historical cloud cover
P25 — clearer days
0%
Median cloud cover
0%
P75 — cloudier days
12%
Source: ERA5 (ECMWF), 10-year average at the eclipse hour.
Other eclipses seen from León
- Last total eclipseAugust 30, 1905121 years ago
- Last annular eclipseApril 1, 1764262 years ago
- Next annular eclipseFebruary 27, 2082
Solar eclipses computed from astronomical ephemerides for the city's coordinates.
Frequently asked questions about the eclipse in León
Will the eclipse of August 12, 2026 be visible from León?
Yes — León is inside the totality path and the horizon allows the total phase to be fully visible.
What time is the eclipse maximum in León?
Maximum occurs at 20:29 local time (18:29 UTC) in León.
Which direction to look to watch the eclipse from León?
Look WNW (azimuth 281°); the Sun will be 10° above the horizon at maximum from León.
How long does totality last in León?
Totality lasts 1 min 48 s in León (C2 to C3).
Is León a good place to watch the eclipse?
Yes, León is an excellent choice (score 100/100): favorable geometry, clear horizon, and good August climatology.
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 Castile and León →Where to stay in León
For the August 12 eclipse. Recommended stay: Aug 10–14, 2026.
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