Madrid
40.416°, -3.703° · 665 m a.s.l.
Visible
Partial eclipse · 99.9% obscuration
The Sun clears local terrain by 7.17° at peak.
75/100Very good
99.9%
Partial eclipse · 99.9% obscuration
See the eclipse from Madrid minute by minute
Compare locations, save your plan and enable cloud alerts.
Photo: Dmitry Dzhus from London · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
About Madrid
Madrid is the capital of Spain and of its autonomous community, and with over three million inhabitants the most populous city in the country. It sits at the centre of the Iberian Peninsula, on the central plateau, at around 650 metres above sea level. That inland position, far from the coast, shapes both its continental climate and the conditions for observing the night sky and astronomical events.
For this eclipse
On 12 August 2026, Madrid will see a partial solar eclipse. The city lies outside the path of totality, which crosses northern Spain, although the fraction of the solar disc covered will be considerable. The eclipse occurs with the Sun already low, in the late afternoon, so it is worth choosing an open spot facing west so as not to miss the maximum phase.
The weather in August
In August, Madrid records an average temperature of 25.7 °C, with highs around 32 °C and lows near 19 °C. Rainfall is scarce, about 10 mm of monthly average, according to AEMET data for the 1991-2020 period. The risk of an afternoon thunderstorm is moderate, a factor to watch on the evening of the eclipse.
Past eclipses
The last total solar eclipse visible from Madrid took place on 8 July 1842, 184 years ago. More recent was the annular eclipse of 3 October 2005. After the eclipses of 2026, 2027 and 2028, no further totality over Madrid is expected within the computed horizon; the next annular eclipse will arrive on 8 December 2113.
Direction and altitude of the Sun
During the maximum of the eclipse, the Sun will be towards the west-northwest, at about 283° of azimuth, and just 7° above the horizon. That is a low altitude: buildings, trees or terrain in that direction can block the view. To follow the eclipse, an open, elevated spot facing west is advisable.
Editorial text by eclipses.app · Data: Wikidata, AEMET, NASA and astronomy-engine.
Eclipse schedule in Madrid
| Phase | UTC | Local time | Sun alt. | Sun az. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C1 — Partial begins | 17:36 UTC | 19:36 | +17.7° | 274.6° |
| Maximum | 18:32 UTC | 20:32 | +7.3° | 283.3° |
| C4 — Partial ends | 19:24 UTC | 21:24 | -1.6° | 291.6° |
Sun direction and altitude at C4
Look toward WNW (291.6°)
Azimuth at C4
291.6° WNW
Sun altitude at C4
-1.61°
Terrain horizon
0.17°
Sun−terrain margin
+7.17°
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 Madrid
| Peak | Elevation | Distance | Azimuth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alto de Peñalvento | 819 m | 24.7 km | 342° NNW |
| Portillera de Almaján | 818.7 m | 22.9 km | 329° NNW |
| Alto de la Cabezuela | 763 m | 24.1 km | 357° N |
| Cerro de la PorraIn the Sun's direction | 759 m | 24.7 km | 306° NW |
| La IsabelaIn the Sun's direction | 757 m | 24.9 km | 305° NW |
| Cerro del Castillo | 749 m | 24.1 km | 43° NE |
| Torrelaparada | 746.1 m | 14.9 km | 343° NNW |
| Cerro Almodóvar | 726 m | 9.5 km | 111° ESE |
Weather in Madrid in August
Avg. temp.
25.7°C
Max / min
32° / 19.3°
Precipitation
10.4 mm
Storm risk
Medium
Station MADRID, RETIRO, 2 km away · Period 1991-2020 · Source: AEMET
Historical cloud cover
P25 — clearer days
0%
Median cloud cover
5%
P75 — cloudier days
74%
Source: ERA5 (ECMWF), 10-year average at the eclipse hour.
Other eclipses seen from Madrid
- Last total eclipseJuly 8, 1842184 years ago
- Last annular eclipseOctober 3, 200521 years ago
- Next annular eclipseDecember 8, 2113
Solar eclipses computed from astronomical ephemerides for the city's coordinates.
Frequently asked questions about the eclipse in Madrid
Will the eclipse of August 12, 2026 be visible from Madrid?
Yes, partial eclipse: the Sun will be 99.9% covered at maximum from Madrid.
What time is the eclipse maximum in Madrid?
Maximum occurs at 20:32 local time (18:32 UTC) in Madrid.
Which direction to look to watch the eclipse from Madrid?
Look WNW (azimuth 283°); the Sun will be 7° above the horizon at maximum from Madrid.
Is Madrid a good place to watch the eclipse?
Yes, Madrid is an excellent choice (score 75/100): 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 Community of Madrid →Where to stay in Madrid
For the August 12 eclipse. Recommended stay: Aug 10–14, 2026.
Search lodging on Booking →Affiliate link · no extra cost to you
Embed this eclipse on your site
Generate the code to embed the eclipse widget on your hotel, town hall or blog website.
<iframe src="https://eclipses.app/embed/widget?lat=40.4165&lon=-3.7026&size=standard&theme=dark&locale=en" width="320" height="340" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" title="Eclipse 2026"></iframe>Share it to help others find out if they'll see the eclipse