San Sebastián de los Reyes
40.556°, -3.627° · 685 m a.s.l.
Visible
The Sun clears local terrain by 6.69° at C3.
90/100Excellent
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 San Sebastián de los Reyes minute by minute
Compare locations, save your plan and enable cloud alerts.
Photo: Ayuntamiento de S. S. de los Reyes · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
About San Sebastián de los Reyes
San Sebastián de los Reyes is a municipality in the Community of Madrid located north of the capital, in the Campiña region. With nearly 76,000 inhabitants and an elevation of 685 meters above sea level, it forms part of the Madrid metropolitan area. Founded in 1492, its position on the Castilian plateau grants it a broad western horizon, a condition relevant for astronomical observation.
For this eclipse
On 12 August 2026, San Sebastián de los Reyes lies within the path of totality: the eclipse is total and contact C3—the beginning of the third phase—occurs at 20:31 local time. At that moment the Sun will be 7.3° above the horizon, with a margin of 6.7° relative to the topographic horizon, allowing for clear viewing. The solar corona will be visible during the brief seconds of totality.
The weather in August
According to AEMET historical records for 1991–2020, August in San Sebastián de los Reyes presents a low thunderstorm risk, favorable for eclipse observation in the late afternoon. The municipality, nestled on the Castilian plateau, enjoys the dry, luminous summers characteristic of continental Mediterranean climate, with typically stable afternoons and little rainfall in this month.
Past eclipses
The last total eclipse visible from San Sebastián de los Reyes was on 8 July 1842, 184 years ago, with a totality of just under two minutes. On 3 October 2005, an annular eclipse occurred with an obscuration of 90.3% and a central duration of about four minutes. Following the eclipses of 2026, 2027, and 2028, the next significant annular eclipse will not reach this location until 8 December 2113.
Direction and altitude of the Sun
At maximum eclipse, at 20:31 on 12 August 2026, the Sun will be positioned 7.3° above the horizon, toward the west-northwest, with an azimuth of 283°. This low position in the evening sky requires a location with clear western horizon: avoiding tall buildings, dense vegetation, or terrain relief in that direction will ensure the best visibility during totality.
Editorial text by eclipses.app · Data: Wikidata, AEMET, NASA and astronomy-engine.
Eclipse schedule in San Sebastián de los Reyes
| Phase | UTC | Local time | Sun alt. | Sun az. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C1 — Partial begins | 17:36 UTC | 19:36 | +17.7° | 274.6° |
| C2 — Totality begins | 18:31 UTC | 20:31 | +7.4° | 283.2° |
| Maximum | 18:32 UTC | 20:32 | +7.4° | 283.3° |
| C3 — Totality ends | 18:32 UTC | 20:32 | +7.3° | 283.4° |
| C4 — Partial ends | 19:24 UTC | 21:24 | -1.6° | 291.7° |
Sun direction and altitude at C4
Look toward WNW (291.7°)
Azimuth at C4
291.7° WNW
Sun altitude at C4
-1.57°
Terrain horizon
0.60°
Sun−terrain margin
+6.69°
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 San Sebastián de los Reyes
| Peak | Elevation | Distance | Azimuth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cerro de San Pedro | 1425 m | 20.6 km | 340° NNW |
| Pico de MatalasgrajasIn the Sun's direction | 1207.8 m | 24.8 km | 295° WNW |
| Cerro SaludaIn the Sun's direction | 1200 m | 23.8 km | 297° WNW |
| Cerro SaludaIn the Sun's direction | 1199 m | 24.0 km | 297° WNW |
| Cerro CalvacheIn the Sun's direction | 1188 m | 24.4 km | 296° WNW |
| Cerro de NavalospinosIn the Sun's direction | 1171 m | 22.5 km | 297° WNW |
| Cerro de la Haya del PajarIn the Sun's direction | 1169 m | 23.4 km | 296° WNW |
| Cerro del Cancho | 1117 m | 19.7 km | 348° NNW |
Weather in San Sebastián de los Reyes in August
Historical cloud cover
P25 — clearer days
20%
Median cloud cover
27%
P75 — cloudier days
95%
Source: ERA5 (ECMWF), 10-year average at the eclipse hour.
Other eclipses seen from San Sebastián de los Reyes
- 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 San Sebastián de los Reyes
Will the eclipse of August 12, 2026 be visible from San Sebastián de los Reyes?
Yes — San Sebastián de los Reyes is inside the totality path and the horizon allows the total phase to be fully visible.
What time is the eclipse maximum in San Sebastián de los Reyes?
Maximum occurs at 20:32 local time (18:32 UTC) in San Sebastián de los Reyes.
Which direction to look to watch the eclipse from San Sebastián de los Reyes?
Look WNW (azimuth 283°); the Sun will be 7° above the horizon at maximum from San Sebastián de los Reyes.
How long does totality last in San Sebastián de los Reyes?
Totality lasts 0 min 42 s in San Sebastián de los Reyes (C2 to C3).
Is San Sebastián de los Reyes a good place to watch the eclipse?
San Sebastián de los Reyes 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 Community of Madrid →Where to stay in San Sebastián de los Reyes
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=40.5555&lon=-3.6273&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