Tres Cantos
40.601°, -3.708° · 731 m a.s.l.
Visible
The Sun clears local terrain by 6.36° 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 Tres Cantos minute by minute
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Photo: Håkan Svensson Xauxa · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
About Tres Cantos
Tres Cantos is a municipality in the Community of Madrid located at 731 meters altitude, in the northern zone of the Madrid metropolitan area, with a population of around 42,000 inhabitants. Born as a purpose-built city in the last decades of the twentieth century, it is characterized by its planned layout and residential-industrial profile. It borders municipalities like Colmenar Viejo and lies close to the Santillana reservoir and the Guadarrama mountain range.
For this eclipse
On August 12, 2026, Tres Cantos will lie within the path of totality of the solar eclipse. Totality, evaluated at contact C3, will culminate at 20:31 local time with the Sun at 7.4° above the horizon toward the west-northwest (azimuth 283°). The clearance above the topographic horizon is 6.4°, enough to guarantee direct visibility, though it is advisable to find an elevated vantage point with a clear horizon in that direction.
The weather in August
August in Tres Cantos brings dry, warm continental weather, with average temperatures of 23.5 °C, highs reaching 30.7 °C and cool lows of 16.3 °C according to AEMET data from 1991–2020. Average monthly precipitation is barely 9 mm and thunderstorm risk is rated as low, pointing to favorable meteorological conditions for observing the eclipse.
Past eclipses
The last total eclipse visible from Tres Cantos occurred on July 8, 1842, 184 years ago, with a duration of 95 seconds. More recently, on October 3, 2005, an annular eclipse covered 90.2 % of the solar disk for 245 seconds. After the eclipses of the 2026–2028 trilogy, one must wait until December 8, 2113 to see another annular eclipse from this city.
Direction and altitude of the Sun
At maximum eclipse, the Sun will be in the west-northwest quadrant of the sky, with an azimuth of 283° and an altitude of 7.4° above the horizon. That low position, near the end of the afternoon, means the phenomenon will unfold close to the horizon line. To make the most of visibility, orient yourself toward the northwest and ensure there are no obstacles like buildings or trees in that direction.
Editorial text by eclipses.app · Data: Wikidata, AEMET, NASA and astronomy-engine.
Eclipse schedule in Tres Cantos
| Phase | UTC | Local time | Sun alt. | Sun az. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C1 — Partial begins | 17:36 UTC | 19:36 | +17.8° | 274.5° |
| C2 — Totality begins | 18:31 UTC | 20:31 | +7.5° | 283.2° |
| Maximum | 18:31 UTC | 20:31 | +7.4° | 283.2° |
| C3 — Totality ends | 18:32 UTC | 20:32 | +7.4° | 283.3° |
| C4 — Partial ends | 19:24 UTC | 21:24 | -1.5° | 291.6° |
Sun direction and altitude at C4
Look toward WNW (291.6°)
Azimuth at C4
291.6° WNW
Sun altitude at C4
-1.49°
Terrain horizon
1.00°
Sun−terrain margin
+6.36°
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 Tres Cantos
| Peak | Elevation | Distance | Azimuth |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Esfinge | 1945 m | 24.6 km | 327° NNW |
| Risco del Ventanillo | 1924 m | 24.8 km | 326° NNW |
| El Cocodrilo | 1909 m | 24.3 km | 327° NNW |
| Cerro de los Hoyos (o Risco del Nevazo) | 1899 m | 24.3 km | 327° NNW |
| Torre de los Buitres | 1827 m | 23.8 km | 326° NW |
| Risco de la Ventana | 1826 m | 23.8 km | 327° NNW |
| Cancho de la Herrada | 1822 m | 23.6 km | 326° NW |
| El Cocodrilo | 1811.1 m | 24.3 km | 326° NW |
Weather in Tres Cantos in August
Avg. temp.
23.5°C
Max / min
30.7° / 16.3°
Precipitation
9 mm
Storm risk
Low
Station MADRID, EL GOLOSO, 4 km away · Period 1991-2020 · Source: AEMET
Historical cloud cover
P25 — clearer days
0%
Median cloud cover
21%
P75 — cloudier days
96%
Source: ERA5 (ECMWF), 10-year average at the eclipse hour.
Other eclipses seen from Tres Cantos
- 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 Tres Cantos
Will the eclipse of August 12, 2026 be visible from Tres Cantos?
Yes — Tres Cantos is inside the totality path and the horizon allows the total phase to be fully visible.
What time is the eclipse maximum in Tres Cantos?
Maximum occurs at 20:31 local time (18:31 UTC) in Tres Cantos.
Which direction to look to watch the eclipse from Tres Cantos?
Look WNW (azimuth 283°); the Sun will be 7° above the horizon at maximum from Tres Cantos.
How long does totality last in Tres Cantos?
Totality lasts 0 min 44 s in Tres Cantos (C2 to C3).
Is Tres Cantos a good place to watch the eclipse?
Tres Cantos 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 Tres Cantos
For the August 12 eclipse. Recommended stay: Aug 10–14, 2026.
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