Vilafranca del Penedès
41.346°, 1.697° · 229 m a.s.l.
Visible
Partial eclipse · 99.9% obscuration
The Sun clears local terrain by 2.75° at peak.
70/100Good
99.9%
Partial eclipse · 99.9% obscuration
See the eclipse from Vilafranca del Penedès minute by minute
Compare locations, save your plan and enable cloud alerts.
Photo: Lucie2beaugency · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
About Vilafranca del Penedès
Vilafranca del Penedès is a city in the province of Barcelona, Catalonia, with just over 38,000 inhabitants. Located at 229 meters altitude in the Penedès region, it occupies a territory with strong agricultural and wine-growing traditions in the interior of the Catalan coast. Its position in the Barcelona hinterland places it far from the shoreline, surrounded by gentle hills that define the landscape of the region.
For this eclipse
On August 12, 2026, Vilafranca del Penedès will experience a visible partial solar eclipse. Maximum will occur at 20:29, when the Sun will be barely 4.2° above the horizon—very low in the evening sky—with a margin of 2.7° above the local topographic horizon. It is advisable to seek an observation point with an open horizon toward the west-northwest, free from buildings or trees that might obstruct the view.
The weather in August
August in Vilafranca del Penedès is characterized by typical summertime conditions of interior Catalonia. AEMET data for the period 1991-2020 indicates a low risk of thunderstorms, which favors atmospheric stability during summer. Although specific temperature or precipitation data are not available for the local reference station, the general profile of the region points to warm days and mild nights.
Past eclipses
The last total eclipse visible from Vilafranca del Penedès occurred on May 12, 1706, 320 years ago, lasting nearly four minutes of totality. More recently, on November 11, 1901—125 years ago—an annular eclipse covered more than 82% of the solar disk. After the 2026-2028 eclipses, one will have to wait until July 13, 2075 for the next annular eclipse, and until 2180 for the next total.
Direction and altitude of the Sun
At the moment of maximum eclipse, the Sun will be positioned 4.2° above the horizon, in a direction of 286° azimuth—practically toward the west-northwest, very close to due west. With the Sun so close to the horizon, observation will require an elevated location or a line of sight free from obstructions in that direction. Twilight light will accompany the phenomenon during its final visible minutes.
Editorial text by eclipses.app · Data: Wikidata, AEMET, NASA and astronomy-engine.
Eclipse schedule in Vilafranca del Penedès
| Phase | UTC | Local time | Sun alt. | Sun az. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C1 — Partial begins | 17:35 UTC | 19:35 | +14.1° | 277.5° |
| Maximum | 18:29 UTC | 20:29 | +4.2° | 286.2° |
| C4 — Partial ends | 19:20 UTC | 21:20 | -4.3° | 294.7° |
Sun direction and altitude at C4
Look toward WNW (294.7°)
Azimuth at C4
294.7° WNW
Sun altitude at C4
-4.35°
Terrain horizon
1.47°
Sun−terrain margin
+2.75°
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 Vilafranca del Penedès
| Peak | Elevation | Distance | Azimuth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puig de FormigosaIn the Sun's direction | 1002 m | 22.9 km | 292° WNW |
| MontagutIn the Sun's direction | 963 m | 23.9 km | 286° WNW |
| Puig CastellarIn the Sun's direction | 943 m | 18.9 km | 307° NW |
| Puig de SolanesIn the Sun's direction | 913.9 m | 19.5 km | 301° WNW |
| la Creu de la CostaIn the Sun's direction | 908.1 m | 22.0 km | 295° WNW |
| Puig d'en RoviraIn the Sun's direction | 904.2 m | 24.8 km | 287° WNW |
| el GronyIn the Sun's direction | 884 m | 24.6 km | 309° NW |
| Cingle de les CasesvellesIn the Sun's direction | 878.4 m | 19.2 km | 305° NW |
Weather in Vilafranca del Penedès in August
Historical cloud cover
P25 — clearer days
5%
Median cloud cover
18%
P75 — cloudier days
36%
Source: ERA5 (ECMWF), 10-year average at the eclipse hour.
Other eclipses seen from Vilafranca del Penedès
- Last total eclipseMay 12, 1706320 years ago
- Last annular eclipseNovember 11, 1901125 years ago
- Next total eclipseNovember 17, 2180
- Next annular eclipseJuly 13, 2075
Solar eclipses computed from astronomical ephemerides for the city's coordinates.
Frequently asked questions about the eclipse in Vilafranca del Penedès
Will the eclipse of August 12, 2026 be visible from Vilafranca del Penedès?
Yes, partial eclipse: the Sun will be 99.9% covered at maximum from Vilafranca del Penedès.
What time is the eclipse maximum in Vilafranca del Penedès?
Maximum occurs at 20:29 local time (18:29 UTC) in Vilafranca del Penedès.
Which direction to look to watch the eclipse from Vilafranca del Penedès?
Look WNW (azimuth 286°); the Sun will be 4° above the horizon at maximum from Vilafranca del Penedès.
Is Vilafranca del Penedès a good place to watch the eclipse?
Vilafranca del Penedès is a good option (score 70/100): all eclipse phases are visible, though not the regional optimum.
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 Catalonia →Where to stay in Vilafranca del Penedès
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=41.3462&lon=1.6971&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