Spain Totality Finder
Find where the Sun goes fully dark on August 12, 2026 - and where the western horizon stays clear, because in Spain totality runs right into sunset.
Legend
Marker color shows western-horizon quality at sunset. It is separate from totality: a green site may still be outside the path, and a red site inside it. Totality is shown by the gold "Total" badge.
How it works
Two separate things decide whether you see totality: being inside the path, and having a clear view of the low western Sun.
The totality path
On August 12, 2026 the Moon's shadow crosses northern Spain - Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, the Basque Country, Navarra, Aragón, Catalonia and the Balearics. Inside this band the Sun is fully covered (100% totality); outside it the eclipse is partial. Madrid is south of the path and sees a deep partial eclipse, not totality. Candidate sites are labeled with their totality status from the known path.
Western-horizon geometry
In Spain this eclipse happens near sunset, so the Sun sits low in the west-northwest (roughly 270-295° azimuth) during totality. Terrain that rises above the observer in that direction can hide the Sun. The green / red markers describe this horizon quality only - they say nothing about whether the site is inside the totality path.
Terrain sampling
For each site we sample terrain along three western azimuth rays at distances from 0.5 to 25 km. Elevations come from the SRTM90m digital elevation model (about 90 m resolution) via the OpenTopoData API, proxied server-side. We compare each sample's height against the observer's elevation, apply a curvature correction, and take the steepest rise as the horizon obstruction angle.
Classification thresholds
Obstruction under 1° is marked clear (green), 1-3° is marginal (amber), and 3° or more is obstructed (red). If elevation data cannot be retrieved, the site is marked "needs verification" (gray) rather than guessed. Clearance is estimated against an assumed Sun altitude of about 9° during totality.
Limitations
- SRTM90m is a coarse terrain model: it misses buildings, trees, and small ridges, and can be off by tens of meters in steep country.
- Clouds and local weather are not captured - check the forecast before you travel.
- Elevation depends on the API being reachable; when it is not, results are marked unverified.
- Totality and sunset times are approximate local values - confirm them against a precise ephemeris for your exact spot.
Data sources
- Terrain elevation: OpenTopoData SRTM90m - opentopodata.org
- Basemap: OpenStreetMap tiles via CARTO - openstreetmap.org and carto.com
- Eclipse path and times: public eclipse references (NASA eclipse bulletins); values here are approximate and for planning only.
Eye safety
Never look at the Sun without certified ISO 12312-2 eclipse viewers, except during the brief moments of totality when the Sun is fully covered. Before and after totality the Sun is dangerously bright. Follow local astronomy and safety guidance, and protect your eyes and your camera lenses.