Transport launches viewer to plan observation of the 2026 total solar eclipse

The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility has launched a website with various digital resources and a map viewer to help the public plan where to observe the total solar eclipse on 12 August 2026, which will be visible from Spain.

The tool allows users to check the visibility of the phenomenon from any point in Spanish territory and provides detailed information about the eclipse timings, the Sun’s position, the influence of the terrain and the weather forecast. The aim is to make it easier to choose a suitable location to observe an astronomical event that will attract numerous tourists and astronomy enthusiasts.

This Thursday, an opportunity to rehearse the observation

Thursday 30 April 2026 is a particularly suitable date for checking the observation conditions. The path the Sun will follow across the sky will be practically the same as during the eclipse on 12 August, as the two dates are almost the same distance from the summer solstice.

For this reason, the Sun will occupy a very similar position to the one it will have on the day of the total eclipse. The day can serve as a full rehearsal to check from a specific location whether there are mountains, buildings or other obstacles that could obstruct the view of the phenomenon.

The total eclipse on 12 August 2026 will be the first of its kind visible from the Iberian Peninsula in more than a century. The path of totality will cross Spain from west to east and pass through numerous provincial capitals, from A Coruña to Palma de Mallorca.

Spain lies at the end of the path of totality. As a result, the total eclipse will take place shortly before sunset and very close to the horizon, two circumstances that make it particularly important to choose a clear observation point in advance.

Information about timings, terrain and weather

The map viewer has been launched by the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility through the National Geographic Information Centre (CNIG). The tool brings together different data to show what the eclipse will be like from each location in Spanish territory.

The available functions include checking the event timings. Users can find out the exact start time, the maximum phase and the duration of the eclipse, as well as the Sun’s position above the horizon. The viewer also incorporates the weather forecast from the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET).

Another option allows users to check visibility according to the terrain. This makes it possible to identify whether a mountain or another terrain obstacle could hide the Sun from the selected position. This information is particularly relevant because the eclipse will be observed close to the horizon.

The tool also allows users to consult the path of totality, find out the degree of obscuration and check whether the chosen point lies within the area where the eclipse will be total. It also includes a shadow map to help locate areas where observation is not recommended because of the terrain.

The viewer also offers a dynamic representation of the eclipse’s movement. This function allows users to follow the phenomenon’s path and check the speed at which it moves.

Data for more than 8,000 municipalities

The information can be consulted for each of Spain’s more than 8,000 municipalities. The system provides a detailed infographic with exact data on the eclipse’s progression from each municipality, as well as its duration, location and degree of obscuration, among other observation-related details.

This official information is intended to facilitate planning sufficiently far in advance and help the public understand the specific observation conditions across the country. Choosing a location depends not only on being within the path of totality, but also on whether the terrain allows an unobstructed view of the Sun.

To make access from mobile devices easier, the ‘IGN Eclipses’ app has also been published and is available on Google Play, the App Store and AppGallery. It provides access to the geographical resources and viewers prepared for the next eclipses visible from Spain.

The publication of these tools forms part of a scientific outreach campaign developed by the Directorate-General of the National Geographic Institute (IGN) and the CNIG, bodies belonging to the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility.

The IGN, which falls under the Under-Secretariat for Transport and Sustainable Mobility, is responsible for supplying official astronomical information through the National Astronomical Observatory. With these resources, the institutions aim to bring official information about the eclipse closer to society and contribute to knowledge of the territory when choosing an observation location.

Three eclipses visible in Spain between 2026 and 2028

The website and mobile app are not limited to the total eclipse on 12 August 2026. They also provide access to viewers for the other two eclipses that will soon be visible from Spain: the total eclipse on 2 August 2027 and the annular solar eclipse on 26 January 2028.

In this way, the resources allow users to consult and plan the observation of the three major eclipses that can be seen in Spain during 2026, 2027 and 2028. The website can also be accessed through the official ‘Trio of Eclipses’ website, launched by the Spanish Government to mark this succession of astronomical phenomena.

In addition, the IGN website allows users to download free of charge the book ‘Solar eclipses. The “Spanish” eclipses of 2026, 2027 and 2028’, produced by astronomers from the National Astronomical Observatory. The institution is responsible for carrying out the astronomical calculations for the eclipses.

The publication brings together information about the so-called ‘Trio of Eclipses’ and offers instructions and advice on preparing for their observation. This content complements the data from the map viewer and mobile app.

Protecting your eyes during observation

Observing the Sun entails risks because of the large amount of radiation it emits. For this reason, eclipse observation requires protecting the eyes by using eclipse glasses that comply with the relevant regulations.

Planning the location, checking the timings and verifying the terrain and weather conditions will make it possible to prepare for observing the 2026 total eclipse in advance. 30 April provides an opportunity to check how the Sun will appear from the chosen point and identify potential obstacles before the astronomical event on 12 August.