Asturias, one of the best places to see the eclipse of the Sun

On 12 August 2026, Asturias will witness a unique spectacle for more than one hundred and twenty years: a total solar eclipse. For a few minutes, it will be night during the day and the Sun will disappear hidden by the Moon. This is a phenomenon that we have not witnessed from Asturias since 1905, and we will not see it again from our region for several decades.

Therefore, this summer, if the weather is good, we will have a unique and unrepeatable opportunity to enjoy this astronomical event, which will undoubtedly turn the region into a privileged spot for astronomers, tourists and the curious.

A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon comes between the Earth and the Sun, completely obscuring the Sun's disc for a few minutes. Although solar eclipses are relatively frequent, they are only seen as total eclipses over a very narrow band of the Earth's surface.

These events are of great scientific importance to the international community, as they allow us to study different properties of the atmosphere and the corona of our star, which will be seen very clearly.

In the case of the 2026 event, Asturias lies within the totality band, with Oviedo located practically in the centre. Not only that, but it is one of the best places to see the eclipse.

This is because being further west than other regions of Spain also in the totality band, the Sun will be higher above the horizon at the time of maximum, around 20:30h CEST. In other parts further east, the eclipse will not be seen in its entirety as the Sun will set early, while in Asturias the entire event will be seen before the Sun sets.

Moreover, it will be one of the areas where totality will last the longest, with an estimated time of 1 minute and 48 seconds from Oviedo, and almost the same time from Ribadeo. This makes the Asturian region a privileged balcony to observe and enjoy this phenomenon.

Eclipses should always be enjoyed safely, as one should never look directly at the Sun without proper protection. It can only be observed directly during the time interval of totality, when the Sun will be completely hidden by the Moon.

The rest of the time, special eclipse glasses complying with ISO 12312-2 should be used, or other methods of indirect observation, such as projecting the image of the Sun through a small hole in a sheet of paper, a very simple technique known as pinhole projection (a "camera obscura" type of camera).

In order to be able to observe it, it is also necessary to choose an elevated location with a clear view to the west, since the eclipse will occur at sunset, at around 20:32. Some outstanding places could be mountain areas, beaches with a wide visibility or some viewpoints.

The choice of the place from which to observe the eclipse should be made in advance, looking for a location that suits the needs and offers good visibility of the western horizon.

Asturias is already working on identifying the best observation points, which will soon be available for consultation, thus facilitating planning to enjoy the eclipse in the best possible conditions.

Without a doubt, the eclipse of 2026 represents a great opportunity for astronomical tourism in AsturiasItopens in a new tab. Active tourism and scientific dissemination companies, astronomical associations, municipalities, universities, educational centres and the Government of the Principality of Asturias itself are already starting to plan activities to take advantage of this unique moment.

Public observations, talks, workshops and multiple cultural events are expected on that day and throughout the year.

In addition, a specific website will soon be launched where all the necessary information will be available to enjoy the eclipse in Asturias safely, including observation points, recommendations and other interesting information to experience this phenomenon in all its splendour.

This astronomical event, already known as the "event of the century", will be seen in detail from this natural paradise, undoubtedly one of the best places in the world to observe it.