Spain to see total solar eclipse on August 12; NASA to launch balloons
The short version
On August 12, 2026, the Moon will completely cover the Sun, creating a phase of totality of almost two minutes over approximately 40% of the Spanish territory. The phenomenon will coincide with the Perseid meteor shower, offering a unique opportunity for observers.
The total solar eclipse will take place on Wednesday, August 12, 2026.3,2 The strip of totality will cover about 40% of the Spanish territory, with a maximum duration of almost two minutes.1 In the rest of Spain the eclipse will be partial, with different degrees of occultation depending on the location.1
The phenomenon will also be visible from Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, the Atlantic and a small area of Portugal.2 NASA will launch science balloons over Spain during the eclipse to investigate the Sun and atmosphere.2 Balloons will collect data on solar radiation and atmospheric conditions during the totality phase.2
The Perseid meteor shower, known as the “Tears of St. Lawrence,” will peak on the very night of the eclipse.3 The Perseids are the most followed meteor shower each year.3 Thousands of people across Spain are preparing to observe the eclipse and meteor shower simultaneously.3
Spain has become one of the best places in the world to observe the total eclipse of 2026.2 The totality phase will peak with a duration of almost two minutes.1
Why it matters
In a total solar eclipse, the Moon completely covers the solar disk, producing a shadow that generates momentary darkness in the area of totality.2
The Perseid meteor shower occurs every August and is known in Spain as "Lágrimas de San Lorenzo"; its peak usually coincides with the first half of the month.3
NASA science balloons are high-altitude platforms that carry instruments to study solar radiation and Earth's atmosphere during events such as eclipses.2
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