Total Solar Eclipse China

A 2026 ECLIPSE OF THE SUN
HOLLAND AMERICA'S 13-DAY
MEDITERRANEAN SOLAR ECLIPSE CRUISE

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Synopsis: 2026 Total Solar Eclipse

Eclipse Path •  Circumstances •  Weather

A Difficult Eclipse But with Unique & Dazzling Possibilities For Mediterranean Locations

– Click Figures to Enlarge in New Windows –

Eclipse Path

An Eclipse for Northern Latitudes
  • From N. Siberia throughout Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, E. Atlantic to N. Spain, extreme N.E. Portugal & Mediterranean.

  • Max. duration abt. 28 mi (45 km) off W. Iceland coast (2m 18s).

  • Iceland's 1st total solar eclipse since 1954, only one in 21st century (next 2196).

  • Passes over N. Spain from Atlantic to Mediterranean coasts.
    including Balearic Islands.

  • Total eclipse visible from cities as A Coruña, Valencia, Zaragoza, Palma, Bilbao. But, Madrid & Barcelona just outside totality.

  • Last total solar eclipse continental Europe, Aug. 11, 1999.

  • Last total solar eclipse Spain, Aug. 30, 1905.
    (followed similar path across country).

  • Next total eclipse visible Spain less than year later, Aug. 2, 2027.
Eclipse Path from
Greenland to Spain

Eclipse Path

Total Eclipse: Siberia, Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, Spain.
Partial Eclipse: Northern North America, West Africa, Europe.
Also See
Gobal Eclipse Path Map
by Fred Espenak.
 Cred. Eclipse Predictions
by Fred Espenak (EclipseWise.com)
Global Eclipse Path
Animation Map

Eclipse Animation

Yellow Line: Path of Totality
Black Dot: Total Eclipse
Large Circle: Partial Eclipse

Cred. Fred Espenak (EclipseWise.com)
& Michael Zeiler (GreatAmerican Eclipse)

Circumstances

Also See: Eclipse Viewing Location Map

(Click to Enlarge Chart or get PDF Version)
Circumstances
This eclipse belongs to Saros Cycle 126.
Learn about Saros 126.
Eclipse Path
Over Spain

Eclipse Path

Viewing eclipse from Belearic Sea between Pensacola (on Spain's East Coast) & Belearic Islands allows one to potentially see a "sunset total eclipse".
Cred. Jay Anderson (Eclipsophile)

Also See
Google Spain Path Map
Cred. Fred Espenak &
Google (Eclipse Map Page)

And
Holland America's Anticipated Eclipse Viewing Location
Cred. Xavier M. Jubier
Sunset After Totality
Australia 2002

Australia Sunset Eclipse
The Sun sets in partial eclipse over the Australian outback shortly after totality ended in 2002.
Cred. Dirk De Mol

Also See Photo
"Sunset Eclipse"
(As Posted on Home Page)

Weather

The 2026 August Solar Eclipse Presents Serious
Weather Challenges for Eclipse Chasers
but Possibilities Exist
  • Clouds prevalent in northern regions ultimately give way to clearer weather near the end of the eclipse track (Fig. 1).

  • Some areas in Greenland could offer possible clearer skies for adventurous by careful selection of location (Fig. 2).

  • Areas near Iceland very problematic (Fig. 2) though island could be sunnier than off shore. Cruise ships in this area may have to do fancy cruising to find holes in clouds.

  • Iberian Peninsular far more promising (Fig. 3). But, Biscayne Bay off north Spanish coast & northern areas of Spain often cloudy.

  • Best prospects near eastern coast, especially in Balearic Sea (Fig. 4). Also ships cruising here may have best weather prospects since ships maneuverable.
    Still, Caveats Abundant:

  • Northern part of track has longest duration (max. 2m18s) but poor weather prospects.

  • End of track has much shorter duration (abt. 1m38s off E. Coast of Spain) but better weather.

  • However, Sun very low, only abt. 3° high at totality,
    so need very clear skies near horizon.

    Still, Jay Anderson, eclipse meteorologist, has written that past satellite images suggest about a 75% chance of success.
Thus, a Possible Spectacular View
of a Sunset Total Eclipse and
a New, Unique Lifetime Experience.

Partial Solar Eclipse.2014-Oct-23 Even partial solar eclipses can thrill while setting
as on 2014 Oct. 23 from North Florida USA
For a detailed description
of climate & weather for this eclipse,
be sure to see
Eclipsophile by Jay Anderson

Fractional Cloud Amounts
Over Eclipse Path

Cloud Amounts

Fig. 1. A polar-satellite-derived cloud-cover estimates for August based on observations collected between 2001 & 2021.
Cred. Jay Anderson (Eclipsophile)


Average August Cloud Cover
Over Spain's Eclipse Path

Cloud Amounts Over Spain

Fig. 3. Average August cloud cover as measured from polar-orbiting satellites between 2002 & 2020.
Cred. Jay Anderson (Eclipsophile)
Average August Cloud Cover
Over Eclipse Path

Graph Cloud Amounts in Percent

Fig. 2. Cloud amount in percent along center line (same source as Fig. 1). Cloud amounts for North Pole & Snæfellsnes Peninsula, which are not on the centerline, are shown as small crosses at individual cloud values.
Cred. Jay Anderson (Eclipsophile)

Fractional Cloud Amounts
Over Spain

Spain Cloud Cover Graph

Fig. 4. Cloud-cover trace along north limit, central axis, and south limit of the umbral track over Spain. Data: NASA.
Cred. Jay Anderson (Eclipsophile)
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