solar eclipse tenerife august 2026 viewing guide

How to Watch the August Solar Eclipse from Tenerife

A celestial spectacle in the Canary skies

Solar eclipses rank among the most captivating astronomical events. Their striking visual spectacle draws many people to seek out open spaces to observe the sky when one is due to occur. This year, a total solar eclipse will take place on 12 August, though it is not the only celestial event on the calendar, with new comets and meteor showers also visible. According to a report released late last year by the Institute of Astrophysics of Canarias (IAC), the eclipse will be total on the Spanish mainland, while in the Canary Islands it will be a partial eclipse with a magnitude of between 66% and 74%.

Nevertheless, this will not stop astronomy enthusiasts from seeking the best way to observe it. If you are one of them and are counting down to 12 August to view this eclipse from Tenerife, read on. We detail the key advice from Alfredo Rafael Rosenberg González, an astrophysicist at the IAC, on how to enjoy a complete experience with the help of technology.

Essential tools for planning your observation

In his publication, the astrophysicist discusses free websites and programmes that allow you to predict what will happen and how the phenomenon will unfold. This helps users determine if the location they have chosen is the most suitable for observation. In this case, he recommends the website ShadeMap (shademap.app), which allows you to select your geographic area of interest, as well as the day and time, displaying how shadows are projected over time, among other elements.

This makes it easy to check, for example, if your chosen spot will remain in shadow during the eclipse, which would prevent you from seeing it. The author cites what will happen in the province of Tenerife as an example. Using the recommended app for the August eclipse, you can see which areas of the islands will be in shadow during the event. It is important to note that the phenomenon will last approximately two hours, from 18:58 until sunset around 20:45. The maximum of the partial solar eclipse will occur at 19:53.

Where shadows will fall in the archipelago

At that peak moment, the eastern slopes of La Palma and El Hierro, and the central-eastern area of Tenerife, will have no visibility of the Sun and, therefore, of the eclipse.

Another useful tool for realistic observation simulation is Stellarium, a free, multi-platform software that renders the sky from any specified location at a given date and time. Furthermore, it can be combined with PeakFinder (peakfinder.com), which generates realistic landscapes. Using both together will allow interested observers to plan their eclipse viewing and choose the best location for it, enabling them to fully enjoy the magnificent skies of the Canaries.

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