Manilva looks to the sky:the great solar eclipse arrives this Wednesday
The Sun will be around 93.4% covered as seen from our municipality. Here is when to watch, where to look and how to observe it without risking your eyesight.
⭐ Maximum 20:39
🧭 Look WNW
Manilva has an exceptional appointment with the sky this Wednesday, 12 August. The municipality will be able to see a spectacular partial solar eclipse, with approximately 93.4% of the solar disc covered at the moment of maximum coverage.
We will not see the totality that areas within the path crossing the north of Spain will enjoy, but from here the phenomenon will still be especially striking: the Sun will be almost completely covered as it sinks towards the horizon at sunset.
What time can we see it from Manilva?
The eclipse will last more than an hour and a half, but the minutes around the maximum will be the most interesting. These are the times calculated for Manilva:
The eclipse begins
The Moon begins to take a bite out of the edge of the solar disc. The change is still imperceptible to the naked eye.
⭐ Maximum of the eclipse
Approximately 93.4% of the Sun is covered. Only a thin sliver of light remains visible.
🌅 Sunset
The Sun disappears below the horizon and the sunset spectacle comes to an end.
93.4% of the Sun will be covered
Although the eclipse will be partial from Manilva, the coverage will be extraordinarily high. At the maximum, only a small part of the solar disc will remain visible.
Where should you look?
This will be one of the decisive factors in enjoying the eclipse. The Sun will be very low over the horizon, so not just any spot will do for watching it.
Look west-north-west
At the moment of maximum, the Sun will be at roughly 284º azimuth, that is, facing west-north-west (WNW).
It will also be only about 6.25º above the horizon, so it is essential to find a spot with a completely clear line of sight.
☀️ 284º · WNW · 6.25º altitude
Will it be clearly visible from Manilva?
Yes, as long as the horizon is clear and the weather cooperates. The low position of the Sun will be the main challenge in observing the phenomenon: a building, a mountain or a tree to the west-north-west could hide it during the key minutes. It is best to choose your spot in advance.
📍 Choosing a spot
- Look for a clear horizon to the west-north-west.
- Avoid buildings and trees that block the sunset.
- Arrive early to check the orientation.
- Open, elevated areas offer a better view.
🌅 A different sunset
- The eclipse will coincide with the Sun’s descent.
- The maximum will come at 20:39.
- The Sun will be very close to the horizon.
- The Costa del Sol landscape could make a spectacular setting.
⚠️ Take great care when observing
Ordinary sunglasses do NOT protect your eyes
The fact that 93.4% of the Sun is covered does not mean it is safe to look at it directly. Throughout the whole partial phase, the solar radiation reaching our eyes can cause serious and irreversible damage.
To watch the eclipse directly, you must use certified glasses designed specifically for solar observation.
What we can do
- Use glasses certified for solar eclipses.
- Observe using solar projection methods.
- Use astronomical equipment with a suitable solar filter.
- Prepare the observation spot in advance.
What we must not do
- Look directly at the Sun without protection.
- Use ordinary sunglasses.
- Look through binoculars or telescopes without a solar filter.
- Use X-ray films or homemade filters.
🌍 A particularly important eclipse for Spain
The 12 August phenomenon will be particularly significant because Spain lies within the path of a total solar eclipse. The band of totality will cross much of the north of the mainland, while Andalusia falls outside it.
For the people of Manilva, that means we will be able to enjoy a very deep partial eclipse, while those who travel to the areas of totality will experience, for a few moments, the characteristic darkness of a total eclipse.
The event is also part of an exceptional series of astronomical phenomena visible from Spain, with another total eclipse expected in 2027 and an annular eclipse in 2028.
✨ And after the eclipse… the Perseids arrive
The astronomical day will not end when the Sun disappears. The night of 12 to 13 August will offer especially good conditions for watching the Perseids, one of the most popular meteor showers of the year.
The coincidence with the new Moon will help meteor spotting, as there will be practically no moonlight interfering with the night sky.
So the plan can be a full one: an eclipse at sunset and stars during the night.
📌 Quick guide to watching the eclipse from Manilva
Manilva has an appointment with the sky
If the sky is clear, all you will need on 12 August is to find a spot with a clear horizon to the west-north-west to watch the Moon cover almost the whole of the Sun just before sunset.
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