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The eclipse is coming: August 12, 2026 will change the sky over Murcia
Astronomy Tours are organising boat trips to watch the rare celestial event from the Mediterranean
There are moments when the sky stops being background decoration and becomes the main event. August 12, 2026 is one of those moments.
On that evening, the Sun will be partially, or for the lucky few, totally, eclipsed by the Moon. Daylight will dim. Shadows will sharpen. The temperature will drop. Birds will go quiet. And for a few surreal minutes, the universe will remind us who's really in charge.
This is not science fiction. This is not symbolism. This is a real, measurable, once-in-a-lifetime astronomical event, and Murcia is exceptionally well placed to experience it.
This guide is written so you don't just hear about the eclipse later but actually live it. Read more about the upcoming eclipse on https://www.juststargaze.com, an eclipse dedicated webpage by Astronomy Tours S. COOP.
What exactly is happening?
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between Earth and the Sun, blocking some, or all, of its light.
There are three key versions:
- Partial eclipse: the Moon covers part of the Sun
- Total eclipse: the Moon fully covers the Sun (day briefly turns into night)
- Annular eclipse: the Moon is slightly too small to fully cover the Sun, leaving a bright ring
On August 12, 2026, Spain will experience a major solar eclipse, with totality visible along a narrow corridor and very high coverage across the rest of the country.
And here's the crucial part many people miss: you do not need to be in the line of totality to witness something extraordinary.
The line of totality (and why it's not the whole story)
The line of totality is the narrow path where the Moon completely covers the Sun. Inside it, observers experience full darkness and see the solar corona with the naked eye (briefly and safely).
Yes, this is spectacular. No, it's not the only meaningful way to experience the eclipse.
Across Murcia and most of Spain, the Sun will still be dramatically covered, with very high percentages of obscuration. The light will change. The sky will look wrong in a fascinating way. The environment will react.
And unlike totality chasers, you won't need to cross deserts or sleep in your car on a roadside to see it.
When will the eclipse happen in Murcia?
- Date: Wednesday August 12, 2026
- Time: Early evening (low Sun, approaching the western horizon)
- Direction: West / North-West
This timing is both a gift and a challenge.
A low Sun means stunning visuals and golden light plus eclipse equals unreal. But only if your horizon is clear.
Which brings us to preparation.
How to watch the eclipse safely
1. For those chasing totality
If you plan to travel to the line of totality, read this carefully.
August in southern Europe means extreme heat, remote areas with limited services, massive traffic congestion and temporary road closures for safety.
Our professional advice:
- Travel at least one day before
- Carry more water than you think you need
- Expect delays, checkpoints and crowds
- Do not rely on mobile coverage
- Have a clear exit plan after the eclipse
A total eclipse is unforgettable. Getting stranded, dehydrated or stuck in a traffic jam for 12 hours is also unforgettable but for the wrong reasons.
2. For everyone else (including Murcia)
If you stay local, your main priority is geometry, not distance.
You need:
- A clean western horizon
- No buildings, hills or mountains blocking the Sun
- Awareness of the exact timing and angle
This is not a "look up whenever" event. The Sun will be low. Precision matters.
Parks, beaches, elevated viewpoints and, best of all, the open sea are ideal.
3. The easiest, smartest option: Go to sea
This is where Astronomy Tours S.COOP comes in.
For this eclipse, they're doing what astronomers have done for centuries when land gets complicated: they're going to sea.
Eclipse observation from catamaran cruisers:
- Around 3-hour experience
- Comfortable, stable catamarans / tourist boat (for Mar Menor)
- Open western horizon (no buildings, no mountains)
- Cooling sea breeze in August heat
- Drinks on board
- Professional astronomers guiding the event
- Carefully timed positioning for maximum visibility
- Departures from Cartagena, Lo Pagan and Torrevieja
No traffic chaos. No blocked roads. No guessing where to stand.
Just sky, sea and a celestial alignment you'll remember for the rest of your life.
Book early: https://www.juststargaze.com/event-list because it's a limited places cruise. And there's no option to book for another date.
The catamarans and tourist boat Astronomy Tours has chosen to partner with are all wheelchair accessible!
Eclipse glasses: Non-negotiable safety
No matter where you watch from, you must use certified solar eclipse glasses.
- Regular sunglasses are useless
- Smoked glass is dangerous
- Camera filters ≠ eye protection
Looking at the Sun without proper protection can cause permanent eye damage in seconds.
The Solution
At Astronomy Tours, the experienced team has been preparing for this eclipse for years.
They now offer:
- European-certified solar eclipse glasses
- Designed under astronomer supervision
- Compliant with strict EU safety standards
- Not cheap imports
- Suitable for adults and children
You can get your EU certified ISO 12312-2:2015 compliant Eclipse Observation Glasses here: https://www.juststargaze.com/category/all-products
Eclipse glasses sell out months in advance worldwide. Buy early. Future you will be grateful.
Why solar eclipses still matter (even in 2026)
A solar eclipse is not just a shadow trick.
It's orbital mechanics made visible, proof that we live inside a moving cosmic clock, a shared moment experienced by millions at the same second and one of the few times modern humans stop scrolling and look up together.
Civilizations once reorganised calendars, myths and power structures around eclipses.
Today, we organise boats, glasses and good company but the awe is exactly the same.
And the sky isn't done yet
As if a solar eclipse weren't enough, the night of August 12 to 13, 2026 brings another celestial gift.
Just hours after the Sun and Moon align, the Perseid meteor shower reaches its annual peak.
Perseids are fast, bright meteors, tiny grains of comet dust burning up in Earth's atmosphere at over 200,000 km/h, leaving long, dramatic streaks across the sky. They're among the most reliable and spectacular meteors of the year, often producing dozens of shooting stars per hour under dark skies.
While the strongest activity typically happens after midnight, this means that for those who stay out late, the eclipse evening can smoothly transition into a night of wishes and wonder.
No telescope needed. Just patience, darkness and a sky worth watching.
And the best part? The Perseids don't belong to just one night.
Astronomy Tours will be celebrating the Perseid season for the entire week, with dedicated meteor-watching nights at Finca Astronómica, their dark-sky site near Cartagena. So even if you head home after the eclipse, or miss the late-night show on August 12, you can still join them on the following nights when the skies are darker, calmer and often just as generous.
It's a rare coincidence: one week, two of the sky's greatest spectacles and plenty of chances to experience both.
Book your Perseid Meteor Shower Astronomy Night here: https://www.astronomy.tours/events/
A final thought from Astronomy Tours
The 2026 solar eclipse will happen whether you're ready or not.
You can hear about it later, watch it badly positioned or miss it behind a building. Or you can prepare, understand and experience it properly.
That's what we do. That's why we exist.
See you under the darkened Sun.
Astronomers from Finca Astronomica
Astronomy Tours S.COOP Astronomy and Science Centre Foundation
