Eclipse August 12, 2026 · Asturias / León / Cantabria, Spain · Ranked
The 4 best terrain-verified spots to watch the 2026 eclipse in Cantabrian Mountains
3 of 4 checked viewpoints have a verified-clear terrain view of the low eclipsed sun. Ranked by ray-cast clearance, totality duration and 20-year clear-sky odds.
Every viewpoint below was checked with Heliora’s terrain engine: a 360° ray-cast of real elevation data from its exact coordinate, compared against the sun’s position through the eclipse. The ranking puts verified-clear spots first (by clearance margin), then totality duration and historical clear-sky odds.
Each verdict comes from ray-casting 360° from the exact coordinate over Mapbox Terrain-RGB elevation data (30 km range) — the same engine as Heliora’s live 3D sky view. Clearance margins under ~1° are flagged marginal: elevation pixels are ~75 m wide and can miss sharp ridge lines, and trees and buildings are not included. Clear-sky odds are 20-year ERA5 climatology (2005–2024, ±3 days around Aug 12, cloud cover ≤20% at the local peak hour) — historical odds, not a forecast.
The ranking
Pajares (pass) Clear view
43.000°N, -5.764°W
The eclipsed sun clears the terrain by 6.5° at the critical moment (maximum eclipse 20:28 CEST). Terrain hides the sun at 21:10 CEST, before the partial phase ends at 21:21. Historical clear-sky odds at peak hour: 21% (20 years of ERA5 data).
See it in 3D at this exact spot →Reinosa Clear view
43.000°N, -4.137°W
The eclipsed sun clears the terrain by 5.8° at the critical moment (maximum eclipse 20:28 CEST). Terrain hides the sun at 21:01 CEST, before the partial phase ends at 21:20. Historical clear-sky odds at peak hour: 25% (20 years of ERA5 data).
See it in 3D at this exact spot →Riaño Clear view
42.982°N, -5.000°W
The eclipsed sun clears the terrain by 1.9° at the critical moment (maximum eclipse 20:28 CEST). Terrain hides the sun at 20:37 CEST, before the partial phase ends at 21:21. Historical clear-sky odds at peak hour: 18% (20 years of ERA5 data).
See it in 3D at this exact spot →Somiedo Blocked by terrain
43.094°N, -6.255°W
The terrain rises 13.6° above the sun — the eclipse is hidden behind the ridge from this spot. Terrain hides the sun at 19:31 CEST, before the partial phase ends at 21:21. Historical clear-sky odds at peak hour: 34% (20 years of ERA5 data).
See it in 3D at this exact spot →Drop a pin anywhere — Heliora computes the terrain horizon from that exact point and shows whether the eclipsed sun clears it.