Eclipse August 12, 2026 · Soria, Spain · Ranked
The 4 best terrain-verified spots to watch the 2026 eclipse in Picos de Urbión & Laguna Negra
2 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 free AWS Terrarium 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 roughly 110 m wide at Spanish latitudes 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
Covaleda Clear view
41.935°N, -2.875°W
The eclipsed sun clears the terrain by 7.4° at the critical moment (maximum eclipse 20:29 CEST). Terrain hides the sun at 21:16 CEST, before the partial phase ends at 21:21. Historical clear-sky odds at peak hour: 43% (20 years of ERA5 data).
See it in 3D at this exact spot →Duruelo de la Sierra Clear view
41.955°N, -2.940°W
The eclipsed sun clears the terrain by 5.3° at the critical moment (maximum eclipse 20:29 CEST). Terrain hides the sun at 21:02 CEST, before the partial phase ends at 21:21. Historical clear-sky odds at peak hour: 48% (20 years of ERA5 data).
See it in 3D at this exact spot →Laguna Negra Blocked by terrain
41.997°N, -2.842°W
The terrain rises 4.6° above the sun — the eclipse is hidden behind the ridge from this spot. Terrain hides the sun at 20:10 CEST, before the partial phase ends at 21:21. Historical clear-sky odds at peak hour: 43% (20 years of ERA5 data).
See it in 3D at this exact spot →Vinuesa Blocked by terrain
41.908°N, -2.766°W
The terrain rises 6.1° above the sun — the eclipse is hidden behind the ridge from this spot. Terrain hides the sun at 19:54 CEST, before the partial phase ends at 21:21. Historical clear-sky odds at peak hour: 43% (20 years of ERA5 data).
See it in 3D at this exact spot →The night after: Perseids under a new moon
The eclipse is only half the show. The Perseid meteor shower peaks on the night of August 12–13, 2026 — and because a total solar eclipse can only happen at new moon, that peak night is completely moonless. It is the textbook-ideal Perseid year: up to ~100 meteors per hour under a genuinely dark sky.
The viewpoints ranked above are already far from city lights, so stay after sunset. The radiant in Perseus rises in the northeast during the evening and climbs all night — rates improve after midnight into the early hours of August 13. No equipment needed: face the darkest part of your sky and give your eyes 20 minutes to adapt.
Plan the night sky at this spot →Drop a pin anywhere — Heliora computes the terrain horizon from that exact point and shows whether the eclipsed sun clears it.