12 August 2026
Lugo, a special place to watch the eclipse
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The Moon's shadow will reach Lugo on 12 August 2026
This animation shows the global progression of the total solar eclipse of 12 August 2026 and helps to understand how the Moon's shadow moves across the Earth. The path of totality is very narrow: a corridor where the Moon completely covers the Sun's disc for just a few minutes.
Looking at the map, we can see how that shadow enters along the Atlantic seaboard, crosses the north of the peninsula from west to east and passes exactly over Lugo, making it clear why the city falls within the eclipse track.
Schedule to keep in mind
Lugo lies within the path of totality
On 12 August 2026, the Moon's shadow will enter along the Atlantic seaboard and cross the north of the Iberian Peninsula from west to east. Lugo lies right inside the narrow path of totality, so it will experience the eclipse at its most spectacular: the Sun will be completely covered for a little over a minute.
It will be late in the afternoon, with the Sun very low over the western horizon —barely 11 degrees high—, which makes the Roman wall and the viewpoint of Rosalía de Castro park privileged spots for observation. That low altitude will make the moment especially photogenic, with the sky turning warm colours as darkness falls over the city.
Eclipse phase timings
Sunspots
During the partial phase, before and after totality, we will use white-light solar telescopes fitted with certified filters to observe the Sun's disc in complete safety and follow how the Moon gradually covers it.
On that disc we will make out the sunspots: darker, slightly cooler regions than the rest of the photosphere, linked to intense magnetic fields. Their number and size vary over the eleven-year solar cycle and are visible proof that the Sun is a living, constantly active star; many of them are several times larger than the Earth itself.
The solar corona
During the few minutes of totality, with the solar disc completely hidden by the Moon, we will be able to admire the solar corona: the Sun's outer atmosphere, made of gas at millions of degrees that stretches out into space as filaments and plumes of pearly light.
It is one of nature's most beautiful and rarest spectacles, invisible at any other time because the glare of the solar disc hides it completely. The prominences may also appear —pink arcs of plasma at the Sun's edge— while planets and stars shine in the darkened daytime sky.
Observation
Observation zones in Lugo
Zone 1 · Rosalía de Castro Park
Solar telescope setup and several viewing sectors (direct, projection, large screen, workshop and PMR area).
Zone 2 · Roman wall
Totality viewing from the wall walkway, with direct-viewing sectors, information booth and PMR area.
Zone 3 · Main Square
Totality viewing from Praza Maior, with direct-viewing sectors, information booth and PMR area.
Safe observation
The eclipse is spectacular, but eye safety comes first
Resources
Learn, prepare and share
Observación
Build your own pinhole projector
A pinhole projector lets you observe the eclipse indirectly and safely, projecting the Sun's image onto a white surface without ever looking directly at it. It is the simplest, cheapest and safest method to enjoy the phenomenon, ideal to do with children.
All you need is a small hole in a piece of card: sunlight passes through it and forms an inverted image on the surface you place behind. The greater the distance between the hole and the screen, the larger —though fainter— the solar crescent will appear. In the video we show you, step by step, how to build your own projector with simple materials.
Travel with us
Want to travel for free to see the eclipse with us in Lugo?
On 12 August, at 10:30, coaches will leave for Lugo from the bus stop on Rúa de Lope Gómez de Marzoa in Santiago de Compostela, opposite the FEUGA building on the USC South Campus.
From 19:00, at the observation posts set up on the walkway of the Roman Wall and in Parque Rosalía de Castro, certified eclipse glasses will be handed out so you can watch safely.
The return to Santiago de Compostela will be at 22:30, shortly after the eclipse ends.
Registration request
Fill in this form to request your seat on the round-trip Santiago–Lugo coach on 12 August. Registration is free; you will receive by email the confirmation required to board.
