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Spain Taps Yebes Observatory to Lead 2026 Total Eclipse Monitoring

Tourists are already pushing up room prices along the path of totality in northern Spain.

Overview

  • The Spanish government named the Yebes Observatory near Madrid as the official center to track the August 12, 2026 total solar eclipse.
  • The eclipse will be total in parts of northern Spain and partial across much of Europe, with up to 99% coverage in southwest France and about one to a little over two minutes of totality depending on location.
  • Travel demand in Spain’s totality zone is surging, with listings at €300–€1,400 in Teruel and few options under €600 in Burgos, including one apartment at €5,000 a night.
  • The Paris Observatory’s LTE team released an interactive map and the ÉclipSEOP app that show local timing, degree of obscuration, and duration for any location.
  • Observers are urged to use glasses that meet ISO 12312-2:2015 and carry a CE mark, with astronomy groups warning supplies could run short closer to the event.