On 12 August 2026, Gorliz will be one of the privileged locations on the Basque coast from which to witness an extraordinary astronomical event: a partial solar eclipse during which approximately 99.9% of the Sun will be covered by the Moon.
⚠️ Important: the eclipse will NOT be total in Gorliz. The town lies outside, although very close to, the path of totality. Therefore, the solar disk will not disappear completely when viewed from Gorliz.
Even so, the event will be spectacular. At maximum eclipse, only a tiny portion of the Sun will remain visible and daylight will change noticeably. Gorliz also offers a remarkable setting for observing the event, with the Cantabrian Sea as a backdrop and a particularly open horizon towards the west.
What is a solar eclipse?
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves between the Earth and the Sun, partially or completely blocking the solar disk.
During a total solar eclipse, the Moon completely covers the Sun for a brief period. During a partial eclipse, such as the one visible from Gorliz, a small part of the Sun remains visible.
The 12 August 2026 eclipse will be total across a large area of northern Spain, but not in every location. The path of totality will cross northern Spain and pass through areas including Bilbao, Santander, Burgos, Vitoria-Gasteiz and Zaragoza. Outside this path, the eclipse will be partial.
Therefore, although Gorliz will not experience totality, it will be possible to see an extraordinarily deep eclipse, with coverage close to 100%.
When will it happen?
📅 Wednesday, 12 August 2026
Approximate timetable in Gorliz
- ☀️ 7:31 pm — Partial eclipse begins.
- 🌘 8:27 pm — Maximum eclipse.
- 🌅 9:16 pm — Sunset and the end of the observable eclipse.
At maximum eclipse, approximately 99.9% of the Sun will be covered by the Moon. The Sun will be only around 8° above the horizon, making a clear view towards the west essential.
Times may vary slightly depending on the exact observation location.
Why watch the eclipse from Gorliz?
Although Gorliz is outside the path of totality, its location beside the Cantabrian Sea provides an attractive setting for observing the phenomenon.
The eclipse will take place during the late afternoon and the Sun will be getting lower and lower towards the horizon. For this reason, it will be especially important to find a location with the clearest possible western and north-western horizon, rather than simply looking for an elevated viewpoint.
Interesting observation points include:
🌊 Gorliz Beach and Astondo
The beach area offers wide views and a favourable orientation for watching the Sun as it moves towards the horizon.
🌅 Seafront promenade
A comfortable and accessible option for enjoying the eclipse, provided you choose an area with as few obstacles as possible towards the west.
🔭 Gorliz Lighthouse and the cliffs
The lighthouse area offers spectacular coastal views and can provide an excellent panorama of the horizon.
⚠️ Important: access to Gorliz Lighthouse from the town centre of Gorliz remains closed. If you decide to visit this area, check the authorised access routes beforehand and always respect signs, restrictions and safety measures.
Where will the eclipse be total?
This is one of the most important questions for anyone who wants to experience totality.
The 12 August eclipse will be total across a large area of northern Spain. The path of totality will cross Spain from west to east and reach numerous towns and cities, while locations outside the path will experience a partial eclipse.
Gorliz lies outside the path of totality.
This means that although approximately 99.9% of the Sun will be hidden from Gorliz, it will never disappear completely. Anyone wishing to experience totality will need to travel to a location within the path.
An especially astronomical afternoon and night
12 August will be a particularly interesting date for astronomy enthusiasts.
During the afternoon, we will be able to observe the solar eclipse and, once darkness falls, the sky will offer the opportunity to see the Perseids, one of the best-known and most popular meteor showers of the summer.
The combination is particularly appealing because the Perseids reach their peak activity around this time of year. If weather conditions are favourable, the day can end by looking up at the sky in search of shooting stars.
Observe the eclipse safely
Eye safety is essential.
In Gorliz, because the eclipse will be partial, solar eye protection must be used throughout the entire observation. Even if 99.9% of the Sun is covered, the small portion that remains visible is still bright enough to cause serious eye damage.
🕶️ To observe safely:
✅ Use only special-purpose solar eclipse glasses that comply with the ISO 12312-2 standard.
❌ Ordinary sunglasses are not suitable.
❌ Do not use X-rays, photographic negatives, smoked glass or any other homemade method.
❌ Never look at the Sun through binoculars, telescopes or cameras without a suitable solar filter correctly installed.
⚠️ An important difference from a total eclipse
During a total solar eclipse, observers inside the path of totality may remove their eye protection briefly when the Sun is completely covered.
That will NOT happen in Gorliz.
Because the eclipse will be partial in Gorliz and a small portion of the Sun will always remain visible, there will be no safe moment during the eclipse to look directly at the Sun without protection.
Recommendations for enjoying the experience
To make the most of the event:
- 🌅 Choose a location with the clearest possible western horizon in advance.
- 🕶️ Bring certified eclipse glasses.
- ⏰ Arrive early to find a good observation point.
- ☁️ Check the weather forecast before travelling.
- 💧 Bring water and sun protection.
- 📷 If you want to photograph the eclipse, always use a suitable solar filter for your equipment.
- 🌿 Respect the natural environment and do not leave rubbish behind.
- 🚗 Do not obstruct roads, paths, access routes or private property.
- ⚠️ Always follow the instructions of emergency services and local authorities.
Gorliz, facing an extraordinary eclipse
On 12 August 2026, Gorliz will not be inside the path of totality, but it will have the opportunity to experience one of the most spectacular solar eclipses visible from the Basque coast.
With approximately 99.9% of the Sun hidden, the event will be extraordinarily deep and will offer a unique visual experience, especially with the Cantabrian Sea and the western horizon as its backdrop.
And for those who want to continue the experience, once night falls they can keep looking towards the sky in search of the Perseids.
🌘 On 12 August, Gorliz looks to the sky.
An exceptional astronomical event to enjoy, observe and remember.
