The eclipse is coming: August 12, 2026 will change the sky over Murcia
Astronomy Tours are organising boat trips to watch the rare celestial event from the Mediterranean
There are moments when the sky stops being background decoration and becomes the main event. August 12, 2026 is one of those moments.
On that evening, the Sun will be partially, or for the lucky few, totally, eclipsed by the Moon. Daylight will dim. Shadows will sharpen. The temperature will drop. Birds will go quiet. And for a few surreal minutes, the universe will remind us who's really in charge.
This is not science fiction. This is not symbolism. This is a real, measurable, once-in-a-lifetime astronomical event, and Murcia is exceptionally well placed to experience it.
This guide is written so you don't just hear about the eclipse later but actually live it. Read more about the upcoming eclipse on https://www.juststargaze.com, an eclipse dedicated webpage by Astronomy Tours S. COOP.
What exactly is happening?
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between Earth and the Sun, blocking some, or all, of its light.
There are three key versions:
- Partial eclipse: the Moon covers part of the Sun
- Total eclipse: the Moon fully covers the Sun (day briefly turns into night)
- Annular eclipse: the Moon is slightly too small to fully cover the Sun, leaving a bright ring
On August 12, 2026, Spain will experience a major solar eclipse, with totality visible along a narrow corridor and very high coverage across the rest of the country.
And here's the crucial part many people miss: you do not need to be in the line of totality to witness something extraordinary.
The line of totality (and why it's not the whole story)
The line of totality is the narrow path where the Moon completely covers the Sun. Inside it, observers experience full darkness and see the solar corona with the naked eye (briefly and safely).
Yes, this is spectacular. No, it's not the only meaningful way to experience the eclipse.
Across Murcia and most of Spain, the Sun will still be dramatically covered, with very high percentages of obscuration. The light will change. The sky will look wrong in a fascinating way. The environment will react.
And unlike totality chasers, you won't need to cross deserts or sleep in your car on a roadside to see it.
When will the eclipse happen in Murcia?
- Date: Wednesday August 12, 2026
- Time: Early evening (low Sun, approaching the western horizon)
- Direction: West / North-West
This timing is both a gift and a challenge.
A low Sun means stunning visuals and golden light plus eclipse equals unreal. But only if your horizon is clear.
Which brings us to preparation.
How to watch the eclipse safely
1. For those chasing totality
If you plan to travel to the line of totality, read this carefully.
August in southern Europe means extreme heat, remote areas with limited services, massive traffic congestion and temporary road closures for safety.
Our professional advice:
- Travel at least one day before
- Carry more water than you think you need
- Expect delays, checkpoints and crowds
- Do not rely on mobile coverage
- Have a clear exit plan after the eclipse
A total eclipse is unforgettable. Getting stranded, dehydrated or stuck in a traffic jam for 12 hours is also unforgettable but for the wrong reasons.
2. For everyone else (including Murcia)
If you stay local, your main priority is geometry, not distance.
You need:
- A clean western horizon
- No buildings, hills or mountains blocking the Sun
- Awareness of the exact timing and angle
This is not a "look up whenever" event. The Sun will be low. Precision matters.
Parks, beaches, elevated viewpoints and, best of all, the open sea are ideal.
3. The easiest, smartest option: Go to sea
This is where Astronomy Tours S.COOP comes in.
For this eclipse, they're doing what astronomers have done for centuries when land gets complicated: they're going to sea.
Eclipse observation from catamaran cruisers:
- Around 3-hour experience
- Comfortable, stable catamarans / tourist boat (for Mar Menor)
- Open western horizon (no buildings, no mountains)
- Cooling sea breeze in August heat
- Drinks on board
- Professional astronomers guiding the event
- Carefully timed positioning for maximum visibility
- Departures from Cartagena, Lo Pagan and Torrevieja
No traffic chaos. No blocked roads. No guessing where to stand.
Just sky, sea and a celestial alignment you'll remember for the rest of your life.
Book early: https://www.juststargaze.com/event-list because it's a limited places cruise. And there's no option to book for another date.
The catamarans and tourist boat Astronomy Tours has chosen to partner with are all wheelchair accessible!
Eclipse glasses: Non-negotiable safety
No matter where you watch from, you must use certified solar eclipse glasses.
- Regular sunglasses are useless
- Smoked glass is dangerous
- Camera filters ≠ eye protection
Looking at the Sun without proper protection can cause permanent eye damage in seconds.
The Solution
At Astronomy Tours, the experienced team has been preparing for this eclipse for years.
They now offer:
- European-certified solar eclipse glasses
- Designed under astronomer supervision
- Compliant with strict EU safety standards
- Not cheap imports
- Suitable for adults and children
You can get your EU certified ISO 12312-2:2015 compliant Eclipse Observation Glasses here: https://www.juststargaze.com/category/all-products
Eclipse glasses sell out months in advance worldwide. Buy early. Future you will be grateful.
Why solar eclipses still matter (even in 2026)
A solar eclipse is not just a shadow trick.
It's orbital mechanics made visible, proof that we live inside a moving cosmic clock, a shared moment experienced by millions at the same second and one of the few times modern humans stop scrolling and look up together.
Civilizations once reorganised calendars, myths and power structures around eclipses.
Today, we organise boats, glasses and good company but the awe is exactly the same.
And the sky isn't done yet
As if a solar eclipse weren't enough, the night of August 12 to 13, 2026 brings another celestial gift.
Just hours after the Sun and Moon align, the Perseid meteor shower reaches its annual peak.
Perseids are fast, bright meteors, tiny grains of comet dust burning up in Earth's atmosphere at over 200,000 km/h, leaving long, dramatic streaks across the sky. They're among the most reliable and spectacular meteors of the year, often producing dozens of shooting stars per hour under dark skies.
While the strongest activity typically happens after midnight, this means that for those who stay out late, the eclipse evening can smoothly transition into a night of wishes and wonder.
No telescope needed. Just patience, darkness and a sky worth watching.
And the best part? The Perseids don't belong to just one night.
Astronomy Tours will be celebrating the Perseid season for the entire week, with dedicated meteor-watching nights at Finca Astronómica, their dark-sky site near Cartagena. So even if you head home after the eclipse, or miss the late-night show on August 12, you can still join them on the following nights when the skies are darker, calmer and often just as generous.
It's a rare coincidence: one week, two of the sky's greatest spectacles and plenty of chances to experience both.
Book your Perseid Meteor Shower Astronomy Night here: https://www.astronomy.tours/events/
A final thought from Astronomy Tours
The 2026 solar eclipse will happen whether you're ready or not.
You can hear about it later, watch it badly positioned or miss it behind a building. Or you can prepare, understand and experience it properly.
That's what we do. That's why we exist.
See you under the darkened Sun.
Astronomers from Finca Astronomica
Astronomy Tours S.COOP Astronomy and Science Centre Foundation
Address
Casas del Puente 3, Cartagena, Murcia, Spain, 30397Tel: +34 623 140 902
The Astronomy and Science Centre Foundation has star-themed events and activities to delight novices and experts of all ages
Astronomy Tours runs a whole host of astronomical activities and events in the Murcia Region, from astronomical observation sessions to a magical cruise under the stars, to really fire up an interest in the cosmic world beyond our atmosphere.
Their main base of operations is the Finca Astronomica, located close to the town of La Aljorra in the Campo de Cartagena, where you can join their astronomy tours either in the daytime or at night, all year round.
At the Finca, you’re welcomed with delicious food, drinks, a bonfire and a variety of astronomical tools and gadgets. In the summer season, they also have tours in other locations, including San Pedro del Pinatar, La Manga and Camposol, not to mention their unmissable cruise under the stars, which involves a nighttime cruise on the Mar Menor with tapas and drinks, plus a guided presentation of the night sky as you watch the galaxy glide by.
The Astronomy Tours and the Finca Astronomica are supported by the Astronomy and Science Centre Foundation, which was founded in 2019 by a group of astronomers and Starlight-certified guides and monitors in the astronomical observatories in Spain.The purpose of the Foundation is to promote the knowledge and interest in the field of astronomy and astronomy-related sciences, which covers areas such as physics, chemistry, biology, geology, but also history, archeology, urban and medical aspects of social life, literature, art, culture and (of course) astrology.
By promoting this knowledge and getting their customers interested in astronomy, the Foundation hopes to achieve higher goals such as bringing the stars a little closer to people, and helping them to understand the importance of caring about our planet and the whole human population as a one.
To achieve those goals, the Foundation organises its day- and nighttime activities and camps which are suitable for both children and adults, and as well as this they work with 
schools and organisations and write books for children to bring astronomy to the masses.
schools and organisations and write books for children to bring astronomy to the masses.As part of this mission, they’re creating an astronomically themed park right on the Costa Cálida called the Astronomy and Science Centre which has an observatory available to the public to see the stars and the planets, and where they also promote ecofriendly and sustainable activities and closeness to nature.
The Finca Astronomica even has its own friendly and well cared for animals which live in really big spaces where people can easily enter and interact with them in their own environment.
What’s more, you can get involved in all sorts of other fun and activities for all the family at the Finca Astronomica, including glamping under the stars, stroking the animals at their petting zoo and enjoying sports like darts, archery, nerf gun fights, and many more.
This year, Finca Astronomica is excited to unveil its very own Yurt Village. Alongside the beautifully crafted wooden glamping pods, the yurts combine traditional charm with all the modern comforts including double beds, cosy carpets and plenty of shelving for your personal belongings.
But that’s not all. Each yurt comes handily equipped with light and electricity, so that you can charge your devices even as you recharge your spirit under the vast, starry sky.
This summer season is about to come alive with regular tours happening three days a week, while Adult Only Fridays are just around the corner.
Tours are available in English, Spanish and Polish.
