Before maximum
Glasses stay on. The Sun is still dangerous even when most of it is covered.
What the eclipse day will feel like.
A short human guide for the hours around it. Read this before you worry about exact pins, model names or map colours.
The odd part is the light before the dark.
For most of the afternoon, nothing dramatic happens. Then the colour of the world thins out, shadows sharpen, people go quiet, and the last few minutes suddenly feel quick.
In northern Spain, totality happens low in the west near sunset. That makes the standing point matter: one building, tree line or ridge can matter more than a perfect-looking map pin.
On the day, it is simpler than it looks.
slow change
Near the peak
Cloud can make or break the view. When the weather models disagree with each other, we show you that rather than picking one and sounding confident.
Where to stand
Look for a clear west-north-west horizon. Street lights are a stargazing problem. This is about having nothing tall in the way.
Totality, if you are inside it
Only during totality can you look without eclipse glasses. As soon as the bright Sun returns, glasses go back on.
What is reliable, and what can still move?
The shadow path is settled maths.
The moving globe replays where the Moon's shadow will fall. Orbits are predictable centuries ahead, so this part is not really in doubt. It is not a live satellite feed.
The weather is live forecast data.
The Spain shortlist uses the Open-Meteo ensemble API every ten minutes. We keep model spread because disagreement should lower confidence.
The exact spot still needs your own eyes.
Our terrain data cannot see buildings, trees, event fencing or a lorry parked in the wrong place. Use it to narrow things down, then look properly once you arrive.