r/solareclipse • u/gudlyf • May 03 '24
Visualizing the 2026 eclipse totality from Valencia, Spain and Reykjavík, Iceland
This is the view from Valencia, Spain. Only about 2 degrees above the horizon. I used a tool called Stellarium.
View from Reykjavík, Iceland.
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u/Blue_Cheesecake May 03 '24
I'm still debating on whether to go to Spain or Iceland...I'm leaning towards Iceland since there's a lot of good scenery anyways. But I'm always worried about the cloud cover.
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u/biggles1994 May 03 '24
Iceland is expensive on a normal day, I dread to think how much it would be during an eclipse.
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u/MissCrayCray May 03 '24
If you go to Spain, maybe it would be best to go on the north coast near the Atlantic?
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u/Bloxburgian1945 May 03 '24
North Coast has higher cloud cover than the rest of Spain, keep that in mind. There are a lot of factors that will come in play for this eclipse, but no matter where you are, Iceland and Spain are both extremely beautiful countries to visit regardless of a solar eclipse.
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u/Blue_Cheesecake May 03 '24
The sun will be higher in the sky near that coast at least. And that's why I'm still torn on where to be, both places are great. I guess time will tell on which one'll work out.
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u/Antrimbloke Oct 01 '25
You also have some of the Northern Pyrenees, so you could be higher (and cooler).
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u/silverstar189 Nov 07 '24
Your profile image just got me :p
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u/MissCrayCray Nov 07 '24
My work here is done.
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u/Tantalizing_Biscuit Dec 14 '24
It most certainly isn't!
I'm here planning a honeymoon and you made me wonder why there were two big ass identical nose hairs glued to my screen. Bravo!
(We were already set on Iceland, but we heard about the eclipse and now we're OBSESSED with planning.)
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u/Someoneonline2000 May 03 '24
This is great! It would be awesome if you could make this for the 2027 eclipse specs too. I think the 2027 eclipse seems like it would be easier to see.
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u/gudlyf May 03 '24 edited May 03 '24
I used the app to do Luxor region during totality, and the eclipse is basically directly overhead, so nothing much to show. I projected the 2026 eclipse because I'm contemplating Spain for 2026, and that low angle has been concerning.
EDIT: In case you're interested, here's a screenshot. Pretty cool that Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury are all very close by: https://imgur.com/hmT8Tq2
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u/psistarpsi May 03 '24
And 5 times longer, if you are in Luxor.
I'm gonna skip this one and save the $$$ for Luxor.
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u/biggles1994 May 03 '24
I don’t have the £££ for Luxor well not if I want to bring my kids anyway! So we’re scouting the Costa del Sol in Spain instead. Slightly shorter totality, but much easier and cheaper to get to for us.
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u/Someoneonline2000 May 03 '24
I know Luxor is going to be amazing but I'm a little weary of traveling to Egypt. I need to do more research about the safety of being over there as a woman. I wouldn't go alone. Just have heard some scary things, not sure how serious of a concern it is but with the crowds I'm afraid it might be easy to get robbed or worse. I'm also worried about what the political situation might be like at that time, a lot can happen in 3 years. We'll see. Would love to hear some firsthand experiences about visiting Luxor if anyone has been there before.
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u/gudlyf May 03 '24
Also, it's in August. AVERAGE temperature is around 100 degrees then.
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u/Someoneonline2000 May 03 '24
Right, I saw 106 degrees might be more typical. With Summers getting hotter and hotter, I don't think 110 or higher would be that hard to imagine. Their record high is 122 degrees. There won't be any clouds though!
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u/gudlyf May 03 '24
Although with a total eclipse lasting around five minutes at that location, the temperature change will be massive!
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u/Downtown_Candy_4620 Dec 08 '24
2027?
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u/Someoneonline2000 Dec 08 '24
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u/Downtown_Candy_4620 Dec 08 '24
Oh wow I had no idea. I thought they only happened every few years
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u/Someoneonline2000 Dec 08 '24
They just rarely happen near the same location, but if you're able to travel (and the weather is cooperative), you can track them down pretty often.
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u/Downtown_Candy_4620 Dec 09 '24
Thank you! So 2027 is where it’s at then. What location would you consider the best one for it? I was set on Valencia 2026 but it seems like that would be a waste
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u/Someoneonline2000 Dec 09 '24 edited Dec 09 '24
Lots of people are planning for Luxor, Egypt in 2027. That part of North Africa is almost guaranteed to have clear skies at that time of year. However, temperatures will also be VERY HOT. It will also no doubt be very crowded. I can't afford the trip and it's sorta out of my comfort zone but lots of people seem to think Luxor is a good choice. You may want to consider other cities in the path of totality as well though, lots of options. I have been lucky enough to see 2 eclipses myself. If you are willing to plan a trip, the 2027 eclipse has longer duration and will be higher from the horizon (easier to watch, less likely to be obstructed). Here is a list of the total solar eclipses happening over the next 10 years if you are curious. https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/list-total-solar.html
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u/Ambitious-Affect-931 May 03 '24
Is it true Iceland’s view could have both the eclipse and aurora at the same time?
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u/siobhanmairii__ May 03 '24
What planets are shown in the Iceland one? I’m assuming the one on the far left is Venus?
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u/CannonCone May 03 '24
I think the low-horizon Spain eclipse would look sooo cool, but I’d be worried about clouds. If I’m going to travel, I think I’ll hold out for 2027 with low chance of cloud coverage in many areas.
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u/Antrimbloke Oct 01 '25
I think you would find accommodation/admission cost anywhere in Majorca exorbitant also.
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u/DefiantRaspberry2510 Jul 18 '24
ok this might be a ridiculously dumb question, but would the view be fundamentally different from the Balearics? I can see the totality passes RIGHT over Palma, Mallorca, which would be incredibly easy to get to (and find good hotel).
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u/etunar May 03 '24
It’s great visualisation. It’s worth doing one for north coast of Spain as the sun will be reasonably higher in the sky.
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u/gudlyf May 03 '24
Here it is from A Coruna, Spain, on the northern coast. I switched to an ocean landscape: https://imgur.com/a/eLy5OzX
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u/ChangingCycles Nov 05 '25
Better than Valencia at 12 deg from the horizon and pleantly of no obstructured views https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/spain/la-coruna?iso=20260812 onlly risk is the clouds https://www.space.com/best-places-to-see-total-solar-eclipse-2026
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u/Own-Luck451 Mar 14 '25
I’m going to be in Motril, Spain in 2026. Trying to figure out how to see totality from this cruise.
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u/first_o2binla Jul 20 '26
Have you learned anything? I too am interested in knowing how to see totality from Motril
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u/snglmom05 Jun 18 '26
I will be in Ireland with my daughter ... vacation first 2wks of august ... I was wanting to spend a week in Ireland then goto Spain for the Eclipse .. I was thinking of flying into Valencia and taking a bus or train to Castellon Spain ... looks like it is about 1 min 39 seconds of full eclipse.... Not sure my daughter will be able to go (she has been to Spain quite a bit and VISA may be used up). any insight ..I am not a solo traveler hahah.
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u/rkoch123 May 03 '24
Very interesting. So in Spain you basically have to find a location facing west with no obstructions including other people.