2026 promises to be an exceptional year for skywatching, with major eclipses, meteor showers, planetary alignments and rare celestial events — many of them visible from Spain and Mallorca.
After an active solar cycle and a comet-rich 2025, the sky continues to deliver.
☀️ The Big One: Total Solar Eclipse – 12 August 2026
One of the most remarkable astronomical events of the decade will occur on 12 August 2026: a total solar eclipse visible from Mallorca and parts of Spain.
This is a rare opportunity – it’s the first total solar eclipse visible from Spanish soil since 1905, and the path of totality crosses right over the Balearic Islands, including Palma and much of Mallorca.
From Mallorca, the eclipse will unfold at sunset with the Sun low in the western sky, creating an especially dramatic backdrop over the Mediterranean. Observers on the island will see:
- 🌘 Totality – the Moon completely covers the Sun – for about 1 minute and 36 seconds around ~20:31–20:32 CEST.
- 🌞 Partial phases before and after totality, running from approximately 19:38 to 20:49 CEST.
Because the Sun will be so low on the horizon at totality, clear western views (such as from beaches, coastal viewpoints or open fields) will be especially good for watching the event.
📍 Where to watch in Mallorca
Anywhere with an unobstructed view to the west – from coastal spots like playas and headlands to open countryside – can work well for safely observing the eclipse. Locations overlooking the Mediterranean (e.g., west-facing beaches or hilltops) can offer especially scenic sunset eclipse views.
⚠️ Safety first: Never look directly at the Sun without proper eclipse glasses or solar filters, except during the brief phase of totality when the Sun is fully covered.
🌕 Eclipses in 2026 (Key dates)
2026 includes four eclipses:
- 17 February – Annular solar eclipse (Antarctica, not visible from Spain)
- 3 March – Total lunar eclipse (visible from the Americas & Pacific; partial visibility in parts of Europe)
- 12 August – Total solar eclipse (Spain, Iceland, North Atlantic)
- 28 August – Deep partial lunar eclipse (93%), visible from Spain & Mallorca
🌠 Best Meteor Showers (Mallorca-friendly)
With favourable moon phases, 2026 offers excellent meteor watching:
- Perseids – 12–13 August 🌠
- Geminids – mid-December (one of the year’s strongest showers)
Mallorca’s dark skies and warm nights make these ideal for beach or countryside viewing.
🌙 Rare Moon Events
- Occultations of bright stars like Regulus, Antares and the Pleiades
- Multiple planetary occultations, including Venus and Jupiter
- Continued dramatic Moon groupings with planets, especially in November
🪐 Planet Highlights
- Venus dominates the evening sky for much of the year
- Jupiter’s moons enter a mutual eclipse and transit season
- Saturn’s rings continue opening, improving visibility
- Notable planetary groupings in June and November
☄️ Comets & Solar Activity
- Comet C/2025 R3 PanSTARRS may be visible with binoculars in spring
- Solar Cycle 25 remains active, increasing chances of:
- Sunspots
- Space weather events
- Occasional auroral activity at high latitudes (rare but possible to monitor)
✨ Why 2026 Matters
For observers in Mallorca and Spain, 2026 stands out as:
- A historic eclipse year
- A strong year for meteor showers
- A visually rich year for Moon & planet encounters
Whether you’re an avid astronomer or simply enjoy looking up, 2026 is a year to mark on the calendar.
🌌 The sky keeps moving – and 2026 is full of reasons to watch it.
Source & pictures: universetoday.com
