On 12 August 2026, during the 90 seconds of totality of the solar eclipse over Catalonia, the sky will darken enough for up to 6 planets of the Solar System to be visible to the naked eye. Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury and Uranus will appear in the afternoon sky as you have never seen them from an urban setting. The solar corona is the main event — but not the only one.
Why planets are visible during a total eclipse
During the partial phase of the eclipse, even when the Sun loses 90% of its visible surface, the sky remains too bright to see planets or stars. It is only during totality — when the Moon completely covers the solar disc — that the sky darkens enough.
The darkening is not complete or uniform: the horizon stays lit in every direction, like a sunrise at 360°. But in the area around the zenith and around the corona, the sky reaches a dark blue or violet tone that allows the brightest objects in the Solar System to become visible to the naked eye, without any instrument.
Only during the ~90 seconds of totality does the sky darken enough to see planets. Outside that window — before and after — solar brightness makes any planetary observation impossible without a telescope. The window is brief. Knowing where to look before it starts makes all the difference.
The 6 planets you will see on 12 August
This is the confirmed planetary alignment for the afternoon of 12 August 2026, ordered from brightest to faintest during totality:
During a total eclipse, the sky darkens enough for the brightest planets to appear as if it were night. The difference between totality and the partial phase — even with 99% of the Sun covered — is absolutely radical for planetary observation.
NASA / Eclipse Science Division
When and where to look exactly
The key is to prepare before totality begins. With 90 seconds there is no time to search for planets from scratch. Locate Venus (the brightest) during the partial phase with your eclipse glasses on — it will be close to the Sun. When totality starts, you already know where to look for the rest.
With ISO 12312-2 certified glasses, try to detect Venus near the Sun. It is the brightest and will appear before the others. Memorise its position relative to the Sun.
As soon as totality begins, remove the filter from your mobile camera and scan the sky. Venus will be immediate. Jupiter and Mars will appear within seconds.
Divide your time: first 30 seconds for the solar corona. Next 30 for the planets. Final 30 for Baily's diamond ring before it ends. Don't try to do everything at once.
The first ray of Sun after totality is as intense as direct sunlight. Replace the filter on your mobile camera before totality ends.
The bonus: the Perseids that same night
12 August is also the peak of the Perseids, the most popular meteor shower of the year. Once the Sun sets — just a few hours after the eclipse — the sky over Catalonia will offer a second show: up to 100 meteors per hour visible from the same 221 municipalities in the totality band, away from light pollution. 12 August 2026 is not just an astronomical moment — it is a full night of astronomy.
The combination of eclipse and Perseids makes 12 August 2026 the most important astronomical night of the century for Catalonia. Those who travel to municipalities in southern inland Tarragona or Terra Alta will have, after the eclipse, one of the darkest skies on the Peninsula for watching the meteor shower.
The complete guide to the
221 municipalities
While other sites only cover the 20 official points recommended by the Generalitat de Catalunya, eclipsi26.com has extracted and verified the real data from Spain's IGN and the National Astronomical Observatory for the 221 municipalities in Catalonia where 100% totality will be visible — with solar corona, Baily's beads, the diamond ring effect and all 6 planets visible.
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The equipment to make the most of 12 August
For the eclipse and the planets you need certified glasses and a mobile tripod. For the Perseids that same night, all you need is a blanket, darkness and patience. The basic kit covers both experiences.
Family Eclipse Memory Book
2026
A night like 12 August 2026 does not come around again in generations. This family book is the place to keep that unique memory: with illustrated scientific content about the eclipse and the planets, pages for children to describe their experience, a photo collage space for the day and an eclipse keepsake reliquary. A unique object for a unique day.
Sources: IGN / National Astronomical Observatory · NASA Eclipse Science Division · Star Walk / Vito Technology · Agrupación Astronómica de Madrid.