Total Solar Eclipse August 12, 2026
An expert analysis of your viewing perspective from the Cap d’Artrutx coastline, where the sun will vanish just 1.13° above the horizon.
Totality Start
20:30:15
CEST
Duration
1m 12s
of totality
Sun Altitude
1.13°
at maximum
Bearing
289°
W-NW
The Veranda Visibility Test
This tool uses the geometric tangent formula to determine if an object (like a villa or a palm tree) will block your view of the eclipse. Because the sun is so low (1.13°), obstacles must be very short or very far away.
100m
3.5m
Event Timeline at BV7
The eclipse begins in the late afternoon and concludes as a “crescent sunset.” Use the chart below to track the solar altitude throughout the evening. Note the critical window where the sun dips below 2°.
19:37 — C1 (Start)
Partial phase begins. Sun is 11° high, well clear of any local villa roofs.
20:30 — Totality
The “Golden Corona” appears. Altitude: 1.13°. Distance to Mallorca horizon: 150km+.
20:43 — Sunset
Sun sets while still partially eclipsed. A rare optical event over the Mediterranean.
The “Golden Corona” Effect
Watching a total eclipse at 1° altitude is fundamentally different from a high-noon eclipse. You are looking through **30.5 times more atmosphere** than usual. This causes heavy Rayleigh scattering.
- Warm Palette: The pearly white corona will appear copper or golden-amber.
- Refraction Lift: The atmosphere actually “lifts” the sun’s apparent image by ~0.5°, giving you a slight safety margin over obstacles.
- Sky Color: The horizon will glow like a deep twilight even during the “darkest” part of totality.
Simulated Visual Appearance
Probability & Contingency
Menorca is one of the clearest spots in Europe during mid-August, but low-altitude viewing carries unique risks like horizon haze and distant marine clouds.
Historical August Clear Sky Prob.
Strategic Backup Plan
If your veranda sightline (289°) is blocked by a neighbor’s roof or a palm tree, do not panic. You are in a prime location for quick movement.
Paseo Marítimo Coastal Path
Walk 50m west to the pedestrian path. This clears all built structures and opens the full sea horizon.
Cap d’Artrutx Lighthouse
A 900m stroll southwest. This is an elevated headland and will likely be the primary gathering point for observers.
Observer Protocol
Essential steps for a successful viewing from BV7.
Stand on your veranda at exactly 20:30 CEST. The Sun’s position will be nearly identical to the eclipse. If you can see the Sun then, you can see the eclipse.
Mandatory for all partial phases (19:37 to 20:30). Remove ONLY during the 72 seconds of totality. Put back on for the sunset.
For low altitude, you’ll need a clear view of the horizon. Atmospheric refraction makes focus tricky—use manual focus on the distant horizon/Mallorca skyline.