JOIN OUR 55TH SOLAR ECLIPSE EXPEDITION COMING AUGUST 7-16, 2026

The start of the total eclipse as seen from our site in Pinahat, India October 24, 1995. Prominences, chromosphere and Baily’s Beads are visible. It is encouraging to know that 31 years later all of these phenomena should be visible and photographable at the 2026 eclipse. Paul D. Maley photo with Celestron 5 telephoto back in the days of film cameras.

This will be our 55th solar eclipse expedition as organized by Paul D. Maley of the NASA Johnson Space Center Astronomical Society. The total eclipse will be his 89th solar eclipse, the count includes partial, annular and total eclipses which has been one of the main focal points of his life.

We are at the sunset end of the path of the eclipse due to the poor weather prospects along the track from Greenland through the Atlantic Ocean to Spain. After looking closely at the weather, Spain offers the most optimistic cloud forecasts and we plan to be in a great position to intercept it near local sunset.

PRICES

Standard Double Room package	$7,380.00
*Suite Double package**	$7,880.00
*Grand Suite Double package**	$8,380.00

*applies to 4 nights in Burgos only. Remaining nights are in standard rooms

Prices set to rise by $300 per person on 3/31/24.

We are in top locations, with all excursions, most meals, a guide, a host, and porterage with 4 nights in the solar eclipse viewing area as our base for touring.

ITINERARY

Map showing the beginning and end points of the tour and the base of operations for our group for the eclipse.

Meals included are shown as B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner

Thursday August 6: Depart the US for Spain.

Friday August 7: Arrive Madrid, clear customs. Shared transfer to your hotel. A private transfer can be set up at extra cost. Day at leisure until 5:00pm orientation briefing and welcome reception. Group dinner at 6:00pm. Overnight Madrid. (D)

INSERT MADRID HOTEL PHOTO HERE

Saturday August 8: Madrid. Breakfast at leisure in the hotel. Astronomy experience in Madrid tour. Group visit to the Royal Observatory. Afterwards the group will spend some time exploring the Parque del Buen Retiro. This is a World Heritage Site. From late May through early October, every Sunday at midday, the Banda Sinfónica de Madrid gives free concerts from the bandstand in the park near the Calle de Alcalá. Lunch on your own. The rest of the day and at your leisure. Group dinner tonight. (B, D)

Parque Del Buen Retiro

Sunday August 9: Madrid. Breakfast at leisure in the hotel. Today we will head out for a city tour of Madrid visiting famous sites such as Puerta de Alcala and the Catedral de la Almudena. Group lunch at one of Madrid’s popular markets such as Mercado San Miguel or Mercado de San Anton. In the afternoon the group will visit the Reina Sofia Museum. Rest of the day at leisure. Tonight, a group Dinner with Flamenco show. (B, L, D)

Monday August 10: Madrid. Breakfast at leisure in the hotel. After this check out and board the bus for transfer to the Hotel Landa in Burgos, Spain with sightseeing along the
way. Burgos will be our base for the solar eclipse. Lunch on your own at leisure during a stop en route. Afternoon briefing at the hotel on plans for the solar eclipse by Paul D. Maley followed by a group dinner. If the weather is clear there will be an opportunity for observing the night sky since we will be in a New Moon period. (B, D)

INSERT HOTEL LANDA PHOTO HERE

Tuesday August 11: Burgos. Breakfast in the hotel. This morning we will leave for a day trip to Pamplona. It’s best known for the Running of the Bulls (Feast of San Fermín) in July. During this legendary multiday festival, bulls are led through the city streets by daredevil runners. Tour ends at Plaza Mejor with lunch on your own. Afternoon drive and scenic stops with wine tasting in the Rioja Valley before returning to your hotel in Burgos. Group dinner tonight. (B, D)

Hotel Landa’s tower

INSERT PAMPLONA PHOTO HERE

Wednesday August 12: Burgos. Breakfast in the hotel.

A vineyard in Rioja

ECLIPSE DAY

The total eclipse as photographed by Byron Braswell in 2017.

Spain is on the GMT+2 time zone. The expected event times and angles are rounded as follows. If you review the contact timings here you will see that literally the entire eclipse from beginning to end can be seen with the end occurring as the Sun has jus set.

C1=START OF PARTIAL ECLIPSE: …3:33PM SUN ELEVATION 18 DEGREES, AZIMUTH 273 DEGREES

C2=START OF TOTALITY:…………….4:28PM SUN ELEVATION 8 DEGREES, AZIMUTH 282 DEGREES

C3=END TOTALITY:…………………….4:30PM SUN ELEVATION 8 DEGREES, AZIMUTH 283 DEGREES

SUNSET:…………………………………….5:21PM

C4=END OF PARTIAL ECLIPSE……..5:21PM SUN ELEVATION -1 DEGREE, AZIMUTH 291 DEGREES

An expansive corona as viewed in 2017.

Depending on the weather we will either observe from the hotel or board our motor coach for an observation site in the area. We should expect to see up to 1 minute 44 seconds of totality. Dinner will either be in route after the eclipse or at the hotel. (B, D)

Overhead view of the Hotel Landa property.

A large view looking down into the eclipse path on August 12, 2023 at eclipse time. You can see northern Spain is mostly clear.

Thursday August 13: Burgos. Breakfast at leisure in the hotel. Depart for a scenic drive to the town of Huesca. Visit the Huesca Cathedral followed by city walk and lunch on your own near Plaza Mayor. The Holy Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Lord, also known as the Cathedral of Saint Mary of Huesca, is a Roman Catholic church in Huesca, in Aragon, north-eastern Spain. It is the seat of the Bishop of Huesca. Its architecture is Gothic, and its construction began in the late 13th century and was finished in the early 16th century. Afternoon at leisure. Tonight a traditional Spanish dinner at one of Burgos’ top restaurants. Overnight Burgos. (B, D)

Friday August 14: Burgos-Zaragosa-Barcelona Breakfast at leisure in the hotel. Drive to Zaragosa. Arrive 11am. Zaragosa walking tour with lunch included. From there travel to and through Barcelona. Afternoon guided walk to La Rambla & Gothic Quarter. This evening a progressive tapas dinner. (B, L, D)

An example of modern architecture in Barcelona

Saturday August 15: Barcelona. Breakfast at leisure in the hotel. Today we will visit the Montjuc area with Magic Fountain and Sagrada Familia. The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família (Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family) is considered to be the symbol of Barcelona by many residents, and the one place you shouldn’t miss when you visit the Catalan capital. Initially intended to be a simple Roman Catholic church dedicated to Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the church ultimately became the most prominent example of Catalan Modernism. Pope Benedict XVI declared it a basilica in 2010.

La Sagrada Familia basilica

Next is a stop at the Cosmo Caixa Science Museum. The museum’s most distinctive attractions include the new permanent exhibition “The Universe Gallery” where visitors can learn about the cosmos and its evolution from the big bang to the present day. An interactive experience beginning with the creation of the cosmos and going on to explore the evolution of the species and the innermost workings of the human brain. The “Flooded Forest” recreates the ecosystem of the Amazon inside a glass house covering an area of 1,000 m2, which is home to piranhas, crocodiles and other animal and plant species typical of the area, and the “Geological Wall” consists of seven vast sections of genuine rock that allow us to interpret the world’s geology.

The museum building is just as fascinating as its contents. Science Museum CosmoCaixa is a beautiful example of modernist architecture, designed and built between 1904 and 1909 by Josep Domènech i Estapà. Lunch on your own – return to hotel (optional). Tonight will be our farewell dinner. Overnight Barcelona. (B, D)

Sunday August 16: Breakfast at leisure in the hotel. Following this check out and transfer to the airport for your return flight home. Those going on optional post tours will be adhering to that schedule.

OPTIONAL POST TOURS TO BE OFFERED LATER

TOUR INCLUDES

4 star hotels in Madrid and Barcelona
local hotels elsewhere
Briefings by Paul D. Maley and other astronomical escorts
Viewing Glasses for the Event
Exclusive use of viewing venue on eclipse day
English-speaking Tour Director exclusive to the group
Professional English-speaking guides at all locations
Land transport by private motor coach
Meals as listed (including special welcome and farewell meals)
Wine with all lunches and dinners
Bottled water during outings
Baggage handling in destination
Entrance fees on itinerary excursions and visits

TOUR EXCLUDES

• items of a personal nature such as laundry, phone calls, etc.

• wifi, if not included at the hotels specified

• meals outside of those specified

• private airport transfers (can be obtained at extra cost)

• airfare of any kind

• passport/visa fees (if required)

• trip cancellation and delay insurance (cancel for any reason is recommended)

• pre or post hotel expenses including any hotel services, meals not included, incidental expenses, etc. for which payment is required prior to checkout.

• extra nights before or after

• room service, meals and snacks not specified in the itinerary

• optional tours that may be offered

• alcoholic beverages, aside from those included in the Welcome and Farewell Dinners and Hosted Reception