Overview
- The solar eclipse on 12 August 2026 will put the Moon’s umbral shadow over northern and eastern Spain and the Balearic Islands while most of Europe, including Germany, will experience a deep partial eclipse that covers roughly 85–92% of the Sun depending on location.
- Observers in Central Europe have a narrow, horizon‑dependent viewing window in the late evening and should plan sites with an unobstructed westward view because the Sun will sit very low at maximum.
- Authorities and astronomers warn that certified solar‑eclipse filters or eyewear are required for all partial phases and that improvised masks such as X‑ray film, CDs or soot‑coated glass do not reliably block harmful radiation.
- The eclipse coincides with the Perseids meteor shower on the night of 12–13 August, though forecasts expect only a modest display of a few dozen meteors per hour under dark skies.
- Media and local outlets are preparing outreach and commemoration projects, soliciting public photos through early August, and officials note Germany will not see a partial eclipse this deep again before 2075 and will not host a total eclipse until 2081.