Overview
- Authorities confirmed on Wednesday, July 29 that Germany will be entirely in the Moon’s penumbra on August 12 and will see a deep partial eclipse with coverage around 84–90 percent, rising to about 90–92 percent near Freiburg and the Bodensee.
- The partial event will begin in German cities roughly between 19:10 and 19:23 local time and reach local maxima about 20:06–20:15, but the Sun will sit only minutes above the western horizon so an unobstructed westerly view is essential.
- The narrow path of totality crosses parts of Iceland and northern Spain including sections near Bilbao and the Balearics, so viewers who want totality must travel outside Germany or join planned Spanish events.
- Medical experts and the Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz warn that looking at the Sun without certified solar filters (EN ISO 12312-2:2015) or using unfiltered optics can cause painless, permanent retinal damage and must be avoided during the partial phases.
- The eclipse coincides with the Perseid meteor shower peak the night of August 12–13, Spanish regions are preparing for heavy tourist demand and the next total solar eclipse visible from Germany will not occur until 2081.