Overview
- The solar eclipse, which occurs on Wednesday, August 12, will be total only along a narrow corridor across the North Atlantic, Iceland and parts of northern Spain and the Balearic Islands while much of Germany and neighbouring countries will see a strong partial eclipse covering roughly 85–90 percent of the Sun.
- Germany’s Federal Office for Radiation Protection has issued urgent warnings that direct viewing without certified DIN EN ISO 12312-2 CE‑marked eclipse glasses or indirect projection methods can cause painless, permanent retinal damage and that ordinary sunglasses and improvised filters are unsafe.
- Optician chains, planetariums and amateur astronomy clubs report they are stocking or distributing certified eclipse glasses and organising guided viewings, and space agencies and observatories including ESA and NASA will provide livestreams for people who cannot travel to the path of totality.
- Because the eclipse occurs near sunset, observers need an elevated site with a clear western horizon since low sun angle means buildings, trees or mountains can easily block the view and special solar filters are required for any binoculars, telescopes or cameras.
- The event coincides with new moon and the Perseid meteor shower peak on the night of August 12–13, creating an unusually rich observing opportunity if weather permits and driving high short‑term travel demand and near‑capacity bookings in parts of northern Spain and the Balearics.