Overview
- The partial solar eclipse on 12 August attracted large gatherings in parks and public spaces across Germany, with the Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz reporting roughly 90–92% sun coverage in Freiburg and the southwest.
- A partial or penumbral lunar eclipse on the night of 28–29 August reached about 93% coverage around 6:13 and was visible without special eye protection, according to public broadcasters and experts.
- Authorities and broadcasters issued repeated eye‑safety guidance before the solar event because looking at the sun without certified eclipse glasses risks serious eye damage, and some observers were reported to have viewed it without proper protection.
- Regional newsrooms are running reader photo calls and memory features that compare the 2026 events with the 1999 eclipse, using official timing and visibility figures to build local galleries and explain viewing conditions.
- Reporters note longer‑term context: Germany will not see another total solar eclipse until 2081, while Spain’s total eclipses are driving astrotourism and extreme accommodation prices for 2027.