Overview
- The partial eclipse will be visible on Wednesday evening, starting about 19:16, reaching a maximum near 20:11 with roughly 87–90% of the Sun obscured for much of the Netherlands and Belgium, and ending around 21:03.
- Ophthalmologists warn that only ISO 12312-2–compliant eclipse glasses or proper solar filters are safe for direct viewing and that ordinary sunglasses, CDs, smartphone screens or improvised methods can cause permanent retinal damage.
- Retailers report heavy shortages and some recalled products for failing safety standards, while universities and observatories are staging public events and handing out certified glasses to meet demand.
- Scientists will use the event for coordinated studies of the solar limb, corona and atmospheric response, with NASA planning balloon launches and Dutch facilities using radio telescopes such as LOFAR so observations can continue even if clouds block optical views.
- Good viewing requires an open westward horizon because the Sun will sit low at about 8 degrees at maximum, and success will depend on evening cloud cover; the eclipse also coincides with the Perseids meteor peak, adding late-night skywatching interest.