On August 12th, 2026, a partial solar eclipse will be visible across large parts of Europe. In a narrow path across Iceland and northern Spain, the eclipse will even be total.
Even outside the path of totality, the event will be well worth watching. In Germany, a large part of the Sun will be covered by the Moon. So save the date and don’t miss it!
If you are planning to watch it, there are a few things worth keeping in mind. The eclipse takes place in the evening and will happen shortly before sunset. A clear view towards the western horizon will therefore be especially important.
I originally created this illustration for a public eclipse event in Emden, Germany. It is organised by the Astronomie-Club Ostfriesland e.V. and the Hochschule Emden/Leer. If you happen to be nearby, you are very welcome to come along and watch the eclipse with experienced observers:
Ironically, I will not be there myself. I will be travelling to Spain to experience the total solar eclipse (preferably without a strategically placed cloud arriving at exactly the wrong moment like in 1999). Hopefully, I will have plenty of photos to share afterwards!
Wherever you watch it, please use certified eclipse glasses or a safe projection method. Never look directly at the Sun without suitable protection! Ordinary sunglasses are nowhere near sufficient. A simple way to watch the eclipse indirectly is a pinhole projector. Just project the image onto another surface rather than looking through the hole.