Partial solar eclipse to darken eastern German skies at sunset on 12 August
On the evening of 12 August 2026, the moon will slide across the sun, creating a deep partial eclipse across East Germany just before sunset.
A sunset eclipse
On 12 August 2026, a partial solar eclipse will unfold shortly before sunset, with the moon covering up to 86 percent of the sun's disk over Saxony-Anhalt, and more than 80 percent across Saxony and Thuringia. The phenomenon will begin around 19:15–19:18 CEST, reach its maximum at about 20:11, and after that the sun will set progressively eclipsed. Because the sun will be low on the western horizon, a clear, unobstructed view is essential.
This one is something really special, because it happens at sunset and the sun sets partially eclipsed.
The path of totality will cross Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain and northeastern Portugal, where the moon will fully obscure the sun. For observers in Germany, however, the sun will remain a bright crescent. The European Space Agency will stream the total eclipse live.
- Partial eclipse begins
- Maximum coverage (86% in Saxony-Anhalt)
- Sun sets while still eclipsed
Where and when to watch
Astronomers stress that finding a vantage point with an open western horizon is the biggest challenge. Markus Roth, director of the Thuringian State Observatory in Tautenburg, advises leaving cities and heading to elevated spots away from trees and buildings.
I advise everyone who wants to see the partial solar eclipse to seek a free view to the horizon – out of the city, away from trees, best on a rise with an unobstructed view to the west.
The Urania public observatory in Jena will set up on a hill near Coppanz, overlooking the Saale valley. In Saxony, the Radebeul Astroclub is relocating to the Gönnsdorf observatory on the eastern outskirts of Dresden, where telescopes and special glasses will be available from late afternoon, with expert talks beforehand. The Sternwarte Nordsachsen in Eilenburg also plans to host visitors.
Safety first
Viewers must never look directly at the sun without certified eclipse glasses or solar filters. Standard sunglasses, smoked glass, or unfiltered binoculars do not protect against retinal damage. In Merseburg, telescopes will be set up at the airfield parking lot from 18:30, and in Lochau (Saalekreis), the Johannes Kepler astronomical station will gather at the Elster flood dam from 19:00.
The sun will set eclipsed.
Bonus: Perseid meteor shower
Shortly after the eclipse, the Perseid meteor shower will peak, offering another reason to stay outside. Several observatories, including the Sonneberg Astronomy Museum, are combining the eclipse with an annual shooting star night. Schmidt's group in Halle will also host Perseid observations from 3–7 August, starting at 21:00 each evening.
