Partial solar eclipse: where you can see the scene better

A solar eclipse is a rare sight. In any case, it can only happen at the new moon when the Earth’s satellite is exactly between the sun and the earth. But because the lunar orbit is tilted, it usually passes above or below the sun. Only when the Moon crosses the apparent path of the Sun in the sky on these days are the conditions suitable: two to four times a year can a solar eclipse be experienced somewhere on Earth.

After a waiting period of six years You can watch the scene again from Germany on Thursday. The German-speaking Planetarium Society and the Friends of the Stars Association have the most important ones in advance Information assembly and production.

In total, the celestial performance lasts about two hours – and when it starts, it depends on the location. In Aachen, the partial solar eclipse begins on Thursday at 11.21 am, in Braunschweig at 11:30 am and in Frankfurt/Oder at 11.40 am. One hour after the start, the maximum occultation occurs, and after another hour the eclipse ends.

How much the moon blocks the sun is also determined by where it tracks darkness. In the north, the moon will move about 20 percent and in the south about six percent in front of the sun.

The Ring of Fire is visible in Greenland

The event is even more exciting in the north of the world: in northern Asia, the Arctic and Greenland there is a zone of central eclipse. There the moon moves centrally in front of the sun. However, in June, it was too far from Earth for a total solar eclipse, so a narrow ring of light can be seen around the Moon. This is also an amazing sight.

Important: No one should observe a partial eclipse without special solar eclipse glasses. If you don’t have a chance to get one, you can also consider building a pinhole camera. This sounds more complicated than it is (Here You will find assembly instructions). Another option is broadcast liveSuch as offered by the German-speaking Planetarium Association. All other aids, such as soot-coated pieces of glass, can cause permanent eye damage.

And who will totally miss Thursday’s solar eclipse? He will have the next opportunity on October 25, 2022.