On the evening of Wednesday, August 12 at approximately 19:15, the Moon will begin its pass directly between the Earth and the Sun, blocking the Sun’s light and casting a shadow on Earth. It’s expected that the Moon will block 85% of the Sun in Berlin, meaning the capital will briefly dip into darkness for the duration of the eclipse which will peak at 20:08 and end at 20:38, right before sunset. Wednesday’s eclipse isn’t quite a total eclipse of the Sun, but it’s not far off. At 85%, this will be the highest percentage of coverage we’ve seen in recent years. In 2022, a partial eclipse in October covered 32%, and in March 2015 we saw 75% coverage.
Safety First
We can’t stress enough that watching an eclipse needs to be taken seriously. You can’t look at it with the naked eye. Regular sunglasses, polarised lenses, camera filters and homemade films won’t protect you from permanent retinal damage. One option is ISO 12312-2 glasses, which look similar to retro 3D glasses and can be purchased widely. You should also place these lenses over any camera phone or binoculars for extra protection. Alternatively you can make a pinhole camera out of a cardboard box, which allows you to view the eclipse indirectly and safely.
Where to Watch
Any open spaces that are west facing are great spots to watch the eclipse. Some of our favourites are Tempelhofer Feld, the Humboldthain viewing platform and Klunkerkranich. The Zeiss-Großplanetarium in Berlin is also offering an evening of eclipse viewing in collaboration with Lange Nacht Der Astronomie. In their main Planetarium hall, they’ll be streaming a live video from Spain, which is experiencing a total eclipse of the Sun. There will also be films, workshops and talks from astronomers and scientists until late into the night. Coincidently, the solar eclipse coincides with a perseid meteor shower, meaning it’s highly likely shooting stars will be seen all over the city. Let’s hope for clear skies!
Here’s a guide to some of the best viewpoints in the city.
