A partial solar eclipse will darken skies across western Europe on Wednesday, with the moon covering up to 90 percent of the sun in parts of Germany and Belgium. Observers along a narrow corridor stretching from Iceland through Greenland to Spain and the Balearic Islands will witness a total eclipse.
In Germany's North Rhine-Westphalia state, the partial eclipse begins around 19:15 local time, peaks at 20:10 and ends shortly before 21:00. In Belgium, the event starts at 19:18 and reaches maximum coverage at 20:13. The Deutscher Wetterdienst forecasts summer temperatures of 28 to 31 degrees Celsius with minimal cloud cover, offering favourable viewing conditions.
Experts warn that only certified eclipse glasses provide adequate eye protection, as standard sunglasses or improvised filters are insufficient. The next total eclipse clearly visible from Belgium will not occur until May 2142.