While the month of June won’t bring us any more supermoons, avid stargazers can look to the skies on June 10 to catch sight of another celestial spectacle: a partial solar eclipse.
On June 10, residents of Germany will be treated to the awe-inspiring sight of a partial solar eclipse. The phenomenon will last around two hours, with the partial eclipse reaching its fullest extent between 12.20pm and 12.40pm, depending on your location within Germany.
The extent of the eclipse will also vary according to where you are, with sky-watchers in the north of Germany being able to see around 20 percent of the sun being covered. Those watching in the south, particularly around Munich, will only be able to see about six percent of the solar disk covered.
If you want to sight this heavenly spectacle for yourself, you should take the necessary safety precautions. Never look directly at the sun, especially if you are using binoculars or a telescope (unless they have special solar filters). Sunglasses, solarium glasses and the like do not offer enough protection, either. Anyone who wants to view the eclipse should look into wearing so-called eclipse glasses or welding glasses.
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon moves between the Earth and the Sun. However, due to the inclination of the Moon’s orbit, it usually passes above or below the sun. The last partial solar eclipse that was visible in Germany occurred six years ago, on March 20, 2015.
The next partial solar eclipse will be visible in October next year. People on the island of Rügen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, will see around 35 percent of the sun covered by the moon. Total solar eclipses appear once every 360 to 410 years, on average. The next one will be visible in Germany in September, in the year 2081.