A rare sky phenomenon presented itself to onlookers on Tuesday, as long as the weather played along and clouds did not block the view. During a partial solar eclipse, many curious people with special goggles or filters could watch how the moon moved in front of the star in the center of our solar system.
“You could see it well south of the Danube. It was clear there,” said a spokesman for the German Weather Service in Offenbach. There was also a clear view south of Stuttgart to Lake Constance. Elsewhere one had to hope for gaps in the clouds.
The moon moved in front of the sun shortly after 11 a.m. and covered it by almost 20 to more than 30 percent, depending on the location. The maximum was exceeded shortly after noon. The last partial solar eclipse from Central Europe was visible in June last year, the next one will be visible here on March 29, 2025, according to the Association of Star Friends.
According to a survey by the Yougov Institute, 63 percent of those surveyed said they would observe the phenomenon if the weather cooperated. 30 percent were not interested and seven percent gave no answer.
A solar eclipse is a rare event because several factors must come together for it to happen. According to the star friends, it can only occur at new moon and when the moon is exactly between the earth and the sun. Due to the inclination of the moon’s orbit, it usually passes above or below the sun. There are a maximum of two to four solar eclipses a year somewhere on earth.
Message from the star friends with times for many cities BfS for protection in the event of a solar eclipse
