The sun will briefly disappear over much of Belgium on Wednesday as a partial solar eclipse occurs. About 90% of the sun will be covered by the moon, making it the largest eclipse in Belgium since 1999. A total eclipse will take place in northern Spain and the Balearic Islands
Where and when can I see it?
The partial solar eclipse will be visible throughout Belgium, provided the clouds don’t block the view. At 19.18, the moon will begin to pass in front of the sun. At its peak, at 20.13, around 90% of the sun will be covered. After that, the moon will gradually move away and the eclipse will be over by 21.05, at roughly the same time as sunset.
As it takes place in the evening, you’ll need an unobstructed view of the horizon, from the west to the north-west. At the moment of maximum eclipse, at 20.13, the sun will be just 8 degrees above the horizon. The coast offers an ideal view of the setting sun.
Even sunglasses aren’t strong enough ... they still let harmful radiation through, which can cause small burns to the retina
How can I view it safely?
To look at the sun, you always need special eclipse glasses. “Never look directly at the sun, not even at a setting sun that appears less bright. You could suffer permanent eye damage,” says ophthalmologist Liselotte Aerts.
“Even sunglasses aren’t strong enough. They do block direct sunlight, but they still let harmful radiation through, which can cause small burns to the retina.”
The same applies to other tricks, such as looking through a CD or DVD. These block visible sunlight but still allow harmful radiation to pass through. Welding goggles with a sufficiently high density rating of 14 or higher are suitable for viewing the eclipse. The MAS museum shop in Antwerp is selling eclipse glasses, and public observatories are organising viewings.
In the north and north-east of Spain, Iceland and Greenland, you will be able to see a total solar eclipse. The Spanish islands of Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza also lie along its path, but the sun will be very low on the horizon and the end of the eclipse will not be visible there.
Dieter Verstrynghe, 42, from East Flanders, is on a 1,500km cycle ride to Burgos in Spain to see the total eclipse. The nature lover vividly remembers the eclipse in 1999, which sparked his interest. “I’ve always been fascinated by natural phenomena, including solar eclipses,” he says. “So coming here has been on my wish list for a very long time.”
Check the websites timeanddate.com and sunsetatlas.ch to see where and when you can view the eclipse.