At a campsite in Arija, Spain, numerous holidaymakers are preparing for the evening solar eclipse. Perfect weather conditions for a solar eclipse almost throughout Germany +++ Protective glasses sold out in many places +++ The sun is obscured by up to 90 percent over Germany +++ all information in the live blog.
Spain before historic solar eclipse – travel wave is rolling
A few hours before the first total solar eclipse over Spain in more than a century, the country is looking forward to the historic natural spectacle. Many people are now drawn to the so-called totality zone, where the moon will completely obscure the sun in the evening. The authorities expected 400,000 to 1.5 million additional car trips on Wednesday alone. Long traffic jams were expected, especially on the access roads to the north and east of the country and to the Balearic Islands. Catalonia and other regions reported slow traffic in the morning. However, no significant traffic disruptions were initially reported.
The General Directorate of Transport (DGT) has activated a special plan with additional controls and information boards. Drivers are not allowed to stop on the road or on the shoulder to watch the spectacle. You must drive with dipped headlights during darkening. The authorities appealed to people to start traveling as early as possible.
High risk of forest fires is a cause for concern
The natural event attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from home and abroad. Hotels along the totality zone have long been fully booked in many places, and private individuals are renting out balconies and roof terraces with a clear view of the western horizon for several hundred euros. Mallorca, which is also in the totality zone, is also very busy. Hotels and restaurants with sunset views are reporting exceptionally high demand and many locations are offering special viewing events.
The government has taken extensive security precautions. Two million certified safety glasses were distributed free of charge. More than 33,000 police and Civil Guard officers are on duty. In addition to the heavy traffic, the authorities are particularly concerned about the high risk of forest fires. Visitors are therefore asked to only use designated observation areas and to exercise extreme caution in forest areas.
When and where can the solar eclipse be seen in Germany?
In Germany, the partial solar eclipse can be observed on Wednesday evening between 7 and 9 p.m., depending on the location and the time of sunset. The peak, i.e. the time of greatest coverage, is reached around 8:15 p.m., with slight variations depending on the location.
The sun is most darkened in southwest Germany. In the area around Freiburg and Lake Constance, around 90 percent of the sun's disk is obscured by the moon. The observation conditions are also favorable in the west, for example in Aachen, because at the time of maximum darkening the sun is still slightly higher above the horizon than further east. In Berlin the sun is at most around 85 percent obscured around 8:10 p.m., in Rostock about three minutes earlier.
Don't get any more safety glasses? Build one yourself!
We F.A.Z. editors have also discovered that getting protective glasses for the solar eclipse in a hurry is almost impossible. It's good that there is an easy-to-make alternative: the pinhole camera.
Everything you need can be found in the nearest supermarket. The shopping list looks like this: chip tin, thin, dark cardboard, thumbtacks, sandwich paper and adhesive tape. We have written down exactly how you should proceed here:
ZDF shows solar eclipse live
For the solar eclipse, ZDF is changing its primetime program: The edition of the junk show “Bares für Rares The station then shows the total solar eclipse over Mallorca live.
Viewers can follow the event a little earlier and in more detail on 3Sat. The special edition “Terra X: Harald Lesch” begins there at 8:15 p.m., also on the YouTube channel “Terra X Lesch & Co”.
The astrophysicist accompanied the eclipse together with Jasmina Neudecker directly from Mallorca. ZDF announced that there would also be “prominent guests”. You can join in a little earlier online: from 8 p.m. on ZDF streaming at sonnenfinsternis.zdf.de.
Sky over Iberian Peninsula also clear
Our correspondent Hans-Christian Rößler reports from Spain, where the moon will completely obscure the sun:
The state weather service predicted "mostly clear" skies for Spain in its latest update on Wednesday. However, some low clouds could hinder the observation of the solar eclipse in the north in coastal areas of Galicia, Asturias and Cantabria. “It is very likely that skies will be mostly clear over much of the Iberian Peninsula, including the zone of totality,” an Aemet spokesman said. The day will be “very hot” and there is a “very high to extreme” risk of wildfires. Isolated strong thunderstorms with hail could occur in the mountain ranges of Albacete, Murcia, Granada and Almería. High clouds could also move through northern Catalonia, the Valencia region and Murcia, which are unlikely to impair visibility too much.
“Optimal weather conditions for observing almost everywhere”
During the solar eclipse and the shooting stars, which are expected to follow a little later, the sky will mostly remain clear in large parts of Germany. When the partial solar eclipse comes over Germany in the evening, “there will be optimal weather conditions for observation almost everywhere at this time,” says meteorologist Markus Böse from the German Weather Service in Offenbach.
Only in the north would there be a few clouds, “although the conditions there for observing the eclipse should be quite good, although not completely undisturbed.”
The last total solar eclipse in Europe took place on August 11, 1999. At lunchtime, people crowded into Munich's Olympic Park, on local mountains and on London's Thames bridges. In France, a safety glasses shortage sparked a minor government crisis. This was reported by the FAZ. in its issue of August 12, 1999. At that time, the solar eclipse was celebrated in many places with champagne and fireworks - even if clouds often blocked the view. Sometimes, like in Munich, there was unfortunately additional rain:
"When it was really pouring and there was nothing but a rainy eclipse, television appeared as a savior in the emergency. Everyone saw a total solar eclipse, even if only on the screen. And as if in mockery, underneath it was written: "Live from Chiemsee."
Solar eclipse glasses are also largely sold out in Frankfurt. Editorial members have so far tried unsuccessfully to get hold of a copy. Opticians use notes in the entrance area, some of which are handwritten, to point out that you can no longer get copies from them:
Kim Maurus
How do you protect your eyes?
Although the sun is partially obscured by the moon, protective glasses with a suitable filter film must be worn when observing. Just a few seconds of looking directly at the sun can cause permanent damage to the retina. Since the retina has no pain receptors, injuries often go unnoticed at first. Caution is therefore advised, especially with children. Observation is only safe with suitable solar eclipse glasses. It should comply with the DIN EN ISO 12312-2:2015 standard, carry a CE mark and have intact filter surfaces without scratches, cracks or holes.
What happens during the solar eclipse?
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon, sun and earth are in line. Viewed from Earth, the moon moves in front of the sun, completely or partially obscuring it. Because the moon is smaller than the Earth, its umbra only falls on a comparatively narrow strip of the Earth's surface. There is a significantly larger penumbra around the umbra. This Tuesday, the moon's umbra moves from Greenland via Iceland to Spain; A total solar eclipse can be observed there. Germany lies in the penumbra. The darkness can therefore only be partially seen here. Solar eclipses happen regularly - but usually exactly where you are not.
Sold out in 30 minutes
Two packages of solar eclipse glasses and more than 100 people: the solar eclipse fever has apparently gripped Berliners in the last few meters. An optician in Berlin Central Station reported on Tuesday that special glasses had sold out within a few minutes. The natural spectacle is expected on Wednesday evening. A partial solar eclipse can be viewed from Germany.
So far there have been no long queues in front of the shop in the main station, said an employee at the optician branch there. But: “Every time there is something that people need, it increases exponentially as the date gets closer.” The store ordered two packages of special glasses and both were completely sold within 30 minutes. In the previous weeks, only a few glasses had changed hands. The optician chain confirmed in response to an epd request that the glasses are now sold out in many of its stores.
Dear readers, large parts of Europe are expecting a celestial spectacle on Wednesday evening. In this blog we will keep you up to date with all developments surrounding the solar eclipse.
Spain experiences a total solar eclipse for the first time since 1912 and looks spellbound at the weather map: Will there be clouds? Our correspondent Hans-Christian Rößler reports from Madrid:
