Watch the slideshow of the partial eclipse here:
What is a (partial) solar eclipse?
During a solar eclipse, the Earth, Moon, and Sun are aligned, so that no sunlight reaches the Earth. During a total solar eclipse, the sun appears at its zenith as a ring around the moon. This was the case today in the Far North: in Canada, Greenland and Russia.
A partial solar eclipse can be seen from Europe. Then the moon moves in front of the sun, making it look like someone has taken a bite out of the sun. From Brussels, about 26 percent of the solar diameter is covered.
How did the solar eclipse go?
At 11:17 a.m. Belgian time, the moon and the sun made contact for the first time. The sun at that time was at an altitude of 50 degrees in the east and southeast. As the sun moves higher in the sky towards the southeast, the eclipse also gradually increases.
The maximum eclipse was visible at 12.19 pm. At that time, the sun was already at an altitude of 58 degrees.
Then the moon gradually disappeared from the sun. At 1:25 p.m., the moon made its last contact with the sun and the eclipse ended.
The weather conditions were favorable, so that a partial solar eclipse could be seen throughout our country.
Did you miss the solar eclipse?
Partial solar eclipses are more common in our country. Those who missed out on the spectacle this time around will actually get another chance next year.
Five more solar eclipses are planned over the next six years. “In 2026 and 2027, we will witness a solar eclipse of up to 80 percent of Belgium,” says Mark van Dorm of the General Observatory of MIRA.
It is rare for a total solar eclipse to occur in Belgium. You have to wait until June 2150. If you still want to see a complete solar eclipse, you can go to Spain in 2026 and in 2027 to the Maghreb, the northwestern part of Africa.
How do you look safe?
If you want to observe a solar eclipse, you should protect your eyes with a sun filter. a Eclipsepril It is a simple and safe method.
Note: a Sunglasses are not enough To watch the solar eclipse. For those who don’t have eclipse glasses at home, the MIRA Public Observatory has a tip: Drop the eclipse through a kitchen colander onto a sheet of paper. This video shows you how to do it: