2026 archive

The 12 August 2026 eclipse has passed

The information below describes the 2026 event. For the next total solar eclipse, use our guide to 2 August 2027: the path and timings are different.

Düsseldorf, Germany

Photo: Dirk Eubel from Berlin / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

Partielle Sonnenfinsternis · 12 August 2026

Where to watch the 2026 solar eclipse in Düsseldorf

Düsseldorf sees a partial eclipse on 12 August 2026 — about 88.1% of the Sun covered at around 20:12 CEST, with the Sun only ~6° above the horizon.

Partielle Finsternis Get certified eclipse glasses
Maximum~20:12 CESTNorth Rhine-Westphalia · Germany · 12 Aug 2026
Dauer~1h 45m of partial eclipseThis is the full partial eclipse from first to last contact. There is no totality here — the Sun is never completely covered, so there is no corona and no moment when it is safe to look without protection.
Sonnenhöhe~6° above the WNW horizonlow in the west — an open horizon is essential
Bedeckungsgrad88.1% (partial)Düsseldorf is OUTSIDE the path of totality. About 88.1% of the Sun is covered at maximum — a substantial partial eclipse, but not a total one. The corona never appears and the sky does not go dark.
Heiterkeitschance Changeable · ≈52%Northern Germany in August is genuinely changeable — sun and showers in the same evening are normal.
Countdown bis zum Maximum
—Tage —Std. —Min. —Sek.

Düsseldorf sees a partial eclipse on 12 August 2026 — about 88.1% of the Sun covered at around 20:12 CEST, with the Sun only ~6° above the horizon.

Below: Düsseldorf's exact timings, the best open viewpoints, why your eclipse glasses never come off here, and where the real totality is.

Die Zeitleiste

Wann die Finsternis stattfindet

~19:18 CESTPartielle Phase beginnt — erster "Biss" aus der Sonne
~20:12 CESTPartiell — ~1h 45m of partial eclipse. Brille nur bei totaler Finsternis ablegen.
~21:00 CESTEclipse ends ~21:03 CEST

The eclipse runs from about 19:18 to 21:03 CEST, with maximum at around 20:12 and the Sun ~6° above the west-northwest horizon. The Sun sets at 21:00 CEST, during the eclipse, so the later stages happen below the horizon — an open west-northwest view is essential.

Wo man sich aufstellen sollte

Die besten Beobachtungsplätze

Rheinturm and the Rhine promenade

Tower · riverside

Height plus an open river corridor

The tower and the promenade below give both elevation and a wide, low sightline along the Rhine.

Oberkassel Rhine meadows

Riverside · open ground

Best low horizon

The open meadows on the western bank look back across the river with nothing in the way.

Nordpark

Park · open ground

Space and clear sky

Large open parkland with unobstructed sightlines north of the centre.

Grafenberg heights

Elevated · east of city

Height above the plain

The wooded ridge east of Düsseldorf gives a longer view west over the city.

South for deeper coverage

More of the Sun covered

Toward Freiburg

Coverage increases steadily toward Germany's south-west.

Local astronomy societies and science centres often organise safe public viewing with filtered telescopes — worth checking closer to the date.

Plan your trip

Where to stay near the eclipse

Accommodation around the viewing area for eclipse night (11–13 Aug 2026). Compare hotels and rentals live on the map below.

Die Wetterprognose

Wird der Himmel klar sein?

Northern Germany in August is genuinely changeable — sun and showers in the same evening are normal.

The deciding factor here is simply whether the sky is clear at the right moment. Check the forecast in the final 48 hours and, if you can, keep the option of moving to a gap in the cloud.

Den Tag planen

Ihre Checkliste für den Finsternistag

  • Certified ISO 12312-2 / CE eclipse glasses — one pair per person
  • Glasses stay ON for the entire eclipse — there is no safe moment here
  • An open west-northwest horizon — the Sun is only ~6° up
  • Arrive before 19:18 to catch first contact
  • Check the cloud forecast in the final 48 hours
  • Never look through a camera, phone or binoculars without a proper solar filter
  • Pinhole projection is a safe way for groups to watch together
  • If you want totality, it is northern Spain — not here

Sicher beobachten

Wie auch immer Sie beobachten — tun Sie es sicher

Alle Absolute-Eclipse-Produkte sind unabhängig zertifiziert und in der EU hergestellt. Hier gibt es keinen sicheren Moment ohne Augenschutz — zertifizierte Sehhilfen die ganze Zeit tragen.

  • ISO 12312-2 zertifiziert
  • CE · EU 2016/425 PSA
  • Hergestellt und versandt in der EU

Beobachten Sie in einer Gruppe? Familien- & Einzelhandelspacks → Zertifizierter Lagerbestand wird knapper, je näher der 12. August rückt.

Schnelle Antworten

Düsseldorf Sonnenfinsternis FAQ

Will Düsseldorf see a total solar eclipse on 12 August 2026?
No. Düsseldorf is outside the path of totality and sees a partial eclipse, with about 88.1% of the Sun covered at maximum. It is a striking sight through eclipse glasses, but the corona does not appear and the sky does not go dark. The path of totality crosses northern Spain.
What time is the eclipse in Düsseldorf?
The partial phase begins at about 19:18 CEST and maximum — 88.1% coverage — comes at roughly 20:12 CEST. The Sun sets at 21:00 CEST, during the eclipse, so the later stages happen below the horizon — an open west-northwest view is essential.
Do I need eclipse glasses in Düsseldorf?
Yes, for the entire eclipse without exception. Because the Sun is never fully covered, there is never a safe moment to look with the naked eye. Even at 88.1% coverage the remaining sliver is dangerously bright. Certified ISO 12312-2 / CE glasses stay on from start to finish.
Where should I watch from in Düsseldorf?
The Sun is only about 6° above the horizon, so you need an open, unobstructed view to the west-northwest. Buildings, hills and trees in that direction will hide the deepest phase.
Will the weather be clear in Düsseldorf on eclipse day?
Northern Germany in August is genuinely changeable — sun and showers in the same evening are normal.

Den Pfad weiter erkunden

Nahegelegene Regionen zur Beobachtung

Quellen: timeanddate.com · nationaleclipse.com · eclipsophile.com (Wetter) · Gobierno de Aragón · BBC Sky at Night. Zeiten sind lokal (MESZ).