Today, it may be particularly worthwhile to head for an anchorage early and stay up late. First, there’s a solar eclipse to watch, followed by a particularly large number of shooting stars. On the German coast, the partial solar eclipse begins shortly after 7.10 pm. It will reach its peak there shortly after 8 pm, after which the eclipsed sun will set in the west. The peak of the Perseids will follow during the night.
The Regional times and degrees of totality for the 2026 solar eclipse help you choose a vantage point. Above all, it is important to have an unobstructed view towards the west or west-north-west. A wooded bank, a harbour jetty or a headland can obscure the low-lying sun early on.
This is how the night unfolds
On the North Sea and Baltic Sea coasts, the Moon will cover around 84 to 85 per cent of the Sun’s disc at the peak of the eclipse. Further west in Germany, this figure reaches up to around 90 per cent. The remaining crescent of the Sun is nevertheless so bright that it should only be viewed directly with suitable protection. There will be no totality in Germany and therefore no point at which the glasses may be removed during the eclipse.
After sunset, the second part of the night begins. Although the Perseids are already active in the evening, the best chances are after midnight and in the early hours of the morning. The International Meteor Organisation expects the main peak to occur on 13 August between 2 and 4 am UTC, which corresponds to 4 to 6 am CEST. The broad peak may extend over a longer period. As it is a new moon, there will be no interference from moonlight.
The often-cited figure of 100 meteors per hour is a theoretical rate based on an ideally dark sky, a high-in-the-sky radiant and an unobstructed view in all directions. On board, the actual number visible will usually be significantly lower. Bright Perseids can nevertheless leave long trails of light and appear anywhere in the sky.
Is the red sun really dangerous just before sunset?
A solar eclipse does not make the Sun any more dangerous from a physical point of view. At the same height above the horizon and with the atmosphere remaining unchanged, the partially obscured Sun actually emits less radiation that reaches the eye than the full solar disc.
The crucial point is another: the visible crescent still consists of the sun’s surface, which remains just as bright as ever. It can damage the retina if one looks at it for long enough. A solar eclipse tempts one to deliberately look for the sun and watch it change over the course of several minutes. A normal sunset, on the other hand, is usually viewed only with brief, intermittent glances.
Even an hour before sunset, staring directly at the red sun can already be harmful. The fact that it feels pleasant and does not cause pain is not a reliable indicator. The retina does not signal such overexposure with an immediate pain response. Symptoms may not appear until hours later. These include blurred or distorted vision, altered colour perception and dark spots in the centre of the field of vision. Some damage may reverse, but central vision loss may also be permanent.
Near the horizon, sunlight travels a particularly long way through the atmosphere. Blue light in particular is scattered during this journey, causing the sun to appear orange or red and to grow fainter. The extent of this effect depends on haze, humidity, dust, cloud cover and the sun’s actual altitude.
A technical report For safety during solar eclipses, the guidelines specify a calculated maximum exposure time of just 2.5 seconds when the atmosphere is very clear and the Sun is at an altitude of ten degrees. Only when the solar disc is directly on the horizon can the atmospheric attenuation be sufficiently great to allow it to be viewed without a filter. However, when observing, this limit cannot be reliably identified either by the colour or by one’s personal perception of brightness.
For today, this means that at the peak of the eclipse, the Sun will not yet be directly on the horizon in Germany. Anyone wishing to clearly make out the shape of the crescent will therefore still need a suitable filter. The safest advice is not to remove your certified solar eclipse glasses until the crescent has completely set.
Why only certified solar eclipse glasses offer protection
Suitable solar eclipse glasses comply with the ISO 12312-2 standard. This standard does not merely check whether the filter is dark enough. The standard sets limit values for visible, ultraviolet and infrared light. It also covers uniform filtering performance, material quality, the frame and labelling. Ordinary sunglasses allow a hundred to a thousand times more light through than is permissible for looking directly at the sun.
Contrary to what is often claimed, soot-coated glass is not a viable alternative. The soot layer can be uneven, and its transmittance has not been tested for either visible light or other wavelengths. The fact that the sun appears dark when viewed through it says nothing about whether the filter provides adequate protection for the eye.
The same applies to emergency blankets, exposed film, CDs, DVDs, packaging film and any metallised plastic film. Their coating may have microscopic imperfections or allow certain wavelengths to pass through more readily than others. Even sunglasses worn one on top of the other do not, as a result, act as a sun filter.
An important distinction applies to specially manufactured solar filter film. If it is expressly intended for direct observation of the Sun, is undamaged and has been proven to be suitable, it can be used safely. The general term ‘film’ is therefore misleading. Improvised materials, the filtering effect of which is unknown, are dangerous.
Observation by projection
Where the clouds part tonight to reveal the view
The weather outlook for tonight varies from region to region. Along the German North Sea coast, patches of cloud may cause some disruption. Sylt is already reporting a mix of sun and clouds, whilst increasing cloud cover is expected in Cuxhaven as the day progresses. As Thursday is set to start sunny there, the clouds may clear later on.
The outlook is better on the Baltic Sea. A mostly pleasant day is forecast for Kiel, whilst Rostock is expecting sunny or only partly cloudy conditions. Longer stretches of clear skies are likely, particularly along the Mecklenburg coast and in the Bodden waters. However, local clouds or haze over the water remain a factor of uncertainty.
Conditions look very favourable inland. From Lake Müritz and the Berlin waterways to Lake Constance and Lake Chiemsee, the forecasts point to sunny weather and a largely dry night. In sheltered bays and low-lying areas, localised mist may form towards morning.
In Scandinavia, there is a west-east contrast. Thin, high clouds may drift across the Copenhagen area. Gothenburg will remain changeable, whilst clearer spells are expected on the Swedish east coast around Stockholm. Oslo is likely to be cloudy, with rain or drizzle also expected on the Norwegian west coast around Bergen.
Just before you set off, it’s worth taking another look at the satellite image and the local hourly forecast. The Marine weather forecasts from the German Weather Service provide specific information on the North Sea, the Baltic Sea and selected coastal resorts.
After the darkness, the eyes need time
As soon as the sun has set, the wait for the sky to become completely dark begins. It takes the eyes about 20 to 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness. Every time you look at a bright smartphone screen, this period is extended once again.
The radiant of the Perseids lies in the constellation Perseus and rises higher in the north-east as the night progresses. There is no need to look directly at it. Longer meteor trails are often visible further away from the radiant. The most important thing is to be able to see as much of the sky as possible.
Shaded anchorages, suitable harbours and other practical tips for sightings can be found in the A comprehensive guide to the Perseids for sailors ...as described. The first meteors may appear as soon as it gets dark. Patience pays off, particularly after midnight and until the break of dawn.
Book recommendations
Astronomical navigation leads from stargazing to practical navigation. Bobby Schenk explains how to determine one’s own position using a sextant, celestial data and the exact time. The book is also aimed at beginners with no prior knowledge of mathematics or astronomy and includes exercises for working out calculations yourself. The sun and stars are thus transformed from mere objects of observation back into classic navigational aids.
Weather at sea This ties in with the second practical factor for tonight: cloud cover. The book explains high and low pressure systems, local weather events, sea states, currents and meteorological trip planning. Numerous diagrams help readers to interpret forecasts and weather conditions. The focus is not on astronomy, but on how sailors can use weather information to make safe decisions on board.
Tie up the ropes and stay awake until morning: is this night worth the loss of sleep? Have your say in the comments.
Lars Bolle
Chief Editor Digital