KosmosOn 12 August 2026, Europe will experience its first total solar eclipse since 1999, and Germany will come close: early in the evening, the Sun will be covered by 84 to more than 90 percent in our skies, low in the western sky shortly before sunset. It’s a sight like this that comes around only once every few decades. Here you’ll find all the times for Germany, the locations where totality will occur, essential safety tips, and a thoughtful astrological perspective on this special New Moon.
What happens during the solar eclipse on 12 August 2026?
From an astronomical perspective, a solar eclipse is a New Moon in perfect alignment: the Moon moves directly between the Sun and Earth, casting its shadow on our planet. In the narrow path of totality, it gets dark for a few minutes. There, the eclipse is total. Around it, across a much wider band, the Moon covers only part of the Sun. This is the partial eclipse we’ll see in Germany.
On 12 August 2026, the path of totality will stretch from the Arctic across Greenland and Iceland to the northern half of Spain. The greatest eclipse will occur over the Atlantic, west of Iceland. There, the total phase will last 2 minutes and 18 seconds. Iceland and northern Spain are therefore the main destinations for this eclipse. It will be the first total eclipse over mainland Europe since 29 March 2006, and the first near Central Europe since the famous 11 August 1999.
When can you see the 2026 solar eclipse in Germany?
The partial eclipse will take place in Germany in the early evening: depending on your location, between about 7:15 and 9:00 p.m. (CEST). The Sun will already be low in the west, and in many places it will set while still partially eclipsed. This makes the view especially atmospheric, but you’ll need an unobstructed view of the western horizon.
| City | Start | Maximum | End | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamburg | 7:13 p.m. | 8:07 p.m. | 8:59 p.m. | about 85% |
| Berlin | 7:15 p.m. | 8:08 p.m. | 8:58 p.m. | about 85% |
| Dortmund | 7:17 p.m. | 8:11 p.m. | 9:03 p.m. | about 90% |
| Cologne | 7:18 p.m. | 8:12 p.m. | 9:04 p.m. | about 90% |
| Munich | 7:23 p.m. | 8:15 p.m. | 9:06 p.m. | about 89% |
| Freiburg | 7:22 p.m. | 8:15 p.m. | 9:09 p.m. | about 90% |
As a rule, the farther south and west you are, the more of the Sun will be covered. In southwestern Germany, coverage will be around 90 percent, while along the Baltic coast it will be about 84 percent. It’s best to find a spot with a clear view to the west ahead of time, such as a hill, a field, or the shore of a lake or river.
Why is eclipse glasses a must?
Even when 90 percent of the Sun is covered, you should never look at it with the naked eye. The remaining crescent is bright enough to cause permanent retinal damage, without any pain to warn you. Use only certified solar eclipse glasses (DIN EN ISO 12312-2 standard). Sunglasses, smoked glass, CDs, and emergency blankets offer no protection. You should also never look through a camera, binoculars, or a telescope unless it has a special solar filter over the lens. A lovely, completely safe alternative is a pinhole camera: a small hole in a piece of cardboard projects the Sun’s crescent onto a white surface. And get your glasses early, they regularly sell out before eclipses.
The astrological perspective: an intensified New Moon in Leo
Astrologically, a solar eclipse is a New Moon with an exclamation point. On 12 August 2026, the Sun and Moon will meet at around 20 degrees in Leo, the sign of heart, self-expression, creativity, and visibility. In astrological tradition, New Moons are seen as moments of new beginnings. According to the traditional interpretation, an eclipse gives this impulse extra weight: something that has been in the shadows may become visible.
We want to be honest about what this means: an eclipse doesn’t announce anything or determine anything about you. Like all astrology at KosmosGenie, it’s a mirror for self-reflection, not a prediction. Leo themes simply invite you to ask yourself a few questions: Where am I showing up right now, and where am I hiding? What would I like to give more space and light in my life? What would be a brave, heartfelt next step?
Whether this New Moon touches a sensitive point in your own birth chart (such as planets around 20 degrees of Leo, Aquarius, Taurus, or Scorpio) can only be determined through an individual calculation. Learn more about Leo on our Leo zodiac sign page.
Eclipses come in pairs: the lunar eclipse on 28 August
Solar and lunar eclipses occur in seasons, usually about two weeks apart. That means the eclipse on 12 August will be followed by a second event: in the early morning of 28 August 2026, a nearly total lunar eclipse will follow, with the Full Moon passing through about 96 percent of Earth’s shadow. Find all the dates for the year in the Moon Calendar 2026.
When is the next solar eclipse?
If you miss the eclipse on 12 August 2026 or want to see more, you won’t have to wait long: the next total solar eclipse will take place on 2 August 2027. Its path will cross southern Spain and northern Africa, and with more than six minutes of totality, it will be one of the longest of the century. It will once again be visible as a partial eclipse in Germany. Find the details in the Moon Calendar 2027. After that, an annular eclipse will pass over Spain on 26 January 2028.
Your sky, your year
An event like this eclipse reminds us that the sky is always in motion, and every year has its own rhythm. Your personal Yearly Horoscope shows you which movements will shape your year and what themes they may bring to the fore in your personal birth chart. It’s calculated individually from your birth details, mapped month by month, and interpreted with warmth, as an invitation to reflect, not as fate.
All times are in CEST. Times and coverage may vary by a few minutes or percentage points depending on your location.
KosmosGenie treats astrology, numerology, and tarot as tools for self-reflection and entertainment: as a mirror, not a prediction. None of this replaces medical, legal, or financial advice.