Nearly 90 percent of the Sun will be covered in Upper Austria eclipse

A partial solar eclipse will be visible over Upper Austria on Wednesday evening, with the Moon passing between the Sun and Earth and covering almost 90 percent of the Sun, ORF reports.

The event is expected to attract observers across the region. Star photographer and Sternwerkstatt founder Dietmar Hager said the eclipse would create a unique display of colours on the western horizon as the Sun gradually sets.

Hager warned that anyone observing the eclipse through a telescope must use a solar filter to avoid eye damage. Ophthalmologists also urged people never to look directly at the Sun without suitable protection. Just a few seconds of unprotected viewing can cause irreversible damage to the retina, Linz ophthalmologist Oliva Murauer said.

Certified eclipse glasses are required for safe observation. They reduce ultraviolet and infrared radiation by a factor of 100,000, compared with the tenfold reduction provided by ordinary sunglasses.

A few hours after the partial eclipse, the Perseid meteor shower is expected to reach its peak, offering another spectacle in the night sky.