Austria to see strongest partial solar eclipse since 1999

Austria will see its strongest partial solar eclipse since 1999 on Wednesday evening, ORF reports. For almost an hour, the Moon will pass partly between the Sun and Earth, covering between 85 and 90 percent of the Sun depending on the region.

The eclipse will begin at around 7.30pm, with almost 90 percent of the Sun obscured at its peak. Because the Sun will set shortly afterwards, Bernd Warmuth of the Klagenfurt observatory advised observers to choose hills, mountains, lakes or other open areas with a clear view of the horizon.

Observation will be more difficult in the Lavant Valley than in the upper Drau Valley, Warmuth said, while conditions towards Heiligenblut will be ideal. The Klagenfurt observatory will open to visitors at 6pm, although only a few places remain. The St Kanzian observatory has more capacity, with its event taking place in the forecourt of the church in Stein im Jauntal.

Observers must wear certified eclipse glasses with a special retinal protection filter. Ordinary sunglasses are not sufficient, and looking briefly at the Sun, including during the eclipse, can cause irreversible eye damage.

Perseid meteor shower adds second spectacle

The annual Perseid meteor shower will also be visible around the time of the eclipse. The meteors come from particles left behind by comet 109P Swift-Tuttle as it travels through the Solar System. Once a year, Earth crosses the comet’s path, temporarily producing a marked increase in visible streaks of light in the sky.