For those curious about this natural spectacle, tonight is the perfect moment to put on eclipse glasses and admire the sudden twilight. The next eclipse of a similar magnitude in our country will not occur until 2081.
The eclipse begins at 19h18 (Belgian time), when the moon first covers the sun. The coverage will then gradually increase as the sun sets. At 20h13, the eclipse reaches its maximum; from Brussels, about 90 per cent of the sun will be obscured. The spectacle ends at 21h05. Interested observers are advised to find a location with a clear view of the western horizon in advance. Online maps such as sunsetatlas.ch can be a helpful tool.
Experts warn that you must wear eclipse glasses to view the eclipse safely. Looking at the eclipse without proper protection can cause permanent eye damage. Ordinary sunglasses or homemade devices are also dangerous for the eyes.
The zone of the total solar eclipse begins north of Russia and then moves via Greenland and Iceland towards Western Europe. It is the first time since 11 August 1999 that the moon’s umbra has touched the European mainland. The shadow band crosses northern Spain, clips the northeast of Portugal, and ends at sunset over the Balearic Islands. Many Belgian ‘eclipse chasers’ travelled to these areas to witness the total eclipse best.
The initial translation of this content was generated by AI. All facts, context, and language have subsequently been verified and validated by a human editorial team.
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