When was the last time you looked at the sky not through a bus window? This August there are three strong reasons to change that: Slovakia (Slovakia) will experience a partial solar eclipse, the peak of the Perseids meteor shower under almost perfect conditions, and a partial lunar eclipse. Below — when to watch, where to go, and how to protect your eyes.
Solar eclipse on August 12: the most striking in 27 years
On Wednesday, August 12, the Moon will cover a significant part of the solar disk — and this will be the most noticeable solar eclipse visible from Slovakia (Slovakia) since 1999. According to Správy STVR, in the west of the country, especially in Bratislava, the Moon will "bite off" up to 85% of the Sun, and in the east, in the Humenné area, about 57%.
The eclipse will begin around 7:20 PM and last until 8:10 PM. There is a nuance: the maximum phase will occur after sunset, so you will have to look at a very low sun above the horizon. From this, two practical conclusions:
- Look for a place with an open western horizon — without hills, forests, or tall buildings to the west.
- Conditions are better in the west of the country: the Sun sets later there, and the covered part of the disk is larger. Astronomer Pavol Rapavý calls Devínska Kobyla and hrad Devín near Bratislava some of the best locations.
If you miss it — the next time such a striking eclipse will be visible in Slovakia (Slovakia) will be only in 2075. And the last total solar eclipse on the territory of modern Slovakia (Slovakia) was seen on July 8, 1842, and the next will happen only on October 7, 2135.
How to look at the Sun and not damage your eyesight
This is a case where saving money can cost your health. Looking at the eclipse with the naked eye or with regular sunglasses is dangerous — they do not protect the retina. These options work:
- special certified glasses for solar observation;
- solar filters for binoculars or telescopes;
- welding glass with a shade level of 13–14 — an affordable alternative from a hardware store.
Perseids: up to 100 "shooting stars" per hour
Immediately after the eclipse, on the night of August 12 to 13, the peak of the most famous meteor shower of the year — the Perseids — will occur. Conditions in 2026 are almost perfect: the peak coincides with the new moon, so moonlight will not interfere. Under favorable conditions, the intensity reaches about 100 meteors per hour, although realistically one person will see fewer. The best time is between midnight and 4:00 AM.
"Shooting stars" are actually tiny dust particles left by comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. Earth passes through this dust trail every year, and the particles burn up in the atmosphere at an altitude of 80–120 km, entering it at a speed of 59 km/s. The stream is active from July 17 to August 24, but Earth crosses its densest part around August 12.
Classic advice: go away from city lights, give your eyes 20–30 minutes to adjust to the dark, and look up, preferably lying down. If you want company and telescopes — the Krajová observatory in Michalovce organizes Perseids observation on August 14 at 10:00 PM: entrance is 5 euros for adults and 3 euros for children, prior registration is required. Find more interesting events for August in our event poster.
Lunar eclipse on August 28: for those who don’t sleep
The celestial program of August will end with a partial lunar eclipse on Thursday, August 28. Its penumbral phase will begin around 3:30 AM — the left edge of the Moon will gradually darken, as if smoky. At 4:34 AM, the Moon will touch the Earth's full shadow, and its eclipsed part will take on a reddish tint — this is how light refraction in the Earth's atmosphere works.
From Slovakia (Slovakia), only the initial stage will be visible: the Moon will set below the horizon before the maximum phase. So if you want to see it — set your alarm for 4 AM and find a place with an open southwest horizon.
Summary
On the evening of August 12 — solar eclipse (eye protection is mandatory), on the night of the 13th — Perseids meteor shower without moonlight, early morning of August 28 — partial lunar eclipse. Such a coincidence of events in one month is rare, and the next similar solar eclipse will wait only for your grandchildren. Check the cloudiness forecast, plan your trip out of town in advance — and have clear skies.
