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Partial solar eclipse (2011)
Photo: Friso Gentsch / dpa
A solar eclipse is a rare sight.
In any case, it can only occur at a new moon, when the earth's satellite is exactly between the sun and earth.
But because the lunar orbit is inclined, it usually passes far above or below the sun.
Only when the moon crosses the apparent path of the sun in the sky on these days are the conditions right: two to four times a year a solar eclipse can then be experienced somewhere on earth.
After six years of waiting, you can watch the spectacle from Germany again on Thursday.
The Society of German-speaking Planetariums and the Association of Star Friends have compiled the most important information in advance.
In total, the heavenly performance lasts around two hours - and when it starts depends on the location.
In Aachen the partial solar eclipse begins on Thursday at 11:21 a.m., in Braunschweig at 11:30 a.m. and in Frankfurt / Oder at 11:40 a.m.
One hour after the beginning the maximum occultation occurs, another hour later the eclipse comes to an end.
How much the moon obscures the sun is also determined by where you are tracking the darkness.
In the north, the moon will move around 20 percent and in the south around six percent in front of the sun.
Ring of fire visible on Greenland
The event is even more spectacular further north of the world: in northern Asia, the Arctic and Greenland there is a zone of central eclipse.
There the moon moves centrally in front of the sun.
In June, however, it is too far away from Earth for a total solar eclipse, so a narrow ring of light can be seen around the moon.
That too is a spectacular sight.
It is important: Nobody should observe the partial eclipse without special solar eclipse glasses.
If you don't have a chance to get hold of one, you can also think about building a pinhole camera.
That sounds a lot more complicated than it is (you can find assembly instructions here).
Another option is a live stream, such as that offered by the Society for German-speaking Planetariums.
All other aids, such as pieces of glass blackened with soot, can cause permanent eye damage.
And who will completely miss the solar eclipse on Thursday?
He or she has the next chance on October 25, 2022.
chs / dpa