12 August 2026 Partial solar eclipse over Switzerland
near-totality around 20:18 91% of the sun covered
On 12 August 2026, an eclipse covered more than 90% of the sun over Switzerland. A rare event, and it will not happen again before 2075. Here you will find the times, and the conditions in which this extraordinary celestial spectacle took place.
Times in Switzerland
- Eclipse begins 19:25:22 Sun 12° high
- Maximum 20:18:54 91.3% · Sun 3.7° high
- Sunset 20:46:09 Coverage at sunset: 36%
- Eclipse ends 21:09:40 after sunset
Swiss local time (CEST, UTC+2), computed for Bern. Elsewhere in Switzerland the times shifted by two to three minutes.
Where was the eclipse visible?
The eclipse of 12 August 2026 was unusual in that it happened shortly before sunset, which made for a spectacle of colour.
But because the sun sat very low on the horizon, where you stood made all the difference, as Switzerland is a mountainous country.
The map we prepared for it stays online: it shows which parts of the country the eclipse was visible from.
Protecting your eyes
If you want to watch an eclipse, you must protect your eyes. Even with more than 90% of it covered, the sun stays bright enough to burn your retina in seconds, with no pain at all to warn you.
Ordinary sunglasses and smoked glass are not enough to protect you.
Only glasses certified to ISO 12312-2 make it safe to look at the sun — during an eclipse or on any other day.
Protecting your camera
To photograph an eclipse you need a filter as well. The camera in your phone is not built to stare straight at the sun, and you risk damaging it.
Be careful, these camera filters are not made for your eyes!
Where was the sun?
The sun was over west-north-west, about 288° on a compass.
At maximum it stood only 3.7° above the horizon — 7 times its own diameter, or two thumb-widths at arm's length.
At that height there are plenty of obstacles: the sun disappeared behind whatever rises more than 6.5 metres for every 100 metres of distance. It took height, or a horizon open to the west — which is exactly what the map shows.