Warsaw to Witness Deep Partial Solar Eclipse Covering Over 81 Percent on August 12

On August 12, 2026, residents of Warsaw will observe a deep partial solar eclipse where the Moon will obscure over 81 percent of the Sun’s disk just minutes before sunset.

Deep Partial Eclipse Over Warsaw

On Wednesday, August 12, 2026, residents of Warsaw will be able to observe a deep partial solar eclipse. At its peak, the Moon will obscure more than 81 percent of the solar disk’s surface in the capital. The maximum of the phenomenon will occur just a few minutes before sunset, making it crucial to find a place with a completely unobstructed western horizon.

On that day, a total solar eclipse will occur, but the path of totality will not pass through Poland. The Moon’s shadow will pass through northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, the Atlantic Ocean, Spain, and a small fragment of Portugal, among others. In a large part of Europe, including Poland, a partial phase will be visible.

In the path of total eclipse, the Moon will briefly cover the solar disk completely. In most places, the totality phase will last less than two minutes, while in regions closest to the center of the eclipse path, the duration of totality will exceed two minutes and remain shorter than two and a half minutes.

Eclipse Timeline and Sunset in Warsaw

In Warsaw, the first contact of the lunar and solar disks will occur around 19:14. From that moment, the Moon will gradually cover an increasingly larger part of the Sun.

The maximum of the eclipse in the capital will occur around 20:02. At this moment, approximately 81.7 percent of the solar disk’s surface will be obscured. A problem for observers will be the very late hour of the phenomenon. The Sun will set in Warsaw around 20:06, which is just a few minutes after the maximum. This means that residents of the capital will not see the entire further phase of the eclipse – the Sun will disappear below the horizon while still remaining partially covered by the Moon. The phenomenon can be observed from Warsaw for about 52 minutes.

The unusual time will make the eclipse visible very low above the western horizon. Buildings, trees, and other terrain obstacles may completely prevent observation of the most interesting phase.

The best conditions will therefore be in places with a wide and unobstructed view in the western direction. In Warsaw, the uncovering of the horizon will be of particular importance – the maximum will occur practically at the moment of sunset.

Two days before the event, the forecast for Warsaw indicates a sunny and clear evening on August 12. Around 19:00 and 20:00, slight cloud cover or its absence is forecasted, which increases the chances of observation. However, the forecast may still change before Wednesday evening.

Visibility Across Poland and Weather Conditions

The eclipse can also be observed from other parts of the country, although its course will vary depending on the location. In Gdańsk, the maximum obscuration of the solar disk will be about 82.5 percent, in Łódź about 83.8 percent, in Poznań about 83.9 percent, in Wrocław about 84.8 percent, and in Kraków about 64.3 percent.

The differences will be related to both the location of individual cities relative to the path of the total eclipse and the moment of sunset. In parts of Poland, natural sunset will end the possibility of observation before the astronomical partial phase actually comes to an end.

Two days before the event, the forecast for Warsaw indicates a sunny and clear evening on August 12. Around 19 and 20, slight cloud cover or no clouds is forecasted, increasing the chances for observation. The forecast may still change before Wednesday evening.

Eye Safety Precautions

During a partial eclipse, you must not look directly at the Sun without proper eye protection. Ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, do not provide adequate protection. For direct observation, glasses or solar filters meeting appropriate standards must be used.

Cameras, binoculars, and telescopes require special caution. Looking through such devices without a special solar filter placed in front of the optical system can lead to serious eye damage. Eclipse observation glasses do not replace a filter intended for a telescope, binoculars, or camera lens.

In Poland, only the partial phase will be visible the entire time, so there will be no moment when direct observation of the Sun without appropriate eye protection becomes safe.