The partial solar eclipse on August 12, 2026, will reach its maximum at 7:54 PM, when the Moon will cover nearly half of the Sun's disk. The Zagreb Observatory warns of mandatory eye protection.
Residents of Osijek will have the opportunity to witness an attractive celestial phenomenon on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. The partial solar eclipse will occur just before sunset, and according to astronomical calculations, the Moon will cover 46.5 percent of the Sun's disk at its maximum.
In Osijek, the eclipse will begin around 7:25 PM. It will reach its peak at 7:54 PM, when the local magnitude will be 0.56. The Sun will set on August 12 between 7:53 PM and 8:17 PM, meaning that the final phases of the eclipse will only be visible to those with a completely unobstructed view toward the west.
Although a total solar eclipse occurs globally on that day, its path of totality will pass through Greenland, Iceland, and Spain. Therefore, only the partial phase will be visible in Osijek, without complete darkness. Nevertheless, the covering of nearly half of the Sun's disk will bring a noticeable change in ambient lighting, with daylight slightly dimmer and shadows softer and more unusual.
The Zagreb Observatory has issued a serious warning for all those planning to observe this event.
"It is important to emphasize that one should never look at the Sun with the naked eye, nor through binoculars or a telescope without appropriate protective filters. For safe observation, only certified eclipse glasses or filters designed for solar viewing should be used; otherwise, permanent eye damage can occur," they stated from the Zagreb Observatory.
Extra caution is needed precisely because of the Sun's low position on the horizon, which can create a false impression that it is safer to look at it. The Sun's altitude does not make direct observation safe at any time.
Solar eclipses are not unfamiliar to the city on the Drava River. Over the past decades, a series of partial eclipses have been observable from Osijek: May 31, 2003; October 3, 2005; March 29, 2006; August 1, 2008; January 15, 2010; January 4, 2011; March 20, 2015; June 21, 2020; June 10, 2021; October 25, 2022; and the most recent one on March 29, 2025.
Particularly notable is the eclipse of January 4, 2011, when the Moon covered about 68 percent of the Sun's disk, with the maximum occurring at 9:24 AM while the Sun was only 14 degrees above the horizon. However, the most striking in recent history remains that of August 11, 1999. At its maximum, the Moon hid as much as 98.42 percent of the Sun's disk. The eclipse began around 11:28 AM, peaked around 12:52 PM, and ended around 2:16 PM. Osijek was then just a step away from a complete disappearance of the Sun's disk.
Those who miss this year's eclipse will not have to wait long. The next partial solar eclipse visible from Osijek will occur on August 2, 2027. However, this year's event will remain special due to its unusual timing, taking place just before sunset, offering photographers a unique opportunity to combine the partially obscured Sun with the city's skyline and the Osijek landscape.
