People across Switzerland are in for a treat this Saturday, with the arrival of a partial social eclipse. Here’s when to look up and what you can expect to see.
On March 29, the sun will be partly covered by the moon, resulting in a partial solar eclipse. The eclipse will be visible from Switzerland and the rest of Europe, alongside Greenland, northwestern Africa and Newfoundland.
An eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, casting a shadow over parts of the planet. You have to be in this shadow to see the eclipse, and depending on where you are in this shadow, differing proportions of the sun will appear covered. For example, residents of Greenland see the largest portion of the sun eclipsed by the moon.
In Switzerland, the partial solar eclipse will begin at around 11.20am on March 29. Geneva will be the first place to see the moon pass in front of the sun at 11.14am, followed by Lausanne (11.15am), Bern (11.17am), Basel (11.18am) and Zurich (11.20am). By 11.22am, every Swiss canton will be able to see the phenomenon.
The peak of the eclipse - when the moon covers most of the sun - is expected between 12.02 and 12.07pm. At this time, it will look like a chunk of the upper right corner of the sun has been eaten away. Just as quickly as the stunning sight arrives - only 90 minutes after it first appears - the eclipse will be over.
Be warned, that anyone who wants to see the eclipse should not look directly at the sun with the naked eye or sunglasses, and especially not with a telescope or binoculars. To gaze upon the eclipse safely, observe the sun through solar eclipse glasses or a pinhole camera, which you can make at home.
Let’s hope the weather in Switzerland allows us to see the eclipse in all its glory!