Warning: 90 percent eclipse tonight — never look without glasses
Belgium sees its deepest solar eclipse since 11 August 1999 this evening. At the maximum, just over 90 percent of the sun's diameter disappears behind the moon, which works out at about 89 percent of the visible disc.
The times barely differ across the country. In Brussels the eclipse starts at 19:18, peaks at 20:13 with 89.5 percent covered, and ends at 21:05. Bruges begins at 19:18 and reaches 89.8 percent, the deepest figure in the country. Antwerp begins at 19:18 and peaks at 20:13. Liège starts at 19:19, and Bastogne at 19:20. Belgium lies outside the band of total eclipse, which crosses Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain, so a narrow and very bright rim of sun stays visible throughout.
That rim is why there is no safe moment to look without protection. Use only an undamaged pair of eclipse glasses meeting the ISO 12312-2 standard, and check the filter for scratches, tears or holes first. Ordinary sunglasses do not work, and stacking several pairs does not help. Neither does a CD, photographic film, dark foil, sooted glass or a welding helmet of unknown grade — they cut visible light while letting ultraviolet and infrared through. Never look through binoculars, a telescope or a telephoto lens while wearing eclipse glasses; the optics concentrate the light and can destroy the filter instantly. Children can watch, but only supervised, and they should turn away from the sun before taking the glasses off.
No glasses? A colander works well. Stand with your back to the sun and let the light fall through the holes onto a pale surface — each hole projects a small crescent. The gaps between leaves do the same. Only look at the projection, never through the holes.
The sun sits about 16 degrees up at first contact and only 7 to 8 degrees at maximum, lower than your fist held at arm's length, so a single row of trees or a shed to the west will hide it. Get somewhere genuinely open by around 19:00. Volkssterrenwacht Urania runs a free viewing evening in Hove from 19:00 to 22:00, and there are free telescopes with solar filters on the MAS rooftop terrace in Antwerp from 19:00 to 21:15. The Perseids peak the same night, with no moonlight to wash them out.