For motorboat owners, making the early transition from cruising to a safe mooring is now part of their planning. Along the German coast, the partial solar eclipse will begin shortly after 7.10 pm and reach its maximum coverage shortly after 8 pm. Afterwards, the still-eclipsed sun will set in the west, before the peak of the Perseids follows later that night.
Whether it’s a harbour, jetty or anchorage: the key factor is an unobstructed view to the west or west-north-west. Wooded banks, harbour jetties or headlands can block out the low-hanging sun prematurely. The BOOTE Overview of the 2026 Solar Eclipse contains the times and coverage levels for key coastal towns and areas.
From sunset to the peak of the Perseids
On the North Sea and Baltic Sea coasts, the maximum coverage will be around 84 to 85 per cent; in western Germany, coverage of up to around 90 per cent is possible. The remaining crescent of the Sun is nevertheless so bright that it must only be viewed directly with suitable protection. As there will be no totality in Germany, solar eclipse glasses will be required throughout the entire visible phase.
After sunset, attention shifts from the western horizon to the night sky. The best chances of seeing the Perseids are after midnight and in the early hours of the morning. The expected peak is on 13 August between 4 and 6 am CEST. As it is a new moon, there will be no moonlight to interfere. Further information on viewing locations and photography on board can be found in the BOOTE guide to the The Perseids 2026 for boaters.
The frequently cited figure of 100 meteors per hour describes a theoretical rate under ideal conditions: a very dark sky, a high radiant and an unobstructed view in all directions. From a boat, the actual number visible will usually be lower. Bright Perseids can nevertheless produce long trails of light and appear in various parts of the sky.
Eye protection on board: Even when the sun is low in the sky, it remains a risk
Partial coverage does not increase the amount of solar radiation. At the same altitude and under identical atmospheric conditions, even less radiation reaches the eye than when the sun is fully visible. However, this does not mean that looking directly at the remaining crescent is safe.
The visible crescent is still made up of the sun’s surface, which remains just as bright as ever, and can damage the retina if looked at for too long. An eclipse, in particular, tempts people to deliberately watch the sun for several minutes. During a normal sunset, on the other hand, people usually just cast brief, intermittent glances at it.
Even an hour before sunset, staring directly at the red sun can already be harmful. The fact that it feels pleasant and does not cause pain is not a reliable indicator. The retina does not signal such overexposure with an immediate pain response. Symptoms may not appear until hours later. These include blurred or distorted vision, altered colour perception and dark spots in the centre of the field of vision. Some damage may reverse, but central vision loss may also be permanent.
Near the horizon, sunlight travels a particularly long way through the atmosphere. Blue light in particular is scattered during this journey, causing the sun to appear orange or red and to grow fainter. The extent of this effect depends on haze, humidity, dust, cloud cover and the sun’s actual altitude.
A technical report For safety during solar eclipses, the guidelines specify a calculated maximum exposure time of just 2.5 seconds, even in very clear atmospheric conditions when the Sun is at an altitude of ten degrees. Only when the solar disc is directly on the horizon can the atmospheric attenuation be sufficiently great to allow it to be viewed without a filter. However, when observing, this limit cannot be reliably identified either by the colour or by one’s personal perception of brightness.
For today, this means that at the peak of the eclipse, the Sun will not yet be directly on the horizon in Germany. Anyone wishing to clearly make out the shape of the crescent will therefore still need a suitable filter. The safest advice is not to remove your certified solar eclipse glasses until the crescent has completely set.
What type of eye protection is suitable for use on a boat?
Sunglasses compliant with ISO 12312-2 are required for direct observation. The standard takes into account not only visible brightness but also sets limit values for ultraviolet and infrared light. The filter effectiveness, material, frame and labelling are also tested. Ordinary sunglasses are not suitable for looking directly at the sun.
Contrary to what is often claimed, soot-coated glass is not a viable alternative. The soot layer can be uneven, and its transmittance has not been tested for either visible light or other wavelengths. The fact that the sun appears dark when viewed through it says nothing about whether the filter provides adequate protection for the eye.
The same applies to emergency blankets, exposed film, CDs, DVDs, packaging film and any metallised plastic film. Their coating may have microscopic imperfections or allow certain wavelengths to pass through more readily than others. Even sunglasses worn one on top of the other do not, as a result, act as a sun filter.
An important distinction applies to specially manufactured solar filter film. If it is expressly intended for direct observation of the Sun, is undamaged and has been proven to be suitable, it can be used safely. The general term ‘film’ is therefore misleading. Improvised materials, whose filtering effect is unknown, are dangerous.
A safe alternative that avoids looking directly at the sun
The North Sea, the Baltic Sea and inland waters: where an unobstructed view is possible
The weather outlook for tonight varies from region to region. Along the German North Sea coast, patches of cloud may cause some disruption. Sylt is already reporting a mix of sun and clouds, whilst increasing cloud cover is expected in Cuxhaven as the day progresses. As Thursday is set to start off sunny there, the clouds may clear later on.
The outlook is better on the Baltic Sea. A mostly pleasant day is forecast for Kiel, whilst Rostock is expecting sunny or only partly cloudy conditions. Longer stretches of clear skies are likely, particularly along the Mecklenburg coast and in the Bodden waters. However, local clouds or haze over the water remain a factor of uncertainty.
Conditions look very favourable inland. From Lake Müritz and the Berlin waterways to Lake Constance and Lake Chiemsee, the forecasts point to sunny weather and a largely dry night. In sheltered bays and low-lying areas, localised mist may form towards morning.
In Scandinavia, there is a west-east contrast. Thin, high clouds may pass through the Copenhagen area. Gothenburg will remain changeable, whilst clearer spells are expected on the Swedish east coast around Stockholm. Oslo is likely to be cloudy, with rain or drizzle also expected on the Norwegian west coast around Bergen.
Immediately before setting sail or heading to the observation point, the weather conditions should be checked once more using satellite imagery and the local hourly forecast. The BOOTE app provides an overview of suitable applications—Weather check for safe boating. For the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, the German Weather Service: current marine weather reports Ready.
After sunset: Screens interfere with dark adaptation
Once the crescent sun has set completely, your eyes begin to adjust to the dark night sky. It takes about 20 to 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness. Bright chartplotters, cockpit displays and smartphones can further delay this adjustment.
The radiant of the Perseids lies in the constellation Perseus and rises higher in the north-east as the night progresses. There is no need to look directly at it. Longer meteor trails are often visible further away from the radiant. The most important thing is to be able to see as much of the sky as possible.
A dark and safe mooring is more important for stargazing than a direct view of the constellation Perseus. Anyone spending the night at anchor should regularly check the weather, the surrounding waters and the position of the anchor. The BOOTE guide summarises the most important basics on safe mooring with a motorboat together. The first meteors may appear after dark, but the best chances are after midnight.
Book recommendations
Astronomical navigation leads from stargazing to practical navigation. Bobby Schenk explains how to determine one’s own position using a sextant, celestial data and the exact time. The book is also aimed at beginners with no prior knowledge of mathematics or astronomy and includes exercises for working out calculations yourself. The sun and stars are thus transformed from mere objects of observation back into classic navigational aids.
Weather at sea This ties in with the second practical factor for tonight: cloud cover. The book explains high and low pressure systems, local weather events, sea states, currents and meteorological trip planning. Numerous diagrams help readers to interpret forecasts and weather conditions. The focus is not on astronomy, but on how sailors can use weather information to make safe decisions on board.
Will you be spending the night of the Perseids in the harbour, at anchor or on land? Let us know in the comments where you watched the solar eclipse and the Perseids from.