Today, August 12, the sky will bring one of the most special astronomical phenomena of the year, a total solar eclipse that will be visible from Albania. While in some parts of the world, including Iceland, Greenland and parts of Spain, the eclipse will be total, in Albania it will be seen as a partial eclipse. The moon will pass in front of the sun and cover part of it.
In Albania, the eclipse begins at around 7:29 PM and ends at around 7:47 PM. The peak time varies slightly from one city to another. In Shkodër it begins at 7:30 PM, peaks at 7:43 PM and ends at 7:46 PM. Here it will be among the most prominent views in the country. In Tirana it begins at 7:31 PM, peaks at 7:41 PM and ends at 7:44 PM. In Durrës it begins at 7:31 PM, peaks at 7:42 PM and ends at 7:45 PM. In Vlorë it begins at 7:32 PM, peaks at 7:40 PM and ends at 7:43 PM.
In general, the phenomenon will be visible throughout the territory of Albania, but in the north the moon will cover a larger part of the sun. The visibility map shows that the eclipse enters the territory near the Mojani mountain area and ends near Shkodra. Since the eclipse occurs in the evening hours, the sun will be relatively low in the sky. For this reason, choose a place with an open view towards the western horizon, without buildings, trees or mountains that can hide the sun. This means that coastal areas and areas with a wide horizon may be particularly suitable for following the phenomenon.
Even during a partial eclipse, you should not look at the sun with the naked eye. Ordinary sunglasses do not provide the necessary protection. For direct observation, special eclipse glasses, certified according to the ISO 12312-2 standard, or indirect observation methods should be used. So, if the weather is clear, from about 19:30 to 19:45–19:47 it is enough to find a place with an open horizon and make sure that you have the right eye protection. In Albania we will not experience the complete darkening that will be seen in the area of the total eclipse, but we will be able to clearly see the moon covering part of the solar disk.