Finland will see a partial solar eclipse next week

In Finland we will see a partial solar eclipse on Wednesday next week, says the astronomical association Ursa. When viewed from Finland, at most 83–85 percent of the diameter of the Sun’s disc is covered behind the Moon.

The solar eclipse will be seen on Wednesday evening, August 12. It starts at sunset, when the Sun is close to the northwest horizon.

Since the eclipse is visible in the low evening sky, it is more difficult than usual to follow it: clouds near the horizon may prevent the eclipse from being visible, even if the sky is otherwise cloudless.

The best chance to see the eclipse is in the west and north, says Ursa. The maximum eclipse is in Kilpisjärvi and the smallest in the easternmost part of the country. In the southern and eastern parts of the country, the Sun has time to set before the end of the eclipse.

Solar eclipses is seen when the Moon moves in its path in front of the Sun as seen from the Earth. Eclipses are not seen every month, however, because the moon’s orbit is slightly tilted relative to the Earth.

The last partial solar eclipse was seen in Finland on March 29, 2025. The next partial solar eclipse will be seen in the southern parts of the country on August 2, 2027.

However, next year’s solar eclipse will be more modest than this year’s, as only about 20 percent of the diameter of the Sun’s disk will be covered in southern Finland.

Ursa emphasizes that the solar eclipse should not be viewed directly, as the Sun’s radiation is harmful to unprotected eyes. The eclipse can be viewed safely with specially made eclipse glasses.

Also, regular sunglasses should not be used to view the solar eclipse.