The last time an eclipse was visible in Budapest was on 4 January 2011, when about 80% of the sun was obscured. Now, finally, this Friday we can see something similar from about 9am for a period of about three hours; as long as we're at a spot with a good view of the sky and sun. This year we can expect about 60% of the sun to be covered with the entire process taking place from about about 9.30am - 11.59am. While this is not a full solar eclipse, it will still be a beautiful sight. In Budapest the peak will be at 10.48am. Sadly, there's not going to be total darkness during this time; so if you want to experience the change, it's best to head to a good viewing spot.
Good vantage pointsIf you can get away on Friday morning for a few hours, we suggest the following places:
Hungarian Academy of Sciences: Outside the Hungarian Academy of Sciences at Széchenyi Square there are plans for a special program between 9am and 1pm. There will be telescopes set up for viewing of the eclipse and some expert astronomers will also be there to answer your questions. You have to register for this event (and the details are in Hungarian), but try this.
Planetarium: If the weather is good (and at this stage the forecast is for blue skies), there'll be special telescopes set up in front of the Planetarium as well. The event is free, however, it's worth arriving early so that you can be sure to take part. They'll be there from 9am to 12 noon.
Polaris Observatory:
The Polaris Observatory (1037 Budapest, Laborc Street 2c.) awaits everyone with an interest in the eclipse (and who isn't interested!?). This is a good vantage point and you can even ask some experts any questions you might have between 9am and 12 noon.
Citadel:
This eclipse will be best viewed by looking to the east and the Citadel atop Gellért Hill will be perfect for this, especially because your view won't be obscured by trees and buildings. Don't forget to head there early to secure a good spot, since we reckon it will be popular with many.
St. Stephen's Basilica: There's a viewing platform atop the Basilica that opens at 10am, and so it might be worth running up the stairs in time to view the remainder of the event. This is definitely going to be one of the best viewing spots, so make sure you head there right on time and secure a spot ready for the 10.48am peek event. Remember there's a small fee for heading up.
Buda Castle: With a vast space atop Buda Castle Hill this is surely a great place to watch the eclipse with many possible vantage points.
Danube banks: If you're afraid of heights then somewhere along the banks of the Danube with a clear view of the sky is also a good option. We recommend somewhere on the Buda side or maybe even one of the bridges since the sun will be high enough in the sky that buildings won't cause a problem.
Statue of St. Gellért:
On the side of Gellért Hill is the iconic St. Gellért statue, from where the view is likely to be brilliant. The only problem is that the space here is very small, so first in best dressed.
Practically any rooftop will also be good and we recommend packing a breakfast and taking coffee for a complete experience. For those who are a bit more adventurous we can also recommend the Erzsébet Lookout Tower on János Hill as well.Don't look directly at the sun!It's important to note that you should not look directly at the sun (even during an eclipse), because the bright light can permanently damage your eyes. It's also dangerous to look at the sun through sunglasses, film negatives, dark glass, or even through the lens of your smartphone or camera (so we don't recommend selfies either). Taking photos directly pointed at the sun can also damage cameras and phones, so be careful.
The safe thing to do is to view the eclipse through special glasses, or a special filter placed on a telescope, although we're not sure if there are any left of these special glasses around town now. You can also use welder's glass of shades 12-13 (if you happen to be a DIY champion and have this lying around at home).
Why do eclipses happen?So just what's happening tomorrow? Well, an eclipse happens when the moon is directly between the Earth and the sun and obscures part or all of the sun. And while the moon is much smaller than the sun (400 times smaller in fact), it's also 400 times closer to the Earth than the sun - so when they line up they seem to be identical in size.
Weather forecastThe Hungarian Meteorological Service says that on 20 March we can expect largely blue skies in Budapest with just light cloud coverage at times. We really hope there'll be perfect conditions and that you have fun seeing this rare eclipse event over Budapest.
