Solar Eclipse viewing in Humain
REGISTRATION IS FULL
On Wednesday August 12, 2026, a solar eclipse will be visible throughout a large part of Europe. For viewers in Belgium, almost 90% of the solar surface will be covered by the Moon. The eclipse will thus not be total here, but still very impressive!
This eclipse will reach its maximum just before sunset, which is why the Royal Observatory of Belgium has decided to open its Radioastronomy station in Humain (Marche-en-Famenne) for this occasion. At this location, visitors will have a clear view of the horizon, and will be able to enjoy the eclipse fully (weather permitting).
Come early and grab the opportunity to also visit de radioastronomy station before the eclipse. This is a site that very rarely opens to the public, which makes this a unique opportunity to learn more about the solar observations we make there.
We finish the evening by setting up telescope for night time observations. Maybe you can catch a glimpse of the planet Venus!
When?
On August 12, 2026. We open the site from 17h onwards. The eclipse will start at 19:19 and reach its maximum at 20:14 (local time).
The site will close to the public at 22h30.
Where?
Address: Rue de l'Observatoire, 6900 Marche-en-Famenne, Belgium
As the site is scarcely lit at night, please bring a small torch.
Practical Information
Eclipse glasses: Eclipse glasses can be purchased on site at a cost of 2.5 Euros per unit. Please make sure to have some small change ready.
A foodtruck with burgers will come on site. Note that this is the only catering option at the station. You are welcome to bring your own pick-nick as well.
The terrain is largely open space. Bring a pick-nick blanket or another cover to sit down on the grass and enjoy the views.
The access and the parking area are indicated on the map below. Within the parking area, please park along the fence of the station. The red area must be clear of any vehicles to allow the emergency services access to the site.
In case you come by bike, you can enter the site (while paying attention to pedestrians) and stall your bike on the grass. Note that there will be no bicycle racks available, and that the parking is not supervised. Lock your bike!
When leaving at the end of the event, it will be dark. Please pay extra attention to pedestrians.
Register
For organizational reasons, the number of participants for this event is limited. Reservation is mandatory, but free of charge. Booking is done through the registration form linked below. Each visitor needs to be registered separately.
Important note: as we are strongly dependent on the weather, this event may be cancelled at short notice. Please provide a valid e-mail address while registring so that we may warn you in case of cancellation.
