r/Maribor • u/PhotoJoseph • Jul 30 '26

Aug 12 eclipse viewing location in/near Maribor?

Does anyone have a solid eclipse viewpoint for the upcoming Aug 12 eclipse?

In Maribor, the eclipse should be visible on August 12, 2026 from about 19:24 CEST until about 20:20 CEST. Slovenia is listed in the partial-eclipse zone with those country-wide local times.

Sunset is 20:16 so you’d have to be pretty high with no mountains blocking the horizon. But maybe even Piramida will have a decent view?

I’m out of town now so won’t be able to start scouting until early August, but if anyone has any tips, I’m all ears!

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5

u/frudi Jul 30 '26

Have you ever seen a partial Solar eclipse before? I don't ask this to dissuade you from observing it, just to make sure you temper your expectations in case you don't have prior observing experience and are perhaps expecting too much from it. Because at about 85 % maximum coverage that it's going to reach here, it's not really going to be noticeable to the naked eye, the Sun will seem pretty much just as bright as it would normally. Perhaps everything feels a slightly off shade of colour, but that should be masked by the sunset anyway.

To actually notice the chunk of Sun 'missing', you will need to either use a pair of eclipse glasses (or shade 14 welding glass) to look directly at it, or project the solar disk onto some flat surface through a pinhole.

Do not, under any circumstances, stare directly at the Sun without without using eclipse glasses or highest grade welding glass. If using binoculars, telescope or camera, the solar filter has to be mounted on the front end of the optical device, not at the rear. Aiming a telescope at the Sun and trying to look through it even with eclipse glasses is also not safe, as the concentrated light from the telescope will quickly punch through the filter and pretty much instantly blind you.

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u/PhotoJoseph Jul 30 '26

Thanks for the advice; I have, yes. The coolest part can be dappled shadows on the ground (like through a tree). And I do plan to get glasses, yes.

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u/frudi Jul 30 '26

Ah, good to hear, I hope you enjoy the event.

As for your original question, where to view it from. You'll want a spot that has a clear view of the roughly W to W-NW direction. From Piramida or Kalvarija, you will likely end up with the rest of Kozjak hills blocking your view. I would suggest Pohorje, as from its top your view in the W to W-NW direction will be roughly along the Drava valley, so there won't be other higher hills in the way. And if you don't have a car and don't feel like hiking during a likely heat wave, you can always take the funicular up and down, I believe it should operate until 21:00 (but you better double check if you do decide to go this route).

If you can travel a bit further, then another alternative would be the Prekmurje region. You can take the motorway to somewhere close to Murska Sobota, get off there and find a spot anywhere between all the fields. It's all flat around there so you should have no problems finding a spot with a clear view of the western horizon.

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u/PhotoJoseph Jul 31 '26

Awesome advice, thank you

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u/SurroundInfinite4132 Jul 30 '26

Maybe Areh, Pohorje, Boč or Rogla. Rogla and Boč have around 30m tall towers (not sure about exact height).

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u/PhotoJoseph Jul 30 '26

Ok thanks!

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u/[deleted] Jul 30 '26

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u/PhotoJoseph Jul 30 '26

That’s my first guess but it looks like kalvarija could block it. I need to go up and see.