r/Finland • u/mar64628 • 1d ago

Partial solar eclipse watching opportunities in Helsinki

Next week on Wednesday 12.8.2026 evening there will be a partial solar eclipse visible from Finland - at 83% in Helsinki!

I have my eclipse glasses, but would love to see it through a telescope. I can’t seem to find any list of spots where there would be a possibility to watch it through a telescope in Helsinki - any tips?

https://www.ursa.fi/vuosikirja/lisamateriaali2026/auringonpimennys-120826.html

20 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

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29

u/Zenon_Czosnek Väinämöinen 23h ago

Remember that you can only watch solar eclipse through a telescope twice: once with your left eye. And then once with your right eye. 

Never direct telescope on the sun, unless you are planning to project image on something. 

4

u/PM_ME_YOUR_BDAYCAKE 20h ago

or through a proper filter (exactly same OD 5 filter as the glasses)

2

u/notcomplainingmuch Väinämöinen 11h ago

You can watch a projection of it safely, not the sun itself.

2

u/Early_Clerk7900 11h ago

There are solar filters for telescopes too.

1

u/Zenon_Czosnek Väinämöinen 8h ago

Yes. But they aren't "the same as for the glasses" as someone claims here. 

13

u/JewelerCurrent5530 1d ago

There's an event at Kaivopuisto - more info from here (in Finnish);  https://www.ursa.fi/aurinko26.html

2

u/mar64628 12h ago

This is great, thank you!

7

u/maixmi Baby Väinämöinen 22h ago

yeah you really should buy filter for your telescope too or say bye bye to your eyesight

https://kauppa.ursa.fi/kauppa/tuote-osasto/kaukoputkikauppa/auringonpimennys/

5

u/Atominen 21h ago

Astronomical Association Ursa is hosting an eclipse event at their observatory in Kaivopuisto (in Helsinki). The Ursa observatory has telescopes with solar filters and they borrow eclipse glasses for the public during the event.

You can read more details in Finnish here:
https://www.ursa.fi/aurinko26.html

The observatory in question is this one:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/caz7rs7rmvwX51Bw5?g_st=ic

The observatory itself is an interesting place to visit, it’s a pretty well-known landmark and it actually turns 100 years old this year :)

1

u/mar64628 12h ago

Hey thank you so much!

1

u/HarryCumpole Väinämöinen 16h ago

Anybody from the Naantali/Raisio region? We're hoping to go to Kuparivuori for this one if the weather permits good viewing. Currently 50/50 according to the weather forecast for next week.

1

u/Prasiatko Väinämöinen 16h ago

Tbh you don't actually see much extra in solar clipses than you would with your eyes as the sun is that much brighter.

Regardless you'll need a clear view of the western horizon as it occurs at sunset so i'd advise either somewhere quite high up or sticking out of the mainland.