2026-08-12 Solar Eclipse, Starý Herštejn

Once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse photos

Maria Matejka with the help of Königsmarck

Test photo with a filter on
Test photo with a filter on
Second test photo, this time without clouds covering the sun.
Second test photo, this time without clouds covering the sun.
Building works on Prague main station. Progress photo.
Building works on Prague main station. Progress photo.
Walking uphill, we met a cow herd.
Walking uphill, we met a cow herd.
They watched us suspiciously.
They watched us suspiciously.
Čerchov. Lookout tower (left) and former military radar tower.
Čerchov. Lookout tower (left) and former military radar tower.
40 minutes to eclipse, sun is still complete
40 minutes to eclipse, sun is still complete
Nemanice village with the church of John from Nepomuk, the Saint. I failed to find what is the original use of the larger building on the right side, №. 90.
Nemanice village with the church of John from Nepomuk, the Saint. I failed to find what is the original use of the larger building on the right side, №. 90.
Eclipse is beginning but unable to be seen yet.
Eclipse is beginning but unable to be seen yet.
Now! A bit!
Now! A bit!
The sun is dipping behind a cloud.
The sun is dipping behind a cloud.
One would almost not recognize an eclipse from this.
One would almost not recognize an eclipse from this.
Cloud is getting thinner.
Cloud is getting thinner.
The sun interacts differently with different clouds.
The sun interacts differently with different clouds.
Some clouds cover the sun, some not.
Some clouds cover the sun, some not.
Won't show you how i'm bitten out!
Won't show you how i'm bitten out!
OK, just a little bit.
OK, just a little bit.
The sun appeared again just before the maximum.
The sun appeared again just before the maximum.
The clouds weren't the only caveat. All twenty of us who were watching from the top of this tower, got betrayed by a very audacious tree.
The clouds weren't the only caveat. All twenty of us who were watching from the top of this tower, got betrayed by a very audacious tree.
The eclipsed sun just before the maximum and just before hiding behind that tree.
The eclipsed sun just before the maximum and just before hiding behind that tree.
I went nearby where I surveyed a better spot before, but it wasn't much better.
I went nearby where I surveyed a better spot before, but it wasn't much better.
After raising the camera more than 3 meters above ground, something still could be taken.
After raising the camera more than 3 meters above ground, something still could be taken.
Aiming at the sun was absurdly difficult and it was a work of two people.
Aiming at the sun was absurdly difficult and it was a work of two people.
I was aiming, a friend was pushing the button. But it didn't take long and there was nothing to shoot anyway. The sun descended behind this tree as well.
I was aiming, a friend was pushing the button. But it didn't take long and there was nothing to shoot anyway. The sun descended behind this tree as well.
Last remnants of a setting eclipse.
Last remnants of a setting eclipse.
There was still a little bit of the red between the leaves.
There was still a little bit of the red between the leaves.
We had to run down quite fast though, to not get lost on the footpath. It was getting dark. Good night!
We had to run down quite fast though, to not get lost on the footpath. It was getting dark. Good night!