Night of the Eclipse

On August 12, something special is going to happen: a 90% solar eclipse that will also be visible in Belgium. The moon slides in front of the sun, creating a striking spectacle in the evening sky.\n\nAnd that's just the beginning. That same night, we are in the middle of the Perseids, the most famous period for shooting stars. With a bit of luck, you will see several per hour.\n\nFor this event, we are exceptionally heading to Thor Park Genk. The eclipse takes place low on the horizon, and in Kattevennen, the forest is just in the way. At Op Thor Park, we have an open view and plenty of space to make it a full evening together.\n\nTwo celestial phenomena in one evening, in a place where you can really follow everything. You don't want to miss this.\n\nMeeting point: Thor Terrazza/Thor Park - André Dumontlaan 67, 3600 Genk Samen watching the eclipse\n\nOn the slag heap of Waterschei - Thor Park, our astro-rangers will be ready with the necessary explanations to follow the eclipse. The eclipse starts around 7:18 PM, reaches its maximum around 8:18 PM, and ends at 9:15 PM.\n\nWelcome from 6:30 PM at the visitor stand at Thor Terrazza Volg, from there follow the signs to the slag heap\n\nYou can buy eclipse glasses on site\n\nOur astro-rangers will explain step by step what you are seeingLecture Ruben Weytjens - contemporary weather reporting\n\nHow reliable are all those weather apps and rain radars on your smartphone, really? And why is a forecast sometimes just not right? During this lecture, Ruben Weytjens dives into the world of modern weather reporting, from the time of Armand Pien to today.\n\nRuben is a Limburg weather forecaster, photographer, and guide with a great passion for weather phenomena and the northern lights. He monitors the weather daily for thousands of followers and has already traveled to places like Lapland, Iceland, and Northern Norway to capture natural phenomena up close. After the lecture, he will join us on the slag heap to experience the eclipse together.\nStarts at 5:30 PM in the auditorium of Thor Park. (free - registration is required)\n\nExperience the evening while walking\nEclipse and meteor shower walk\nDuring this walk, you head towards the slag heap while the eclipse is in full swing. The ranger will point out where to look, explain exactly what is happening, and also keep an eye out for the first shooting stars. This way, you experience the transition from day to evening step by step.\nDeparture from Thor Terrazza - duration: 2 hours - free, registration is required\n\nSchemerwandeling Wanneer the sun sinks further and the light becomes softer, the atmosphere in nature also changes. During this quiet walk, you will pause to reflect on that transition: from day to night. An ideal moment to slow down, look around, and see the first stars appear.\nDeparture from Thor Terrazza - duration: 2 hours - free, registration is required\n\nLight Trails: discover the artwork in the dark\n\nA guide will take you to Light Trails, a light installation by Daan Roosegaarde, hidden among the trees of Thor Park. On site, you will get an explanation of how the work connects Genk's mining past with energy, technology, and everything that flows and connects. A short experience that makes you look at light and your surroundings differently.\nDeparture from 9:30 PM from Thor Terrazza - no advance registration required\n\nFor children: stories under the stars\n\nThere is also plenty for young visitors to experience. In the children's corner, we dive into short, interactive stories about stars and space.\n\nStart times at 7:00 PM, 7:30 PM, 8:30 PM, and 9:00 PM\nMeeting point: reception stand at Thor Terrazza - no advance registration required\n\nFrom 10:00 PM: spotting shooting stars\n\nAs if the eclipse wasn't enough: in August, we are in the middle of the Perseids, an annual meteor shower. These are small dust particles from a comet that burn up in our atmosphere, forming those fast streaks of light in the sky. And the best part? You don't need a telescope for it.\n\nFrom 10:00 PM, we start at Thor Terrazza with a cozy star party:\n\nLie down or lean back and let your eyes get used to the dark (it's best to bring a blanket or mat)\n\nSpot meteors with the naked eye, sometimes several per minute\n\nOur guides will help you with where and when to look best\n\nIn between, you can also look through telescopes at planets and stars\n\nFeel free to stay until midnight and make it a long summer evening.",