Solar eclipse and Perseids observed amid severe European drought

Recent astronomical events provided significant spectacles in the Czech Republic, including a partial solar eclipse where the Moon obscured nearly 90 percent of the Sun, followed by the peak of the Perseid meteor shower.

Parallel to these celestial events, severe environmental concerns are rising due to extreme drought and heat. In the Czech Republic, rainfall has reached its lowest levels in 65 years, leading to drying rivers and soil moisture deficits. Globally, July was recorded as the second warmest month ever, with significant impacts observed across Europe. Low water levels in the Rhine are causing logistical difficulties in Germany, while the Danube has forced nuclear power plant reactors in Hungary and Romania to shut down due to insufficient cooling water. In Spain and France, extreme heat has also contributed to large-scale forest fires.