Is Brocken spectre happening right now?

As of today, in season, building toward peak (~October 1). Earth Exhibit tracks the live conditions and flags it the moment it is on.

A Brocken spectre is the enlarged shadow of an observer projected onto a cloud or bank of fog opposite a bright light source.

It is often surrounded by concentric coloured rings called a glory.

The effect depends on sun angle, a cloud/fog layer below the observer, and uniform droplet size, and can occur on mountain summits, cliff edges, or from aircraft.

Where to see it

A taste of where to see it. The full map, exact coordinates and the best timing for each spot live in the app.

Viewing spots
Brocken summit - Brockenhaus / summit plateau
Bahnhof Brocken (Brocken railway station)
+ 1 more spot, with exact coordinates and timing, in the app →

This is the short version

This page shows a taste. The app has the full list of where to see this, the exact timing, and live conditions for 1,000+ natural phenomena worldwide, so you know the moment one is genuinely worth the trip.