Let’s hope the weather is still nice! This Tuesday, October 25, if the absence of clouds allows it, the Sun and the Moon will offer a partial eclipse over France. The show should start around 11 a.m. French time, to reach its maximum an hour later.
A solar eclipse takes place when the Moon is inserted between the Earth and the Sun and is close enough to the Earth to appear as big as the solar star by the game of perspective – it is not so in reality .
The eclipse will be partial regardless of where on the planet, although some regions will be more spoiled than others. The sun will disappear almost completely in the north and in the center of Russia, with more than 80% degree of obscuration. In France, the eclipse will be more impressive in the North-East, with nearly 20% of the Sun in the shadow of the Moon towards Metz and Strasbourg. In the Southwest, only between 4 and 6% will be eclipsed.
Special glasses
Attention, remember that you should never observe an eclipse, partial or total, with the naked eye. Simple sunglasses are not enough either. You need special glasses, which you can buy for less than €5 in pharmacies or online, taking care that they correspond to the ISO 12312-2: 2015 standard.
Some astronomy clubs can also offer them, and some organize events around this eclipse, such as the Andromeda association in Marseille, or the Nantes astronomy society. In Paris, the Cité des sciences offers entertainment from 10:30 a.m., with observation through a telescope. A list of events is available on the website of the French association of astronomy to find the closest to home.
This solar eclipse will be the last of the year. It will then be necessary to wait until April 20, 2023 to have a total eclipse in Southeast Asia, and until March 29, 2025 to see a partial eclipse in Europe. The next total solar eclipse in Europe will be visible in northern Spain and Portugal on August 12, 2026.