A solar eclipse, a phenomenon that occurs when the Moon is placed in front of the Sun, can be observed from France on Tuesday, October 25. It will be partial, because the alignment will not be perfect, and some regions of France will see it better than others.
More visible in Lille than in Pau
According to the Institute of Celestial Mechanics and Ephemeris Calculation (IMCCE) of the Paris-PSL Observatory, it will be better to be in Lille than in Pau next Tuesday: the Moon will hide up to 17.2% of the Sun in Lille, compared to 3.5 % in Paul. The occultation of the Sun will reach 19.5% in Strasbourg, 6.2% in Quimper and 11.7% in Nice, according to the IMCCE.
The partial eclipse will last between one and two hours in France. It will begin at 11:15 am in the northern half of the country and at 11:30 am in the southern half.
The eclipse will be visible from most of Europe, northeast Africa, and as far as the middle of Asia.
Precautions to take to observe the eclipse
As a reminder, it is important not to observe a solar eclipse directly and without adequate protection. The Canadian government recommends wearing filter glasses designed specifically for this activity.
“Simple sunglasses are not suitable at all: they do not adequately protect the eyes for this type of viewing,” he explains on his site.
Solar eclipses reduce the sensation of glare that forces you to close your eyes when looking at the sun in normal times. However, the rays are still very dangerous for the eyes and can cause irreversible damage.
For people who don’t want to buy filter glasses, the Canadian Space Agency details how to build a “solar eclipse box” using aluminum, a white sheet of paper, and a cardboard box.
The next partial eclipse in mainland France will occur on March 29, 2025, according to the IMCCE. a total eclipsewhich briefly plunges part of the planet into darkness, occurs when the diameter of the Moon exactly matches that of the Sun, as seen from Earth.
This rarer phenomenon was remarkably observable from France in August 1999. To see the next one, you will have to be patient: it is planned in 2081 in France.
Source: BFM TV
