It is a unique opportunity to see the light of day turning into twilight.
The memory of August 11, 1999 remains engraved in the collective memory of many French people, the day when the total eclipse plunged the country into a sudden darkness in the midst, offering the spectacular image of a black sun crowned with light. If other partial events have taken place since, none has offered a show of such magnitude. Almost 27 years after this memorable celestial meeting, an exceptional eclipse promises to be the most spectacular astronomical event for France before several decades. It is a unique opportunity to see the light of day turning into twilight.
This eclipse will be “almost total” in certain regions of France, promising a strange atmosphere, an almost black sun and a sky with unusually metallic or yellowish/orange shades. This drop in brightness will be striking, giving the impression of a premature sunset. Concretely, the moon will cover a very large part of the solar disc. In certain places in France, the percentage of obscuration will reach an impressive 99.5 %, according to the predictions of the institute of celestial mechanics and calculation of ephemeris (IMCCE).
This phenomenon will take place on Wednesday August 12, 2026, around 8:15 p.m.-20:30, just before sunset. The most favored areas in France will be those located in the South West, along the Atlantic coast, from Biarritz to Bordeaux, because of their proximity to the strip of totality that will pass through Spain. To take advantage of the without danger show, the use of certified eclipse glasses is absolutely essential and even for a partial eclipse with strong blackout. Watching it with the naked eye is very dangerous (risk of the retina burns) and absolutely not recommended.
For enthusiasts who would like to observe a total solar eclipse, you will have to move to Iceland or, closer, in Spain (Balearic, Valladolid …). Continental Europe will experience another total eclipse on August 2, 2027, but it will only be visible in France partially (around 51 % in Paris). As for the next total solar eclipse crossing mainland France, it will be necessary to be extremely patient because it is scheduled for September 3, 2081.
