A Celestial Spectacle: The Moon’s Shadow Play

On Saturday, March 29th, skywatchers across the northern hemisphere are in for a treat as the moon stages a partial solar eclipse. While not a total blackout, this event promises a captivating display, notably for observers in regions like Paris. the eclipse is slated to begin around 08:50 GMT (09:50 in Paris) and conclude near 12:43 GMT (1:43 p.m.in Paris).

Solar eclipses occur when the Sun, Moon, and Earth align. A near-perfect alignment results in the Moon’s shadow cone fully obstructing the solar disc, creating a total eclipse. Though, this upcoming event is a partial eclipse, meaning the sky won’t darken wholly in any location.

Prime Viewing Locations and Timings

The eclipse’s visibility will stretch across a wide geographical area. According to Florent Deleflie, an astronomer at the Paris-PSL Observatory, the first regions to witness the event will be Mauritania and Morocco, while northern Siberia will be among the last. Much of Europe will also be within the viewing range.

Peak obscuration is expected to occur at 10:47 am GMT (11:47 am in Paris) over northeastern Canada and Greenland, as calculated by the Paris Observatory’s time-space laboratory. For those in mainland France, the eclipse will be visible between 10:00 am and 12:00 pm GMT (11:00 am and 1:00 pm in Paris), with the Sun’s surface being obscured by an estimated 10 to 30%, depending on the specific location.

Specifically for Paris, the specialized website Sky and Space projects the eclipse to begin at 11:08 am, reach its maximum at 12:01 pm, and conclude at 12:56 pm.

eye Safety: A Paramount Concern

Observing a solar eclipse, even a partial one, demands stringent eye protection. Looking directly at the sun, even for a brief period, can cause severe and irreversible eye damage, potentially leading to partial or total blindness. This risk remains whether an eclipse is occurring or not.

Fixing the sun for a few seconds to the naked eye without protection leads to an irreversible lesion which can result in partial or total blindness.

While specialized eclipse glasses offer a solution, it’s crucial to ensure they are in perfect condition. The slightest defect on the surface of the glasses, if they are not new, even a microscopic hole, can generate burns of the eye, warns Deleflie. He recommends seeking out astronomy associations or observation centers.

They have magnifying instruments equipped with perfectly adapted filters. We can check the accuracy of celestial mechanics and marvel at interesting details on the surface of the sun, such as sunscreens or protuberances in complete safety.

Attempting to photograph the eclipse with a standard smartphone camera without a proper filter is also discouraged.The sun’s intensity is so high that the obscured portion will likely not be visible in the image.

Looking Ahead: The 2026 Total Eclipse

mark your calendars for August 12, 2026, when a total solar eclipse will occur. While the path of totality won’t cross France directly, observers in Paris will witness a significant obscuration of the solar disc, estimated at 92%.