Solar eclipse on August 12: the latest visibility predictions and where to watch it

A unique solar eclipse is set to take place on August 12, with early weather trends already offering the first indication of where conditions could be most favourable to witness it. 

The eclipse will be visible across France, but the extent of coverage and the possibility of clear skies will vary depending on location. 

While France will not experience a total eclipse, some areas will see almost all of the sun covered by the moon. The sun will only be completely obscured for almost two minutes in the northern part of Spain. 

In mainland France, the eclipse will begin at around 19:30, reaching its maximum around 20:30, when the sun will be low above the horizon.

The exact timing will depend on location. The moon will cover the largest proportion of the sun in south-western France, with coverage reaching:

• up to 99.5% of the sun in parts of south-west, including the Basque coast

• around 97.8% in Toulouse 

• more than 96% in Bordeaux, Montpellier and Marseille 

• around 92.2% in Paris

• around 89.9% in Strasbourg

However, weather conditions will be an important factor. August usually brings a higher probability of clear skies in southern France compared with northern areas, but local conditions such as coastal haze, low cloud or summer thunderstorms can still affect visibility. 

The first seasonal trends from the European climate monitoring service Copernicus suggest a possibility of more stable, anticyclonic conditions than normal across parts of southern and central France in August. These forecasts indicate broader tendencies and not specific conditions on the day. 

How can you check visibility from your commune? 

Online tools allow residents to check exactly when the eclipse will occur and how much of the sun will be covered from their commune. 

One option is The Photographer’s Ephemeris, which allows users to select their location on an interactive map and view the timing and maximum coverage. 

Another tool is EclipSEOP, developed by the Observatoire de Paris. It provides the different phases of the eclipse, maximum coverage, and duration.

It should be noted though that times displayed by EclipSEOP are in Coordinated Universal Time, meaning two hours must be added for France. 

The importance of protective glasses 

Although the sun will be mostly covered, it must not be viewed without suitable protection. 

Only eclipse glasses meeting the ISO 12312-2:2015 safety standard should be used for direct observation.

Regular sunglasses, even several pairs worn together, are not sufficient. Other improvised methods, such as smoked glass, photographic film, CDs or DVDs, should not be used.

Looking directly at the sun without proper protection can cause permanent retinal damage, known as solar retinopathy. 

For those looking to see a total eclipse and are willing to travel, locations in Spain where it is expected to be visible include Burgos, Zaragoza and parts of northern Spain from Galicia towards the Mediterranean coast. 

However, due to the popularity of the event, accommodation prices have already increased, so planning ahead is advised.