It is a celestial spectacle awaited by millions of people. The solar eclipse of this Monday, April 8 is a unique and impressive phenomenon, a true work of shadows and light. If there are between two and five solar eclipses per year, total eclipses like this one are rarer: it is the fifteenth since the year 2000). They intervene when the Moon aligns perfectly with the Earth and the Sun, preventing the light of the king star from reaching us. More concretely, the Sun will disappear before our eyes for a few minutes.
However, that of April 8 should be unique. The Paris Observatory describes it as simply
“exceptional”
, particularly because of its duration. But how can you observe this spectacle and take in your eyes – without damaging them?
Where to observe it?
You have to travel to the other side of the world to observe it with your own eyes. The solar eclipse will begin in Mexico, cross the United States and end in Canada. But it is in a small town in Mexico that the spectacle should be most striking: in Nazas, in the state of Durango, in the northwest of Mexico. The small town, populated by some 4,000 souls, is placed in the center of the “band of totality”, that is to say all the places where the totality of the eclipse will be visible. It can also be observed entirely from the states of Sinaloa (Mazatlán) and Coahuila (Torreón, Matamoros, or even Monclova). It is expected to begin at 10:55 a.m. local time.
Many events are already planned across the United States. In Niagara Falls, the Canadian-American city where Niagara Falls is located, up to a million visitors are expected.
In Europe, the phenomenon will only be partial, and above all, not visible from mainland France. It can be observed on the French archipelago of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, which is located off the coast of Canada, where the eclipse will be almost total. In the French West Indies, the eclipse will be partially visible, as in Guadeloupe, with less than 0.5% obscuration. In Papeete, in French Polynesia, the sunrise will be partially disrupted, since it will be temporarily eclipsed by the Moon.
Otherwise, you will have to go to Iceland, Ireland, the southwest of Great Britain and the northwest of Spain and Portugal to enjoy it. And further north, in Svalbard. There are a few hours left for the fastest!
How to watch it in France?
The total solar eclipse will begin at 5:42 p.m. Paris time and end at 10:52 p.m. The disappearance of the sun will reach its maximum at 8:17 p.m.
Our most enthusiastic compatriots will be spoiled for choice in observing it - at least indirectly. NASA will offer live broadcasts on their YouTube channel and on their Twitch account. The broadcast will begin from 7 p.m. (Paris time) until 10 p.m. to follow the entire trajectory of the eclipse. Discussions and decryptions are planned with experts. And if the weather is nice, NASA should even share images of the show from different angles. A chat will also be set up.
MétéoMédia, a Quebec television channel devoted to meteorology, will also broadcast a special program on television and on its YouTube channel. What about France? For the most passionate, go to the Cité de l'espace in Toulouse, the city of French aeronautics. The eclipse will be broadcast live from its IMAX theater, and commented by their special correspondent based in Dallas, Texas. Before the broadcast, a conference will be conducted by Nathalie Cabrol, NASA researcher and world specialist in the search for extraterrestrial life. She will be accompanied by astrophysicist Sylvestre Maurice, from the Institute for Research in Astrophysics and Planetology (IRAP), a specialist in the exploration of Mars. And for those who are late, too bad, the event is already sold out.
How long is it ?
In total, the phenomenon will last 5 hours, 10 minutes and 5 seconds, to be precise. But the highlight of the show, the total solar eclipse, will last 4 minutes and 34 seconds. An exceptionally long duration. “
We have to go back to the total solar eclipse of March 9, 2016 to find a duration almost as long (4min9s), before waiting for the next one which will occur on August 2, 2027 (6min23s), visible from the south of Spain and from all Maghreb countries,”
explains the Paris Observatory. This duration will decrease as we move away from the middle of the centrality band.
Some parts of the world will thus be completely plunged into darkness. The solar eclipse will cause a very significant drop in light, causing a drop in temperatures and winds. Animals, sensitive to these variations, can adopt certain confusing behaviors. As AFP notes, giraffes were seen galloping. Roosters and crickets began to crow.
How to protect your eyes?
For several weeks, local authorities have been hammering out the same safety instructions. Observers must wear special glasses to look at the Sun. Otherwise, they risk serious eye damage, including severe burns to the back of the eye. The risks of damaging the retina are far from a myth. And already, many sites are reporting a stock shortage of glasses. For those not equipped, specialists recommend viewing the eclipse indirectly. As the Paris Observatory notes,
“it is possible to follow the eclipse with an astronomical telescope. But it must be equipped with a 'mylar' type sun filter of density 5, to avoid any irreversible ophthalmic accident.
Sunglasses should be avoided.
When was the last eclipse?
The last total eclipse took place in France 25 years ago. It was, more precisely, August 11, 1999. The phenomenon was visible for a little less than 3 minutes.
When will the next eclipse take place?
In France, the next solar eclipse will be visible on August 12, 2026. But you will have to go to Spain to fully enjoy the spectacle. What about a total solar eclipse? Most of us will have to give it up: it will happen on September 3, 2081.
IN VIDEO -
From where to observe the total eclipse of April 8?