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A partial eclipse of the Sun visible in France on October 25, 2022

20 octobre 2022

On Tuesday, October 25, 2022, a partial eclipse of the Sun will occur, visible from metropolitan France, at lunch time. But be careful, its observation requires some precautions. You can also follow it live on the YouTube channel of the Observatoire de Paris - PSL.

Eclipse to follow live

A solar eclipse occurs when, seen from the ground, the Moon obstructs a portion of the solar disk. On October 25, 2022, it will be only partial this time because the shadow of the Moon will not touch the surface of the Earth at any point. It will not be possible to attend the total disappearance of the Sun.

General circumstances of the eclipse

This eclipse is the sixteenth partial solar eclipse of the XXIth century and the second partial eclipse of the year 2022. It is visible only in the northern hemisphere : over almost all of Europe, the Mediterranean, western Asia and northeast Africa. Its maximum degree of obscuration will reach 82.2% and the conditions of observation, among the most favorable from the astronomical point of view, will be in Kazakhstan, for example not far from its capital, Astana.

**Visibility in France

If in metropolitan France, the percentage of the solar surface eclipsed is globally low, the meeting between two stars is still a natural spectacle among the most striking that is given to observe. But be careful, taking the same precautions for the eyes as to observe the Sun. The risks of blindness are otherwise very important !

IMPORTANT

One should never observe the Sun without special protection, or risk serious, if not irreversible, retinal damage.

Three methods to follow the partial eclipse without risk, any other means (sunglasses...) being to proscribe.

  • The best method to follow the partial eclipse without risk is that of an observation by projection on a screen. The "solarscope" is a practical and inexpensive means (device available in specialized shops).
  • It is possible to follow the occultation with a magnifying astronomical instrument. But this one must be obligatorily provided with a device especially adapted to the observation of the Sun, to be handled by scrupulously following the indications of the manufacturers. It is strongly advised to approach structures (CCSTI or associations) which are used to such manipulations, in order to avoid any risk for the sight.
  • It is finally possible to observe the phenomenon with special "eclipse" glasses (available in specialized shops). It is advised to only use new glasses to avoid any risk of a deterioration of the surface after long storage, without particular protection, in our houses

A show appreciable differently according to the regions

The obscuration of the solar disk, which will not have any incidence on the ambient luminosity, will vary from 3,5 % to 19,5 % according to the regions of France.

The eclipse will be most visible in the East (with an obscuration of 19.5% in Strasbourg) and in the North of France (17.2% in Lille). In the west and southwest of the country, observing conditions will be less favorable, with an occultation of 6.2% in Quimper and 3.5% in Pau.

Conditions de visibilité de l’éclipse partielle de Soleil en France, le 25 octobre 2022
Les horaires sont donnés en temps universel coordonné, auxquels il convient d’ajouter 2 h, pour avoir l’heure légale française.
Observatoire de Paris - PSL / IMCCE

IMCCE forecasts indicate that the next partial eclipse, visible in mainland France, will occur on March 29, 2025. This is a good reason not to miss the one coming up, provided that good weather conditions allow it.

For more information : The October 2022 Newsletter of the IMCCE within the Paris Observatory - PSL

To read also : Live, June 10, 2021 : the solar eclipse

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

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