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Solar eclipse on 12 August 2026: the Paris Observatory – PSL launches the ÉclipSEOP app

15 May 2026

To mark the solar eclipse on 12 August 2026, the Paris Observatory – PSL is offering the general public a web application designed to help them prepare for and observe this major astronomical event: ÉclipSEOP.

Available free of charge online, the ÉclipSEOP app provides all the information you need to observe the eclipse from anywhere on Earth.

Home page of ÉclipSEOP, the app launched by the Paris Observatory - PSL to help you choose the best viewing spot of the major astronomical event of the year.
Crédit : Observatoire de Paris - PSL / LTE

Thanks to a simple and intuitive interface, users can select a location on an interactive map showing the eclipse’s path of totality. In just a few clicks, ÉclipSEOP provides:

  • the type of eclipse visible (partial or total);
  • the precise times of the different phases;
  • the moment of maximum;
  • the magnitude and degree of obscuration;
  • the duration of the event;
  • as well as a graphical representation of the eclipse as seen from the chosen location.

The ÉclipSEOP application also presents the local conditions of the eclipse in chronological order, thereby facilitating understanding and preparation for observations. Users can view the times of sunrise and sunset, as well as the altitude and azimuth of the Sun at key moments during the event.

All times displayed in the app are given in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). For mainland France in August 2026, you need to add two hours to get the local time.

For a selected location, the app provides extremely detailed local information of the solar eclipse on 12 August 2026. Here is an example from Paris.
Crédit : Observatoire de Paris - PSL / LTE

Developed by the Time and Space Laboratory at the Paris Observatory – PSL, ÉclipSEOP is based on high-precision ephemeris calculations produced by astronomers specialising in celestial mechanics. The Paris Observatory – PSL is, in fact, tasked by the State, as part of a sovereign mission, with producing and disseminating ephemeris data for the bodies of the Solar System. These reference data guarantee the scientific reliability and accuracy of the information provided to both the public and professionals.

The total eclipse of 12 August 2026 is one of the most eagerly awaited astronomical events of the decade in Europe. With ÉclipSEOP, the Paris Observatory – PSL is making available to everyone a reliable, educational and accessible tool to help them prepare for the observation of this exceptional celestial event.

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