Let’s be clear: we won’t soon forget August 12. In fact, much of France is getting ready to witness one of the most beautiful astronomical phenomena: a solar eclipse. The last one took place nearly 30 years ago, on August 11, 1999—almost to the day. A spectacle as rare as it is precious, which this year will be accompanied by another highlight for nature lovers: the Perseids. The peak is expected during the night of August 12–13… All the more reason to stay awake!
A solar eclipse and a meteor shower on the same day
On August 12, all eyes will be on the sky. Starting at 8:23 p.m. in Paris, the Moon will gradually obscure the Sun. A rare and magnificent spectacle that is expected to darken the sky for about two minutes.
While the Sun is expected to be obscured by about 92%, the spectacle should be even more breathtaking in the Southwest. The eclipse coverage will be 99.5% in Biarritz, 98% in Toulouse, and 97.5% in Bordeaux.
But that’s not all—once night falls, you’ll be able to admire an entirely different spectacle, much less rare but just as sublime: the Perseids. Just as they did 30 years ago, the moon, the sun, and the stars will come together in a marvelous celestial ballet. It’s a pure coincidence of nature, since the Perseids occur every year during the same period.
This year, the peak is expected on the night of August 12–13, when you’ll be able to watch nearly 100 shooting stars per hour streak across the sky.
How can you best observe these two astronomical phenomena?
A solar eclipse and a meteor shower are not observed in the same way at all. For the eclipse, you’ll need to wearspecial glasses (ISO 12312-2 standard) to filter the rays and protect your retinas. While the burn is painless, it’s very real! Similarly, if you want to capture this phenomenon with your smartphone, it will also need a suitable solar filter to prevent damage to its sensors.
As for shooting stars, however, there’s no risk to your health. The only requirement for observing them clearly with the naked eye is to get as far away as possible from light sources and light pollution.