The solar eclipse
of August 12, 2026

Before you look up at the sky, you need to know what you’re observing. Corona, umbra, penumbra, eclipse magnitude… The terminology surrounding eclipses can seem complex. Our glossary provides all the information you need to understand the phenomenon and enjoy it to the fullest.

The last total eclipse visible in Europe was in 1999. The next one in France won’t occur until 2081. The eclipse on August 12, 2026, is therefore an event not to be missed—and one to prepare for thoroughly. Path, duration, visibility from your region: all the scientific explanations on a single page.

You don’t need to be an astronomer to know where and when to look up at the sky. ÉclipSEOP, the Paris Observatory’s app, pinpoints the eclipse from anywhere in the world and gives you the exact times, duration, and percentage of coverage from your observation location.

Simple, free, and designed for everyone.

Never look at the Sun without proper protection, even during an eclipse. Use protective gear that complies with ISO 12312-2 (eclipse glasses) or certified solar filters for instruments. Filters intended for instruments must be placed at the instrument’s entrance (sunward side), never at the eyepiece. Never use eclipse glasses behind binoculars or a telescope.

Failure to follow these instructions can result in serious eye damage, including blindness.

Why is the solar corona only visible during an eclipse? How do we accurately predict the exact time of a celestial event? What does radio tell us about the Sun’s activity? Researchers at the Paris Observatory answer these questions every day.

Discover their laboratories and their research.

An eclipse is best experienced when you understand it—and even better when you share it. Find resources here to explain it to your children, students, or loved ones, and turn this rare moment into a shared memory.