This interactive simulator calculates the geometry of the August 12, 2026 solar eclipse from any point in France or Spain: it provides contact times, magnitude, obscuration, Sun altitude and azimuth, and the distance to the totality band.
On the evening of August 12, 2026, the Moon will pass between the Earth and the Sun, casting its shadow on a narrow band crossing the Atlantic, Spain and the Balearic Islands. This is where the eclipse will be total - a few minutes of complete darkness, solar corona visible to the naked eye, a sudden temperature drop.
From mainland France, the event will be partial: the Moon will cover between 60% and 90% of the solar disc depending on latitude, with a maximum expected around 8:30 PM CEST. The South-West will be best positioned, with Biarritz and Toulouse having the highest magnitudes. Paris will see about 70% of the Sun covered, Strasbourg slightly less.
Caution: even at 90% obscuration, the residual light intensity remains dangerous. ISO 12312-2 certified glasses are essential throughout the event.
The solar eclipse of August 12, 2026 is one of the most anticipated astronomical events of the decade in Europe. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes exactly between the Earth and the Sun, casting its shadow on the Earth's surface. A total eclipse occurs where the lunar disc completely covers the Sun; elsewhere, the eclipse is partial, with only a fraction of the solar disc obscured.
On August 12, 2026, the totality band will cross the Atlantic and northern Spain (Galicia, Asturias, Spanish Basque Country, Aragon, Catalonia) before reaching the Balearic Islands. From Bilbao, San Sebastián or Zaragoza, the total eclipse will last up to 1 minute 50 seconds. From France, the event will be partial: magnitude will reach 0.9 in the south-west (Biarritz, Pau, Toulouse) and drop to around 0.65 in Paris and Strasbourg.
To safely observe a partial solar eclipse, certified eclipse glasses are essential. These glasses, compliant with ISO 12312-2 standard, filter 99.99% of visible, ultraviolet and infrared solar radiation. Never use ordinary sunglasses, photographic film or improvised filters: retinal damage caused by direct observation of the Sun is irreversible. Our interactive simulator lets you calculate the magnitude, duration and exact time of the maximum from any point in France or Spain.
Looking for a viewing spot in the Aveyron? The Gîte de la Viguerie, in Pruines, has a clear, unobstructed south-facing view over the Dourdou valley - ideal for following the partial eclipse of August 12, 2026 in the evening. Click here to reload the map above with the gîte's GPS coordinates and see directly the time of maximum, the magnitude and the Sun's position from this exact spot.
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes exactly between the Earth and the Sun, casting its shadow on the Earth's surface. It is total where the lunar disc completely covers the Sun, and partial everywhere else within the area swept by the shadow.
The totality band, i.e. the path traced by the Moon's shadow on Earth, only crosses the Atlantic, northern Spain and the Balearic Islands on August 12, 2026. Mainland France lies outside this narrow band (about 290 km wide), so it will only see a partial eclipse, even though the obscuration is significant in the South-West.
Magnitude measures the fraction of the Sun's diameter covered by the Moon at the eclipse's maximum. A magnitude of 1.0 corresponds to a total eclipse (the lunar disc covers the full solar diameter); a magnitude of 0.9 means 90% of the diameter is covered.
Magnitude concerns the covered diameter, while obscuration concerns the covered area of the solar disc. For the same eclipse, obscuration is almost always numerically lower than magnitude: a magnitude of 0.9, for instance, corresponds to an obscuration of around 80% of the surface, since a partially covered disc loses proportionally less area than diameter.
As long as any portion of the solar disc, however thin, remains visible, the residual radiation is enough to cause irreversible retinal damage within seconds. Only certified ISO 12312-2 glasses filter this radiation safely. Ordinary sunglasses, even stacked, do not protect the eyes.
Choose a location with a clear view to the west, since the Sun will be low in the sky in the evening, with no obstacles (buildings, terrain, trees) along its path. The South-West (Biarritz, Pau, Toulouse, Bordeaux) offers the highest magnitude. Use the interactive map above to check the Sun's azimuth and altitude from any point.
The Gîte de la Viguerie, in Pruines (Aveyron), has an ideal south-facing clear view for observing the partial eclipse of August 12, 2026 in the evening. Refresh the map above with the gîte's GPS coordinates to get the exact time of maximum, the magnitude and the Sun's position from this exact spot.
It corresponds to the ground projection of the Moon's umbra (the shadow, as opposed to the penumbra which produces the partial eclipse), determined from the precise positions and distances of the Sun, Earth and Moon at the moment of alignment. Its width (~290 km on August 12, 2026) and path depend on that day's exact orbital geometry.
The Moon's shadow moves from west to east at high speed, so each location is swept at a different moment depending on its longitude. A city further west (e.g. Bordeaux compared to Lyon) generally sees the event start slightly earlier.
Biarritz, Pau and Toulouse offer the highest magnitude in France (around 0.9), thanks to their proximity to the Spanish totality band. Bordeaux has a similarly high magnitude. Magnitude decreases further to the North-East.
The maximum is expected around 8:30 PM CEST in Paris, with a magnitude of about 0.65 to 0.70. Use the simulator above (search for "Paris") to get the exact time, Sun altitude and azimuth at that moment.
In Lyon, the maximum also falls in the late evening, around 8:30 PM CEST, with an intermediate magnitude (around 0.75 to 0.80). Check the simulator (search "Lyon") for the precise time and Sun position.
In Toulouse, one of the best-placed French cities, the maximum is expected around 8:30 PM CEST with a magnitude close to 0.9. Search "Toulouse" in the simulator for the exact time and obscuration at that specific location.
In Bordeaux, the maximum also occurs around 8:30 PM CEST, with a high magnitude (close to 0.85-0.9), the city being near the Spanish totality band. The simulator (search "Bordeaux") gives the exact time and magnitude.
In Toulouse, the expected magnitude is around 0.9, corresponding to an obscuration (covered area) of roughly 80%. The simulator displays the exact value calculated for the precise coordinates you select around the city.
Depending on the exact location within the totality band (Galicia, Asturias, Spanish Basque Country, Aragon, Catalonia, Balearic Islands), totality lasts up to about 1 minute 50 seconds, with the maximum duration along the central axis of the shadow band.
This interactive simulator calculates the geometry of the August 12, 2026 solar eclipse from any point in France or Spain: contact times (C1 to C4), magnitude, obscuration, Sun altitude and azimuth, and distance to the totality band, in real time or at any time you choose via the timeline.
Yes, but only with a suitable solar filter placed in front of the lens: without one, the sensor can be damaged and the image will be overexposed. Never remove your protective glasses to look at the screen or viewfinder while the device is pointed at the Sun.
Thick cloud cover can hide the phenomenon locally. It's advisable to check weather forecasts as August 12, 2026 approaches and, if possible, plan a backup location a few dozen kilometers away where the sky might be clearer.