On the 12th, crowds gathered in open spaces across Paris, all looking up at the sky: a highly obscured partial solar eclipse was taking place.
Parisians said that the next chance to witness such a spectacular solar eclipse would be many years away, so it was worth experiencing this moment in person.
The last time France witnessed a total solar eclipse was on August 11th, 1999, 27 years ago. Although France was not in the path of totality this time, it was quite close, and in most regions across the country, people could see a partial eclipse with over 90% coverage.
For example, Paris could observe a partial eclipse with up to 92% coverage, while in Bayonne in the southwest, the obscuration reached as high as 99.5%.
In Paris, the eclipse began around 7:20 p.m. local time and reached its maximum—when the sun was most obscured—about an hour later. As the sun was already close to the horizon, one needed a wide western view to enjoy this astronomical show.
Parc André Citroën in Paris' 15th arrondissement was one of the ideal spots for viewing the eclipse. Around 6 p.m., large crowds began streaming into the park, spreading mats on the grass to picnic while they waited for the spectacle.
Just before the eclipse started, the park was packed with people, shoulder to shoulder, making it nearly impossible to find a place to sit or even to move.
The next opportunity to see a total solar eclipse over mainland France will not come until September 2081.