Partial Solar Eclipse Visible Today Across Northern Hemisphere

A partial solar eclipse will occur today, visible across parts of the northern hemisphere from eastern Canada to Siberia. It will last approximately four hours, beginning at 8:50 AM UTC. Astronomer Florent Deleflie notes the importance of eye safety during the viewing of the eclipse. This phenomenon will not result in a total eclipse, with the next occurring in 2026, bypassing France.

Today, a partial solar eclipse will occur, with the moon obscuring part of the sun visible across the northern hemisphere, particularly from eastern Canada to Siberia. This event, the first of the year and the 17th in the 21st century, will last approximately four hours, starting at 8:50 AM UTC and concluding at 12:43 PM.

Residents in Mauritania and Morocco will be the first to see the eclipse, while those in northern Siberia will be the last. The Paris Observatory’s Time and Space Laboratory highlights that Europe will also witness the eclipse, with its peak at 10:47 AM UTC over northeastern Canada and Greenland, where up to 90% of the sun’s disk may be covered.

A solar eclipse happens when the sun, moon, and Earth align. In this instance, the alignment is not perfect enough to allow the moon’s shadow cone to touch Earth’s surface, resulting in no total eclipse. “The alignment was not perfect enough… meaning no total eclipse will occur anywhere at any time,” states astronomer Florent Deleflie.

In France, the eclipse will be observable from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM UTC, with about 10% to 30% of the sun obscured, leaving little noticeable effect to the naked eye. Viewing is safe with proper eye protection, as direct sunlight can cause serious eye damage. The use of special eclipse glasses in good condition is essential; any defect can lead to burns.

The partial solar eclipse today is a significant astronomical event, primarily visible across the northern hemisphere. Observers should take precautions to protect their eyes. This eclipse will not result in a total eclipse due to imperfect alignment. The next total solar eclipse will occur on August 12, 2026, but it will not pass over France, highlighting the rarity of such celestial events.

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