On Thursday, June 10, 2021, skywatchers in Canada, Greenland, the Arctic, and Russia will witness a spectacular annular solar eclipse. In France, expect a partial eclipse, with the clearest views from the northwest.
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, casting a shadow that temporarily dims our star. Within Earth's system, the Moon obscures the Sun from our view.
Solar eclipses vary in type, including total eclipses where the Moon and Sun appear the same size from Earth, fully blocking the Sun for minutes.
An annular eclipse, like this one, features the Moon's apparent diameter slightly smaller than the Sun's. It slides in front but leaves a glowing ring of sunlight visible—a striking "ring of fire" effect.
This first annular solar eclipse of 2021 begins in northern Canada on Thursday, June 10, 2021, crosses the North Pole, and concludes in northern Siberia.
France lies outside the path of annularity, so it appears partial. The Institute of Celestial Mechanics and Ephemeris Calculation (IMCCE) notes optimal visibility in the northwest, with 16.8% obscuration in Brest and 15.9% in Lille. Paris reaches 13.1%, while Perpignan sees just 3.4%.
For most observers, the brightness change will be too subtle to notice unaided. "To the naked eye, there will be no fading sensation," explains Florent Deleflie of the Paris Observatory (via Numerama). "The best way to observe from France is with Sun-dedicated instruments or projection."
IMCCE recommends certified eclipse glasses with fresh filtering film—older pairs lose effectiveness over time.
