2026 archive

The 12 August 2026 eclipse has passed

The information below describes the 2026 event. For the next total solar eclipse, use our guide to 2 August 2027: the path and timings are different.

Lille, France

Photo: Cereol89, Velvet / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Eclissi solare parziale · 12 August 2026

Where to watch the 2026 solar eclipse in Lille

Lille sees a deep partial eclipse on 12 August 2026 — about 90.2% of the Sun covered at around 20:14 CEST, with the Sun only ~8° above the horizon.

Massimo~20:14 CESTHauts-de-France · France · 12 Aug 2026
Durata~1h 47m of partial eclipseThis is the full partial eclipse from first to last contact. There is no totality here — the Sun is never completely covered, so there is no corona and no moment when it is safe to look without protection.
Altitudine del Sole~8° above the WNW horizonlow in the west — an open horizon is essential
Copertura90.2% (partial)Lille is OUTSIDE the path of totality. About 90.2% of the Sun is covered at maximum — a deep partial eclipse, but not a total one. The corona never appears and the sky does not go dark.
Probabilità di cielo sereno Mixed · ≈58%Northern France in August is changeable — bright spells are common, but so is afternoon cloud. A higher Sun makes scattered cloud survivable.
Conto alla rovescia per il massimo
—giorni —ore —min —sec

Lille sees a deep partial eclipse on 12 August 2026 — about 90.2% of the Sun covered at around 20:14 CEST, with the Sun only ~8° above the horizon.

Below: Lille's exact timings, the best open viewpoints, why your eclipse glasses never come off here, and where the real totality is.

La sequenza temporale

Quando avviene l’eclissi

~19:19 CESTInizia la fase parziale — primo "morso" al Sole
~20:14 CESTParziale — ~1h 47m of partial eclipse. Occhiali da togliere solo durante la totalità.
~21:13 CESTEclipse ends ~21:06 CEST

The eclipse runs from about 19:19 to 21:06 CEST, with maximum at around 20:14 and the Sun ~8° above the west-northwest horizon. The eclipse finishes before sunset at 21:13 CEST, so you are not racing the horizon here.

Dove posizionarsi

I migliori posti per osservare

Citadelle park

Park · large open

Space and clear sky

Vauban's citadel and its surrounding park give the largest open ground in Lille with clear western sightlines.

Grand Place and the Vieille Bourse

Landmark · central

Atmosphere, limited horizon

The great square is the heart of Lille — fine for the occasion, though buildings limit a low western view.

Parc de la Deûle

Park · open countryside

Best low horizon nearby

The large park south-west of the city gives genuinely open ground in the right direction.

Mont Cassel

Elevated · rare height

Above the Flanders plain

One of the few real hills in French Flanders, with long views across the plain toward the setting Sun.

South and west for deeper coverage

More of the Sun covered

Toward Paris and beyond

Lille is among the shallower French cities; coverage deepens markedly to the south-west.

Local astronomy societies and science centres often organise safe public viewing with filtered telescopes — worth checking closer to the date.

Plan your trip

Where to stay near the eclipse

Accommodation around the viewing area for eclipse night (11–13 Aug 2026). Compare hotels and rentals live on the map below.

Le previsioni meteo

Il cielo sarà sereno?

Northern France in August is changeable — bright spells are common, but so is afternoon cloud. A higher Sun makes scattered cloud survivable.

The deciding factor here is simply whether the sky is clear at the right moment. Check the forecast in the final 48 hours and, if you can, keep the option of moving to a gap in the cloud.

Pianifica la giornata

La tua lista di controllo per il giorno dell’eclissi

  • Certified ISO 12312-2 / CE eclipse glasses — one pair per person
  • Glasses stay ON for the entire eclipse — there is no safe moment here
  • An open west-northwest horizon — the Sun is only ~8° up
  • Arrive before 19:19 to catch first contact
  • Check the cloud forecast in the final 48 hours
  • Never look through a camera, phone or binoculars without a proper solar filter
  • Pinhole projection is a safe way for groups to watch together
  • If you want totality, it is northern Spain — not here

Osserva in sicurezza

Qualunque sia il tuo modo di guardare, fallo in sicurezza

Tutti i prodotti Absolute Eclipse sono certificati in modo indipendente e prodotti nell’UE. Non esiste un momento sicuro per guardare a occhio nudo — indossa sempre occhiali certificati.

  • Certificato ISO 12312-2
  • CE · UE 2016/425 DPI
  • Prodotto e spedito dall’UE

Stai osservando in gruppo? Confezioni per famiglie e rivenditori → Le scorte certificate si esauriscono man mano che si avvicina il 12 agosto.

Risposte rapide

FAQ sull’eclissi di Lille

Will Lille see a total solar eclipse on 12 August 2026?
No. Lille is outside the path of totality and sees a partial eclipse, with about 90.2% of the Sun covered at maximum. It is a striking sight through eclipse glasses, but the corona does not appear and the sky does not go dark. The path of totality crosses northern Spain.
What time is the eclipse in Lille?
The partial phase begins at about 19:19 CEST and maximum — 90.2% coverage — comes at roughly 20:14 CEST. The eclipse finishes before sunset at 21:13 CEST, so you are not racing the horizon here.
Do I need eclipse glasses in Lille?
Yes, for the entire eclipse without exception. Because the Sun is never fully covered, there is never a safe moment to look with the naked eye. Even at 90.2% coverage the remaining sliver is dangerously bright. Certified ISO 12312-2 / CE glasses stay on from start to finish.
Where should I watch from in Lille?
The Sun is only about 8° above the horizon, so you need an open, unobstructed view to the west-northwest. Buildings, hills and trees in that direction will hide the deepest phase.
Will the weather be clear in Lille on eclipse day?
Northern France in August is changeable — bright spells are common, but so is afternoon cloud. A higher Sun makes scattered cloud survivable.

Continua a esplorare il percorso

Regioni vicine da cui osservare

Fonti: timeanddate.com · nationaleclipse.com · eclipsophile.com (meteo) · Gobierno de Aragón · BBC Sky at Night. Gli orari sono locali (CEST).