A solar eclipse will be visible in the Principality on 12 August. The eclipse’s start time will be 7:20 p.m. with maximum eclipse (95% coverage) happening at 8:25 pm. The eclipse will end in Monaco at 9:10 pm.
How to view the eclipse safely
There will be no safe moment to view the eclipse in Monaco without eye protection.
“Members of the public are reminded that looking directly at the sun with the naked eye, or without appropriate eye protection, even for a very short period of time, may cause irreversible damage to the retina and lead to permanent vision loss,” says Monaco Santé.
The eclipse should only be observed using special solar viewing glasses which have the CE mark matching the ISO 12312-2 standard. They are available from opticians, pharmacies and specialist retailers.
Sunglasses, regardless of how dark they are, do not provide adequate protection for viewing a solar eclipse. Particular care should also be taken to ensure that children observe the eclipse safely.
“Anyone experiencing visual symptoms after observing the eclipse, such as persistent blurred or reduced vision, or the appearance of a dark spot in their field of vision, is strongly advised to seek prompt advice from an eye doctor,” says Monaco Santé.
Where can I view the total eclipse?
Totality during an eclipse only occurs in a narrow path across Earth’s surface. The total eclipse will pass over northernmost Siberia, the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, the Atlantic Ocean, northern Spain and northeastern Portugal.
Because the total eclipse will pass over northern Spain from the Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean coast, the closest place to view totality from Monaco will be northern Spain (Catalonia, Aragon, Basque Country) which is about 600 to 800 kilometres away.
20 years since last total eclipse in Europe
The last total eclipse on continental Europe was on 29 March 2006 (while the last total eclipse within the European Union was on 11 August 1999). This will be the first total eclipse in Iceland since 1954.
Many Tourists expected in Iceland
The longest the eclipse will last on land will be in Látrabjarg, Iceland, with many people expected to attend. Plans are being made to ensure safety in the area, as many of the roads to Látrabjarg are very narrow. In Northern Russia, totality will begin at sunrise and the aurora borealis may be visible at the same time.
