On August 11, 1999, a total solar eclipse could be seen over Europe. The moon's shadow swept over England, France, Belgium and Luxemburg into Germany.
We chose as our observation site the village of Eton in Northern France. At a small sand depot near the main road, we were joined by some 100 other observers.
As the hour of the eclipse approached, all nearby country roads became cramped with parked cars, most of them Dutch.
During the partial phase, the sky remained overcast. Occasionally, a clearing appeared, offering a view of the partially eclipsed sun (200 mm telelens).
During totality, which lasted for 2 min 12 sec, the countryside was plunged into a sudden darkness. The eclipsed sun itself was visible through thin clouds for about half a minute.
Apart from the white corona, some bright red prominences were visible with the naked eye. The prominences are not visible in the picture below (standard 50 mm lens).
Well before the end of totality the sun disappeared again, revealing itself only minutes later, to demonstrate that it was all over now.
The eclipse made an unforgettable impression on the observers; yet, it made you long for an eclipse under ideal weather conditions.
Last modified:
September 12, 1999