Characteristics

General circumstances

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Visibility

The zone of half-light ran of the American east until the Asian center. The band of totality of the shade of the Moon started in the Atlantic Ocean, before crossing towards 11:00 (UTC) the Cornouailles, the Comté of Devon, the north of the France, the south of the Germany, the Austria, the Hungary, the north of the Serbia, the Bulgaria, the Black Sea, the Turkey, the Iran, the south of the Pakistan as well as the India.

Phenomena related to the eclipse

During this eclipse, the observers could attend several phenomena. The first was first of all a fall of total or partial luminosity according to the areas. This fall of luminosity was not without pointing out a twilight anticipated for certain animals which keep silent themselves and lay down. Another phenomenon observed was the fall of temperature of approximately 3°C between 10:30 and 14:00 (first and last maximum contact), which created a feeling of cold to the right in the middle of the summer. This phenomenon was very marked for the observers located in the band of totality.

Observation in France

Covering a band of quasi total darkness of only a few kilometers broad and crossing France right through (of Normandy in Alsace while passing by the north of Paris), this eclipse caused a very great passion on behalf of the French, largely encouraged by the many publicity campaigns and the reviews proposing of the glasses making it possible to admire the eclipse without damaging the eyes.

All the hotels located in the band of darkness of the eclipse posted already complete several months in advance and many are those which had to make a long voyage to admire the eclipse in all its splendor. Most fortunate even took the Concorde which was found in the band of total darkness and could make it possible its passengers to follow the total eclipse during 9 minutes (against 2 to 4 minutes of totality for the people on the dry land).

Those which could not be in the band of darkness nevertheless could witness a semi-deep darkness, as one afternoon which would finish at 12 noon.

Unfortunately, the clouds obstructed the observation on most of France. Good observations were carried out in Normandy (particularly towards Gisors), Picardy (towards Amiens) and towards Rheims.

See too

External bonds

• video Document: " Sun the total Eclipse of August 11th, 1999 " (duration 4 minutes)

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