# Will I see anything? (Astronomy/Math) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 2, 2017, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-i-see-anything-astronomy-math/790346 "2017-07-02T13:25:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![maisoui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@maisoui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maisoui)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2017, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-i-see-anything-astronomy-math/790346/1 "2017-07-02T13:25:30Z")
[August 21 solar eclipse in Paris](https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/france/paris?iso=20170821) The solar eclipse looks pretty much like a non-event in that link. By happy coincidence, I am going up the Eiffel Tower for a “sunset” tour on August 21. Once on the second level, I can stay as long as I want. I wonder, since I would be at 377 feet, would I see anything different/more/better than someone at ground level at that time? ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2017, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-i-see-anything-astronomy-math/790346/2 "2017-07-02T13:41:47Z")
Paris is very far from the path of totality. You will hardly notice anything (and certainly no difference between ground level and a few hundred feet up). The sun is very bright, so a partial eclipse – even up to about 80% – isn’t particularly interesting. You’ll enjoy Paris for other reasons, though! ---
**Author:** ![maisoui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@maisoui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maisoui)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2017, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-i-see-anything-astronomy-math/790346/3 "2017-07-02T14:12:56Z")
I intend to, although the tour I am on only has me in Paris for the one full day and two partial days either side (military sites tour timed to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the raid on Dieppe). It’s going to be around 9 p.m. in Paris when the eclipse is “viewable” but the sun looks to be mostly below the horizon… Rats… ---
**Author:** ![Nansbread1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Nansbread1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nansbread1)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2017, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-i-see-anything-astronomy-math/790346/4 "2017-07-02T17:15:53Z")
The gold ring on the pavement that a Roma gypsy points out to you and asks if it is yours… that ring may not shine as well in a partial eclipse. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2017, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-i-see-anything-astronomy-math/790346/5 "2017-07-02T17:49:10Z")
The most noticeable sign of an eclipse is in a mostly-shaded park, with just a little bit of sun shining through the trees. You know that sort of splotchy pattern of light you get on the ground from that? Well, ordinarily that splotchiness is made up of a bunch of circles of light, but during an eclipse, it’ll be a bunch of sickles of light instead. Each circle is a crude pinhole image of the Sun. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-i-see-anything-astronomy-math/790346/6 "2017-07-03T15:28:50Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > The most noticeable sign of an eclipse is in a mostly-shaded park, with just a little bit of sun shining through the trees. You know that sort of splotchy pattern of light you get on the ground from that? Well, ordinarily that splotchiness is made up of a bunch of circles of light, but during an eclipse, it’ll be a bunch of sickles of light instead. Each circle is a crude pinhole image of the Sun. Cool way of describing/thinking about that. Plus “not circles, sickles” is pleasant.