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August 2026 total solar eclipse observations

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2026-08-11 05:32 UTC → 2026-09-07 03:12 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Scientific and amateur observers are preparing for a total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026. NASA plans to use a high-altitude WB-57 research aircraft to follow the Moon's shadow, allowing for nearly three minutes of totality to study the Sun's corona, solar wind, and heating via the SAMI high-speed camera system. Flying at approximately 740 km/h at an altitude of 15,000 meters, the aircraft will use four high-speed cameras to capture at least 20 images per second in visible and infrared wavelengths. Additionally, NASA will deploy balloon probes, including about 80 from Iceland and six equipped with 360° cameras from Spain, to monitor atmospheric effects. The eclipse path includes parts of northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, the Atlantic Ocean, Spain, and Portugal, while the United States will experience a partial eclipse. ESA and NASA are collaborating on combined observations from Earth and space to test experimental methods that are too costly or risky for satellites. This provides a unique opportunity to study the corona closer to the solar surface than current probes like Solar Orbiter or SOHO can achieve. In addition to the NASA mission, a research expedition utilizing flight IB1473 will observe the eclipse from an altitude of over 10,000 meters in the upper troposphere to minimize interference from water vapor and clouds. Astrophysicist and co-pilot Javier Meana, working under Commander Javier Lopera, stated that the team must maintain “extreme precision” to align with the limited duration of the eclipse, identifying the Palencia region as a key observation area. As the event approached, experts issued safety warnings regarding solar viewing, advising against the use of outdated eclipse glasses due to the risk of retinal damage from degraded filters.

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