NASA aircraft captures stunning footage of August 12 total solar eclipse from 50,000 feet; watch

The footage was taken utilizing a set of cameras aboard the WB-57 spacecraft which took off Iceland.

NASA has shared a shocking new video of the total solar eclipse captured on August 12. The footage was taken utilizing a set of cameras aboard the WB-57 plane, which took off from Iceland to check the Solar’s outer ambiance, referred to as the corona. In response to NASA, the airplane flew at an altitude of fifty,000 toes alongside the trail of totality—the areas the place the Moon fully lined the Solar.

The video captures the eclipse going from a fan of complete and darkening the sky because the Moon totally blocked the Solar. A zoomed-in view into the Solar exhibits a prominence (a glowing loop of plasma) rising from its edge. In a statement, NASA had mentioned that the cameras aboard the airplane will take high-resolution pictures (at the very least 20 per second) of the corona in a number of completely different wavelengths of seen and infrared gentle. The cameras had been a part of an instrument developed at NASA’s Langley Analysis Middle to report buildings, outflows, and speedy modifications within the corona.

AMPOSTA, SPAIN - AUGUST 12: A total solar eclipse is seen on August 12, 2026 in the Ebro Delta, near Amposta, Spain. It was the first time a total solar eclipse, when the sun is blocked by the moon's orbit, could be viewed from Spain since 1905. (Photo by James Breeden/Getty Images) — A complete photo voltaic eclipse is seen on August 12, 2026, within the Ebro Delta, close to Amposta, Spain. (Picture Supply: James Breeden | Getty Pictures)

The target of this statement was to analyze how photo voltaic prominences kind and the way the corona heats to one million levels. These pictures may additionally assist scientists perceive how the fabric within the corona and the photo voltaic wind are associated. The full photo voltaic eclipse on August 12 was the primary to be noticed from mainland Europe since 1999 and the primary for Spain since 1905.

GUADALAJARA, SPAIN - AUGUST 12: A view of the sun behind El Toro Osborne 'The Osborne Bull' during the total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026 in Guadalajara, Spain. It was the first time a total solar eclipse, when the sun is blocked by the moon's orbit, could be viewed from Spain since 1905. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images) — A view of the solar behind El Toro Osborne ‘The Osborne Bull’ throughout the complete photo voltaic eclipse on August 12, 2026, in Guadalajara, Spain. (Picture Supply: Pablo Blazquez Dominguez| Getty Pictures)

Nations like Russia, Iceland, Greenland, Spain and small a part of Portugal witnessed the overall eclipse, whereas different components of Europe, the US, Canada, and northwestern Africa noticed a partial eclipse.

When is the following photo voltaic eclipse?

The 12 months 2027 is bringing not one however two photo voltaic eclipses. The primary is an annular eclipse that can create a ‘ring of fireplace’ on February 6, whereas a complete photo voltaic eclipse will happen on August 2. The latter is being referred to as the ‘eclipse of the century,’ because the totality will final 6 minutes and 23 seconds. This complete photo voltaic eclipse—the longest since 1991—will cross throughout North Africa, and the longest one after this received’t be seen till 2114. Learn extra about it here.

'Ring of fire' phase of an annular eclipse of the sun, as seen from Klamath County, Oregon, on October 14, 2023. (Cover Image Source: Getty| Philip Yabut) — ‘Ring of fireplace’ part of an annular eclipse of the Solar, as seen from Klamath County, Oregon, on October 14, 2023. (Picture Supply: Getty| Philip Yabut)

As for the annular eclipse, it should cross over southern Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, a small a part of Brazil, and the Atlantic Ocean. The Moon will cowl about 93 p.c of the Solar, and the height will final for about 7 minutes and 51 seconds.