All articles tagged with #solar eclipse
NASA used a WB-57F high-altitude aircraft off Iceland at 50,000 feet to chase the Moon's shadow during a total solar eclipse, capturing eclipse data above clouds; the onboard cameras reveal the solar corona at totality, with Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury visible near the Sun as the horizon glows in the distance.
APOD explains how animals react to a total solar eclipse, using a Polish stork roost as an example: birds fall quiet during totality, crickets and frogs are less audible, and as sunlight returns the dawn chorus resumes; the post also notes APOD’s site migration to science.nasa.gov.
APOD's Sept 3, 2026 image shows a stork in Poland during a total solar eclipse, illustrating how animals react to the event: crickets and frogs chirp during totality, most birds go quiet, waterfowl may sleep on one leg with their heads tucked, and songbirds resume their dawn songs as sunlight returns; NASA notes APOD's site migration to science.nasa.gov/apod and teases tomorrow's picture, 'aloha'.
APOD highlights a rare August 2026 eclipse pair: a total solar eclipse on August 12 observed in Spain and an almost total lunar eclipse on August 27/28 observed in France, both captured as HDR composites. The article notes the next eclipse pair in 2027 (annular solar eclipse and penumbral lunar eclipse) and mentions NASA’s APOD site moving to science.nasa.gov.
APOD explains that eclipses can occur as a pair during an eclipse season. In 2026, a total solar eclipse on Aug 12 (Peñafiel, Spain) and an almost total lunar eclipse on Aug 27/28 (Sèvres, France) were captured in HDR composites, illustrating the rare solar-lunar pairing. The next season brings an annular solar eclipse on Feb 6, 2027 and a penumbral lunar eclipse on Feb 20/21, with NASA noting the site’s move to science.nasa.gov/apod.
NASA's Perseverance rover on Mars used its Mastcam-Z cameras to capture Phobos partially obscuring the Sun, producing Mars' own solar eclipse; the image highlights how robotic explorers expand humanity's reach and offer unique views of cosmic events from the Martian surface.
On Aug. 18, 1868, during a total solar eclipse in India, French astronomer Pierre Janssen used a spectroscope to observe a bright yellow line not matching any known element, signaling the discovery of helium; English astronomer Norman Lockyer independently identified the same line as a new element, later named helium after Helios. This was the first time spectroscopy revealed an element in an astronomical object before it was found on Earth, and helium would later prove essential for spaceflight and stellar physics.
The 2026 Perseids were particularly bright because the Moon was absent, letting more meteors be visible, while a total solar eclipse near the peak (visible from Greenland and Spain) occurred. The shower originates from debris of Comet Swift-Tuttle and radiates from Perseus, with the featured image captured over several nights in Jizerka, Czech Republic.
Orbiting spacecraft captured stunning views of the Aug. 12 total solar eclipse: NASA astronaut Jessica Meir photographed the Moon moving across the Sun from the ISS with about 18% sun coverage; ESA’s Proba-3 mission recorded a rare double eclipse using its occulter and coronagraph; ESA’s MTG-I1 imager captured the Moon’s shadow darkening Earth; NOAA’s GOES-19 also imaged the event, with Space.com featuring a photo roundup of additional views.
Ars Technica’s Stephen Clark recounts watching the August 12, 2026 total solar eclipse from Duratón, Spain, detailing about 1.5 minutes of totality, the solar corona over a centuries‑old church, and the fusion of ancient setting with modern science; he also offers practical viewing tips—backup plans, mobility for clear skies, preparing for crowds, and using safe eclipse glasses—while reflecting on being an eclipse neophyte among seasoned chasers.
A curated set of standout images from the August 12, 2026 total solar eclipse, captured across Spain, Greenland, and beyond, featuring work by Ruiyu Zhang, AJ Smadi, Bill Ingalls, Aditya Madhavan, Juan Carlos Muñoz, Reuben Wu, and Andrew McCarthy, plus dramatic aerial and paramotor shots; the piece highlights NASA APOD features and provides links to related coverage, while noting Daily Kos’ fundraising appeal.
Two upcoming solar eclipses in 2027 and 2028 promise spectacular viewing: a very long total eclipse in 2027 along a path from southern Spain through North Africa into the Middle East (with Spain and nearby Gibraltar/UK as the European viewing points) and an annular “ring of fire” in 2028 crossing Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, and on to Portugal/Spain, where Brazil will offer the longest annularity (~10 minutes 27 seconds) and Spain will have a photogenic sunset view. Plan early.
Solar eclipses occur when a moon passes between a planet and the Sun, casting a shadow that researchers use to study motion, atmospheres, and gravity. The article notes Io's frequent shadow on Jupiter as an example, recounts Earth's historic use of eclipses and the 1919 test of general relativity, highlights the 1973 Concorde flight that extended totality to 74 minutes for coronal observations, and describes Phobos transits on Mars used to measure orbital decay—demonstrating the same geometric rules govern eclipses across the solar system.
Space.com’s Space Photo of the Day captures the International Space Station silhouetted against the Sun during the Aug. 12, 2026 total solar eclipse, with Expedition 75 crew observing from orbit and NASA providing the imagery; the moment highlights how satellites participate in dramatic eclipse skywatching.
NASA says the Aug. 2, 2027 total solar eclipse will deliver up to six minutes and 23 seconds of totality—the longest in decades and the longest until 2114—visible across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East; most of the U.S. won’t see it, with only a partial view possible in parts of Maine early on Aug. 2, 2027.