SEANGWORLD FACT BRIEF · SEANGWORLDNEWS · 1 SOURCE
NASA’s WB-57F aircraft observed total solar eclipse at 50,000 feet near Iceland on August 12, 2026
On August 12, 2026, NASA’s WB-57F high altitude research aircraft flew off the coast of Iceland at 50,000 feet to observe a total solar eclipse. The aircraft was piloted along the precise path of totality to extend observation time within the Moon’s shadow. Equipped with high-resolution cameras, it captured eclipse data above cloud cover and atmospheric interference. Images included the solar corona at the start of totality, visible planets Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury near the eclipsed Sun, and the bright horizon beyond the Moon's shadow.
Published ET · Updated ET
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Facts
- Established fact
NASA’s WB-57F high altitude research aircraft took to the skies off the coast of Iceland on August 12, 2026, to observe a total solar eclipse.
- Established fact
At 50,000 feet, the aircraft was piloted along the precisely determined path of totality to maximize its time in the Moon’s shadow.
- Established fact
A suite of high-resolution cameras on board recorded eclipse data from above clouds, dust, and atmospheric water vapor.
- Established fact
The observation included imagery of the solar corona emerging at the beginning of totality, as well as visible planets Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury near the eclipsed Sun.
Sources
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