Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse will cross Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and Portugal. But some of the best views will come from 50,000 feet up, aboard NASA's WB-57 jet.
Flying through the stratosphere, the jet’s instruments study the eclipse from above most of Earth’s atmosphere, avoiding the clouds, dust, and water vapor that can blur the view.
As the Moon's shadow races across the ground, the crew pushes the high-speed jet to stay inside totality for as long as possible, giving scientists and their instruments extra time to study the Sun.
Learn more: science.nasa.gov/science-research/heliophysics/nasa-science-soars-during-august-total-solar-eclipse
For more details about solar eclipses visit science.nasa.gov/eclipses
To learn more about eclipse safety visit science.nasa.gov/eclipses/safety
Music Credit: “Uncovered Discovered” by Emanuel Kallins [BMI] and Chieli Minucci [ASCAP] from Universal Production Music.
Video credit: NASA
Producer: Joy Ng (eMITS)
Pilots: Tom Parent (NASA JSC), Cary Klemm (NASA JSC)
Videographers: Josh Valcarcel (NASA JSC), Charles Clendaniel (eMITS)
This video can be freely shared and downloaded at svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/15065. While the video in its entirety can be shared without permission, the music and some individual imagery may have been obtained through permission and may not be excised or remixed in other products. Specific details on such imagery may be found here: svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/15065. For more information on NASA’s media guidelines, visit nasa.gov/multimedia/guidelines.
If you liked this video, subscribe to the NASA Goddard YouTube channel: youtube.com/NASAGoddard
Follow NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
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· Flickr: flickr.com/photos/gsfc
On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse will cross Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and Portugal. But some of the best views will come from 50,000 feet up, aboard NASA's WB-57 jet.
Flying through the stratosphere, the jet’s instruments study the eclipse from above most of Earth’s atmosphere, avoiding the clouds, dust, and water vapor that can blur the view.
As the Moon's shadow races across the ground, the crew pushes the high-speed jet to stay inside totality for as long as possible, giving scientists and their instruments extra time to study the Sun.
Learn more: science.nasa.gov/science-research/heliophysics/nasa-science-soars-during-august-total-solar-eclipse
For more details about solar eclipses visit science.nasa.gov/eclipses
To learn more about eclipse safety visit science.nasa.gov/eclipses/safety
Music Credit: “Uncovered Discovered” by Emanuel Kallins [BMI] and Chieli Minucci [ASCAP] from Universal Production Music.
Video credit: NASA
Producer: Joy Ng (eMITS)
Pilots: Tom Parent (NASA JSC), Cary Klemm (NASA JSC)
Videographers: Josh Valcarcel (NASA JSC), Charles Clendaniel (eMITS)
This video can be freely shared and downloaded at svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/15065. While the video in its entirety can be shared without permission, the music and some individual imagery may have been obtained through permission and may not be excised or remixed in other products. Specific details on such imagery may be found here: svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/15065. For more information on NASA’s media guidelines, visit nasa.gov/multimedia/guidelines.
If you liked this video, subscribe to the NASA Goddard YouTube channel: youtube.com/NASAGoddard
Follow NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
· Instagram: instagram.com/nasagoddard
· X: twitter.com/NASAGoddard
· Facebook: facebook.com/NASAGoddard
· Flickr: flickr.com/photos/gsfc
