NASA researchers captured the August 12, 2026, total solar eclipse using ground-based, aerial, and space-based instruments to study the Sun's corona and atmospheric effects.

On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse crossed Greenland, Iceland, and Spain, providing NASA researchers with a unique opportunity to study the Sun's corona. Teams utilized ground-based cameras, high-altitude research aircraft, and the International Space Station to observe the phenomenon. These efforts aimed to capture high-resolution imagery and data on how the temporary loss of solar light and heat impacts Earth's atmosphere.

Aerial and Space Observations

NASA pilots flew a WB-57F research jet at 50,000 feet to extend their time within the eclipse's shadow, using a suite of cameras to record the corona and solar prominences in visible and infrared light. Simultaneously, the International Space Station provided a unique perspective from orbit. Astronaut Jessica Meir captured images of the partial eclipse from 262 miles above southern Quebec, where the Moon covered approximately 18% of the Sun.

Ground-Based and Balloon Research

In Spain and Iceland, students participating in the NASA-funded Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project launched scientific balloons to measure atmospheric changes during the eclipse. Despite cloud cover obscuring ground views in Iceland, the balloon-borne instruments successfully gathered data. Additionally, scientists at Predictive Science Inc. utilized NASA data and supercomputers to generate pre-eclipse predictions of the corona's appearance, which were later compared against composite images captured near León, Spain.