Millions of people around the world will have the chance to witness one of nature’s most spectacular celestial events on August 12, as NASA livestreams the total solar eclipse while conducting an ambitious scientific campaign aimed at uncovering new insights into the Sun and Earth’s atmosphere.
More than a typical eclipse broadcast, this year’s livestream will coincide with a coordinated research effort involving a high-altitude NASA aircraft, dozens of scientific balloons, and teams of researchers stationed along the eclipse’s path across Europe and the North Atlantic.
The eclipse will be streamed on NASA+ and the agency’s digital platforms, allowing viewers around the world to watch the event even if they are outside the path of totality.
A rare total solar eclipse over Europe
The Moon’s shadow will sweep across Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain, a small part of Portugal, and northern Russia, while a partial eclipse will be visible across much of Europe, northwestern Africa, Canada, and parts of the United States.
In Spain, the eclipse will occur shortly before sunset, creating the dramatic sight of a darkened Sun low on the horizon. Most locations along the path of totality will experience complete darkness for less than two and a half minutes, making every second count for both scientists and skywatchers.
NASA chases the Moon’s shadow
While millions watch from the ground, NASA-supported scientists will take to the skies aboard a high-altitude WB-57 research jet. Flying at roughly 460 mph (740 km/h), the aircraft will chase the Moon’s shadow, allowing researchers to observe the Sun’s corona—the outer atmosphere visible only during total solar eclipses—for longer than would be possible from the ground.
The aircraft will capture thousands of high-resolution images that scientists hope will provide new insights into the corona’s structure, solar activity, and the processes that drive space weather, which can affect satellites, communications, and power infrastructure on Earth.
NASA has used the WB-57 during previous eclipses, but advances in imaging technology are expected to produce even more detailed observations during the 2026 event.
Balloons will study Earth’s atmosphere
The eclipse will also provide a unique opportunity for atmospheric research. NASA-supported teams from several universities will launch about eighty scientific balloons in Iceland, along with additional balloons in Spain, before, during, and after totality. The campaign will examine how the sudden loss of sunlight affects temperatures, winds, cloud formation, and the atmospheric boundary layer closest to Earth’s surface.
Researchers say these measurements could improve understanding of how Earth’s atmosphere responds to rapid environmental changes while building on lessons learned during the 2024 total solar eclipse over North America.
A brief spectacle of a total solar eclipse with lasting scientific value
Although total solar eclipses are celebrated for their breathtaking beauty, they also provide some of the few opportunities for scientists to directly observe the Sun’s corona from Earth without relying on specialized space-based instruments.
The August 12 eclipse offers a rare combination of favorable viewing conditions, international collaboration, and advanced research technology. By combining airborne observations, balloon experiments, and ground-based measurements, NASA hopes to gather data that will deepen scientists’ understanding of both our nearest star and the planet it sustains.
For the public, it will be a chance to witness one of astronomy’s most extraordinary sights. For researchers, it will be a brief but invaluable scientific opportunity—one measured not in hours but in minutes.
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