NASA · Ruimte

APOD: 2026 September 5 – Chasing the Moon’s Shadow

NASA's WB-57F research aircraft pursued the Moon's shadow off the coast of Iceland on August 12 to observe a total solar eclipse from an altitude of 50,000 feet.

The aircraft was piloted along the precise path of totality to extend the observation time within the Moon's shadow. High-resolution cameras onboard captured eclipse data above clouds, dust, and atmospheric water vapor that can hinder ground-based observations.

The image from the cockpit shows the solar corona appearing at the start of totality, with the sky appearing dark within the Moon's shadow. Venus is visible to the left of center, while Jupiter and Mercury are faintly seen to the right of the eclipsed Sun. The horizon below remains bright, outside the shadow's reach.

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