A solar eclipse free of clouds and atmospheric distortions—passengers on a special flight observed an extremely rare astronomical phenomenon from an altitude of 10,000 meters. Find out how this unique flight over Spain unfolded
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On August 12, the Spanish airline Iberia operated a special flight to allow its passengers to witness the total solar eclipse in all its glory. This astronomical event was truly historic—the Iberian Peninsula hadn’t seen one like this in 114 years. This was reported by Travel Tomorrow.
Why It’s Better to Watch a Solar Eclipse from an Airplane
Usually, watching an eclipse from the ground is a gamble. Sudden clouds can ruin everything. To avoid this, the Iberia plane climbed to an altitude of 10,000 meters. At this altitude, clouds and atmospheric distortions no longer interfere, so passengers were treated to a perfect view.
You can watch a video of the solar eclipse from aboard the Iberia plane via this link.
Photo: YouTube Diario AS
The symbolic flight was assigned the number IB1473—in honor of the birth year of the great astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus. The plane departed from Madrid in the evening, flew directly through the path of totality over the province of Palencia, and returned to the capital.
Incidentally, such flights are in huge demand. Iberia wasn’t the only one to pick up on the idea: Brussels Airlines also organized a similar flight, although from Belgium, the Moon covered only 96 percent of the Sun.
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Live broadcast of the eclipse and scientific research
In addition to tourists, researchers from the “Helios” scientific project were on board the special flight. The team, led by astronomer Miguel Serra-Ricart, took this opportunity to study the solar corona—the outer layer of the Sun’s atmosphere, which is simply impossible to see on ordinary days due to the Sun’s intense brightness.
For those who were unable to purchase a ticket for this flight, the airline had a surprise in store. A live broadcast of the eclipse was streamed directly from the plane to social media. Starlink technology was used to ensure a stable internet connection, so viewers around the world received footage that was much clearer than ground-based footage.
What Is a Total Solar Eclipse and Why Is It So Rare
To put it simply, a total eclipse occurs when the Moon moves perfectly between the Earth and the Sun, completely blocking the light. This is an amazing natural coincidence. Although the Sun is 400 times larger than our Moon, it is exactly 400 times farther from Earth. That’s why they appear to be the same size in the sky. When their paths visually intersect, a brief period of darkness ensues—one that people all over the world eagerly await.
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Frequantly
asked questions
What is a solar eclipse in simple terms?
It’s the moment when the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun. It casts a shadow on our planet, and as a result, darkness or twilight can set in for a few minutes in the middle of the day.
How often do solar eclipses occur?
Generally, they occur two to five times a year on Earth. But the thing is, total eclipses at the exact same location on the planet are extremely rare. In your city, such a spectacle might happen once every 300–400 years. That’s exactly why tourists and scientists are so eager to witness them.
How should you view an eclipse?
The golden rule is: never look directly at the Sun, even if it’s almost completely covered. Regular sunglasses, X-ray films, tinted glass, or floppy disks won’t protect you—you could suffer a serious retinal burn. You must use only special eclipse-viewing glasses (with certified filters) or the glass from a welding mask (with a protection rating of at least DIN 14).