NASA Shares Views of August Solar Eclipse from Ground, Air, Space

On Aug. 12, a total solar eclipse darkened skies over Greenland, Iceland, and Spain. As the Moon covered the Sun, it briefly revealed the Sun’s wispy outer atmosphere — the corona — to those in the path of totality who were lucky enough to have clear skies. NASA researchers and photographers were along the eclipse path to study the corona, capture the phenomenon, and observe how the eclipse affected our planet.
One NASA photographer in Spain captured the total solar eclipse as well as the partial phases before and after, until the Sun set below the horizon.
In northern Maine, where only a partial eclipse was visible, another NASA photographer captured the International Space Station, with its crew of seven aboard, speeding past the partially eclipsed Sun.
Meanwhile, from about 250 miles above the ground, a NASA astronaut aboard the International Space Station snapped a few photos of the partial eclipse from their perspective as well.
Between the ground and the space station, NASA pilots flew NASA’s WB-57F research jet at an altitude of 50,000 feet, passing through the eclipse’s shadow to lengthen their time in the eclipse. The jet carried a suite of cameras that captured high-resolution images of the corona and prominences, plumes of electrically charged gas rising off the Sun, in several different wavelengths of light.
In both Iceland and Spain, teams of students participating in the NASA-funded Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project launched scientific balloons that carried instruments to capture images of the eclipse’s shadow and study the eclipse’s effects on our atmosphere. Even though clouds obscured the view of the eclipse from the ground in Iceland, the weather did not interfere with the balloon-borne instruments’ ability to gather information about how the brief loss of light and heat affected the lower atmosphere.
Before the eclipse, scientists at Predictive Science Inc., with support from NASA grants and supercomputers, used observations of the Sun from NASA spacecraft and ground-based telescopes to predict what the corona would look like during the eclipse. Below, their corona prediction is compared to a composite image of the corona, which combines multiple images captured by the NASA-supported DEB Initiative project during the total eclipse near León, Spain.

Facts Only

* A total solar eclipse occurred on August 12 over Greenland, Iceland, and Spain.
* NASA researchers and photographers studied the corona during the event.
* One NASA photographer in Spain captured the total solar eclipse and partial phases.
* Another NASA photographer in northern Maine captured the International Space Station passing the partially eclipsed Sun.
* A NASA astronaut aboard the International Space Station photographed the partial eclipse from space.
* NASA pilots flew a WB-57F research jet at 50,000 feet through the shadow to observe and photograph the corona.
* Student teams in Iceland and Spain launched balloons to study the eclipse's effect on the atmosphere.
* Scientists used NASA spacecraft and ground-based telescope observations for coronal predictions.
* Coronal predictions were compared to images from the DEB Initiative project near León, Spain.

Executive Summary

On August 12, a total solar eclipse darkened skies over Greenland, Iceland, and Spain. During the event, observers in the path of totality witnessed the Sun's corona. NASA researchers and photographers were present to study the corona, capture the phenomenon, and observe the eclipse’s planetary effects. In Spain, one photographer recorded the total solar eclipse along with the partial phases before and after the Sun set. In northern Maine, another NASA photographer captured the International Space Station passing the partially eclipsed Sun. An astronaut aboard the International Space Station also photographed the partial eclipse from space. NASA pilots flew a WB-57F research jet at 50,000 feet, passing through the shadow to extend their observation time, capturing high-resolution images of the corona and prominences. Teams of students in Iceland and Spain launched scientific balloons carrying instruments to gather data on the eclipse's effect on the atmosphere. Scientists used prior observations from NASA spacecraft and telescopes, along with supercomputers, to predict the appearance of the corona. These predictions were compared against composite images taken during the total eclipse near León, Spain.

Full Take

The narrative weaves together diverse observational methods—ground photography, high-altitude jet flight, balloon deployment, and space-based observation—to examine a singular astronomical event. This structure demonstrates a commitment to multi-layered verification, positioning the experience not just as a visual spectacle but as an opportunity for empirical study across multiple scales. The integration of ground observations (photographers, balloons), atmospheric passage (jet flight), and remote sensing (ISS astronaut) creates a complex evidentiary tapestry regarding the eclipse's impact on both the visible corona and the lower atmosphere. The use of predictive modeling by scientists, cross-referenced with empirical capture from NASA projects, illustrates a standard scientific loop: prediction, observation, and comparison. The pattern emerging is one where raw data collection is systematically layered to build an understanding that transcends mere description. This method resists the temptation to view the event solely through the lens of spectacle; instead, it highlights how different vantage points contribute necessary components for comprehensive understanding. The implication is that true comprehension of large-scale phenomena requires synthesizing information gathered from disparate physical realities—the near-field and the far-field, the terrestrial and the celestial. What assumptions about what constitutes 'knowledge' are implicit in prioritizing the fusion of these varied data streams over any single perspective? How does this methodology for data aggregation inform our approach to understanding complex systems outside of direct human perception?