NASA WB-57F Captures Solar Eclipse from 50,000 Feet Over Iceland

On Aug 12, NASA’s WB‑57F high‑altitude research aircraft flew at 50,000 feet off Iceland’s coast to observe a total solar eclipse. The aircraft followed the precise path of totality, allowing its high‑resolution cameras to record the solar corona above clouds, dust, and water vapor that normally hinder ground‑based observations. An inflight video shows the corona emerging as the Moon’s shadow darkens the sky, with Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury visible in the frame. The data provide a clearer view of the eclipse’s atmospheric effects and help refine eclipse‑prediction models.