Iberia to charter a special plane for the total solar eclipse

A solar eclipse is set to happen on 12 August, and Spain is among the best places to see the totality as the sun begins to set.

There are plenty of viewing events going on in the path of totality, but if you can’t make it in-person, you can watch the eclipse from 30,000ft as Iberia has chartered a special flight for the occasion.

Flight IB1473 – so named for the birth year of astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus – will take off from Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport before following a special route over Palencia.

The Spanish flag carrier will live stream the entire thing across social media, allowing you to watch the celestial event from a unique vantage point without having to leave the comfort of your own home.

A group of researchers from the Shelios project will be on board, with the scientists making the most of the clear view of the solar corona without atmospheric phenomena that can hinder observation from the ground.

“We are very pleased to collaborate on an initiative that brings together aviation, science, and innovation,” Diego Fernández, director of strategy, transformation, and sustainability at Iberia, said.

“This flight allows us to leverage the advantages of observing from cruising altitude to contribute to the study of an exceptional astronomical phenomenon.”

Set to occur on 12 August, this will be the first total solar eclipse visible from the Iberian Peninsula since 1912.

The path of totality

You can see a map of the path of totality on the NASA website, with Greenland and Iceland also experiencing a total solar eclipse.

Totality will last around two minutes for those directly in the eclipse’s path.

Major cities in Europe that will see a partial eclipse include London, Paris, Brussels and Lisbon. Madrid and Barcelona are also just outside the path of totality, with coverage reaching 99%.

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