NASA scientists are preparing to observe Wednesday’s total solar eclipse from high above Iceland, using a specialised research aircraft operating from Keflavík International Airport.
The WB-57 aircraft will allow researchers to follow the eclipse above much of the cloud cover that could frustrate observers on the ground, giving scientists a different perspective on one of the most anticipated astronomical events in Iceland for decades.
What’s the Story?
- A NASA research aircraft will operate from Keflavík during Wednesday’s total solar eclipse.
- Scientists will observe the eclipse from high altitude, above much of Iceland’s cloud cover.
- Aircraft have chased eclipses over Iceland before, including during the 2015 solar eclipse.
Above the Clouds
The WB-57 is a high-altitude research aircraft used for scientific observation. During Wednesday’s eclipse, researchers will be able to study the event from the air rather than relying on clear skies at a fixed location on the ground.
That could prove particularly useful in Iceland, where cloud cover remains one of the biggest uncertainties for eclipse watchers.
Taking to the skies to see an eclipse is not unprecedented here. During the 2015 solar eclipse, Icelandic air traffic controllers handled an unusually busy patch of airspace as aircraft altered their flight plans to see the eclipse from above the clouds. Up to 20 aircraft filed special flight plans for the event.
This time, the scientific interest is considerably greater. Wednesday’s eclipse will put western Iceland directly in the path of totality, with authorities on the Reykjanes Peninsula preparing for large crowds and unusual pressure on local infrastructure.
For those remaining firmly on the ground, the total eclipse begins shortly before 6 PM on Wednesday, August 12. Reykjavík will experience its first total solar eclipse since 1433.
Source: mbl.is
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