Spain is considered one of the best places to observe the eclipse, which will begin at sunset. However, even those unable to travel to the country will have the opportunity to see it from an unusual perspective.
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Special flight IB1473 will take off from Madrid Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport and fly a specially planned route over the province of Palencia.
The flight number was chosen deliberately – astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus was born in 1473.
Scientists will also observe the eclipse
The plane will also carry the research team of the “Shelios” project. Scientists hope to take advantage of the opportunity to observe the Sun’s corona from a high altitude, as atmospheric phenomena that hinder observations from the ground interfere less with the view here.
“We are very pleased to contribute to an initiative that combines aviation, science, and innovation,” said Diego Fernández, Iberia’s Director of Strategy, Transformation, and Sustainability.
According to him, the flight will allow taking advantage of the benefits of observation from cruising altitude and contribute to the study of this exceptional astronomical phenomenon.
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The airline will broadcast the entire eclipse live on its social networks, so the spectacle can be watched without leaving home.
Such an eclipse has not occurred in Spain since 1912
This will be the first total solar eclipse visible from the Iberian Peninsula since 1912.
The path of totality will also stretch across Greenland and Iceland. In those places directly in its path, the total phase will last about two minutes.
In some major European cities, including London, Paris, Brussels, and Lisbon, a partial solar eclipse will be visible. Madrid and Barcelona will remain very close to the path of totality, but the Moon will cover about 99% of the Sun’s disk there.
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