Total Solar Eclipse From Space | Veritasium

The Gist

A high-altitude balloon launched from Spain by Veritasium and Montana State University successfully captures the 2026 total solar eclipse from the edge of space, bypassing atmospheric distortion and ground-level cloud interference.

Quick Overview

Veritasium travels to Burgos, Spain, to document the 2026 total solar eclipse from a high-altitude balloon launched in collaboration with Montana State University. The video breaks down the orbital mechanics that determine eclipse frequency, debunks common eclipse misconceptions regarding color shifts, explains why crescent shapes appear upside down in pinhole shadows, and explores historical astronomical mysteries solved by eclipses.

Key Points: Spain experiences its first total solar eclipse in over a hundred years on August 12, 2026. The Northern Hemisphere receives roughly fifteen percent more total solar eclipses than the Southern Hemisphere due to Earth's orbital tilt. A total solar eclipse is always accompanied by a lunar eclipse happening two weeks before or after. During an 1868 eclipse, French astronomer Jules Janssen discovered a mysterious yellow spectral line in the solar prominence, leading to the temporary hypothesis of a new element called coronium, which was later identified in 1939 as highly ionized iron. Pinhole projections invert images because light travels in straight lines and crosses through the aperture, making shadows point in the opposite direction of the sky's light sources. The Montana State University NASA Ballooning Team launches multiple high-altitude balloons carrying cameras to record totality from the stratosphere. Concorde famously chased a total solar eclipse in 1973, staying in totality for 74 minutes at Mach 2.

Context: Solar eclipses have captivated scientists and the public for centuries, providing crucial opportunities to study the Sun's outer atmosphere, the corona. Modern researchers use stratospheric balloons and high-speed aircraft to extend observation time during totality and avoid weather obstructions.