The eclipse of the sun, from a balloon at 3,000 meters: It was like touching the darkness with your hands

A group of astronomers observed the total solar eclipse from an altitude of 10,000 meters aboard an Iberia Airlines flight, capturing the celestial event while traveling through the sky. The observation took place during a specially arranged flight that allowed scientists to study the phenomenon under unique atmospheric conditions. Meanwhile, another team had earlier captured the eclipse from a hot air balloon at 3,000 meters above the plains of Palencia, describing the experience as touching darkness with their hands. The eclipse occurred precisely at 20:28 local time, when the shadow of the Moon fell over the region. From the balloon, which reached an altitude of more than 5,000 meters, observers witnessed the Sun being swallowed by the Moon, leaving behind the faint glow of the solar corona and stars becoming visible. The moment lasted just over a minute and 43 seconds, creating a sense of awe among those present. The pilot communicated with colleagues in the other balloon using a walkie-talkie, expressing emotions that led to some tears and cheers from the crew. Below them, small towns in the Palentine plateau were illuminated by public lighting, while the horizon displayed an impossible sunset spanning 360 degrees. The expedition was organized by elDiario.es and launched at 19:50 from near the town of Cisneros in Palencia province. Two balloons, named Muga and Flor de Muga, were operated by Óscar Ayala and Valentín Carbajo from the company Globos Arcoiris based in La Rioja. Accompanying them were Fernando Ortuño, an expert in aerial exploration, and José Miguel Viñas, a meteorologist from Meteored. They ascended into the sky propelled by southwest winds until reaching the moment of totality. Before the eclipse, they watched the Moon's shadow approach and cover the ground beneath them and even the balloon itself. As the celestial bodies aligned perfectly, the spectacle unfolded with rings, pearls, and diamonds, all occurring with remarkable precision. The temperature dropped nearly to zero degrees Celsius, yet the observers were too engrossed in the experience to notice. The goal of this high-altitude journey was to emulate the adventure of Spanish aeronaut and military officer Emilio Herrera in 1905, who participated in the ascent of three balloons from the city of Burgos to document a similar eclipse. Suspended above a "chasm 3 kilometers deep," Herrera also saw the solar corona surrounding the black disk of the Moon. His most notable scientific contribution was the observation and measurement of so-called "solar snakes," or "flying shadows," an intriguing optical phenomenon that occurs in the moments before and after totality and had previously lacked a clear explanation. During Wednesday’s ascent, despite having prepared a sheet in the balloon basket beforehand, the elusive flicker did not appear due to the need for very specific conditions to make it visible. These bands of light and shadow move rapidly across surfaces, producing effects akin to ripples of light cast by water onto the bottom of a pool. Thanks to the measurement and observation of these "shadow bands," Herrera was able to explain their nature: they were lines of light and shadow created by atmospheric turbulence, the result, he wrote, of "interferences of sunlight rays unevenly refracted in the atmospheric layers." Other optical effects were observable, such as the projection of the eclipse through small holes in the wicker of the balloon basket. Through the "pinhole effect," dozens of miniature eclipses were projected onto their legs and equipment. Meanwhile, a separate group of 30 astronomers traveled aboard a special Iberia Airlines flight to analyze the eclipse from an altitude of 10,000 meters (37,000 feet). This unique perspective offered insights into how the atmosphere affects the appearance of the eclipse, providing data valuable for both scientific research and public understanding of the event. The flight route was carefully planned to ensure optimal viewing conditions, allowing researchers to capture detailed images and measurements throughout the duration of the eclipse.