APOD: 2026 September 5 – Chasing the Moon’s Shadow

On September 5, 2026, an Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) showcased NASA's WB-57F high altitude research aircraft capturing the total solar eclipse shadow over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Iceland. The aircraft, flying at an altitude of 50,000 feet, followed the exact path of totality to maximize its exposure to the Moon's shadow and minimize interference from Earth's atmosphere.

The WB-57F's onboard cameras recorded detailed footage of the solar corona emerging as totality began. In the cockpit footage, Venus glimmered left of center in the frame, while Jupiter and Mercury were barely visible to the right of the eclipsed Sun. However, the sky remained bright along the distant horizon, outside the reach of the Moon's shadow.

This particular APOD article highlighted the transition from the traditional apod.nasa.gov website to science.nasa.gov/apod, marking a change in NASA's online presence. The featured image was credited to NASA, with authors and editors including Jerry Bonnell, Cecilia Chirenti, Robert Nemiroff, and Keighley Rockcliffe. The article served as a service of the Astronomy Science Division at NASA/GSFC, NASA Science Activation, and Michigan Technological University.