{
  "id": 284268,
  "title": "The ultimate eclipse chase: A Concorde raced against the Moon's shadow",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/the-ultimate-eclipse-chase-a-concorde-raced-against-the-moons-shadow-284268",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-07T19:00:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ars Technica",
    "slug": "ars-technica",
    "url": "https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/08/the-ultimate-eclipse-chase-a-concorde-raced-against-the-moons-shadow/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The National Air and Space Museum of France, accessible via the tarmac of Paris-Le Bourget airport, is a haven for aviation aficionados. This museum, housing a multitude of civil and military aircraft from various eras, holds a special place for science enthusiasts - the legendary Concorde F-WTSS 001 prototype. The thrill of observing this aircraft lies in the subtle detail of a map painted on its nose, tracing the path of a total solar eclipse that occurred in June 1973 across Africa. This map exists on the Concorde 001 prototype due to an extraordinary feat performed by a team of eight scientists. They shattered the world record by observing the solar eclipse for a remarkable 74 minutes, a feat accomplished by flying the aircraft at a speed surpassing twice the speed of sound. To provide perspective, the longest duration of totality on the ground during such an eclipse is approximately 7.5 minutes, a figure observed in equatorial regions. However, the upcoming solar eclipse on August 12, visible in parts of Europe, will exhibit a maximum duration of totality significantly shorter, clocking in at over two minutes.",
  "summary": "Fitted with telescopes, the plane did our longest imaging of the Sun's corona.",
  "key_points": [
    "Concorde F-WTSS 001 prototype displays eclipse map",
    "Scientists set world record observing eclipse for 74 minutes",
    "Upcoming August eclipse has shorter 2-minute totality"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Ars Technica Science",
        "title": "The ultimate eclipse chase: A Concorde raced against the Moon's shadow",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/the-ultimate-eclipse-chase-a-concorde-raced-against-the-moons-shadow",
        "published": "2026-08-07T19:00:17.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}