MTG-I1 captures eclipse path of totality over Europe

The European Space Agency’s MTG-I1 satellite recorded the Moon’s shadow as it moved across Europe during a total solar eclipse on 12 August 2026, between 20:26 and 20:34 CEST. The satellite, positioned 36,000 km above Earth in geostationary orbit, observed the eclipse’s path of totality sweeping from Greenland and Iceland into northeastern Portugal and Spain. This provided a unique perspective on the event as it unfolded in real time.

The eclipse’s totality lasted only a few minutes on mainland Europe, but a partial eclipse was visible across a broader region, including northern Canada, the Nordic countries, and parts of western Africa. Observers in locations such as Sierra Leone and Liberia witnessed the Moon partially obscuring the Sun. The phenomenon occurs when the Moon aligns directly between the Sun and Earth, temporarily blocking sunlight and revealing the Sun’s corona.

The MTG-I1 satellite, part of the Meteosat Third Generation mission, is designed to monitor weather and environmental conditions over Europe and northern Africa. Its high-resolution imaging instruments enabled the tracking of the eclipse’s shadow, offering data for both scientific analysis and public observation. The mission supports improved forecasting and climate monitoring alongside such events.

The MTG mission is preparing for its next launch, with MTG-I2 scheduled for 27 August 2026 aboard an Ariane 6 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. This satellite will further enhance the mission’s capabilities in weather and environmental surveillance, building on the observations made during the recent eclipse.