Total Solar Eclipse 2015 March 20, from a Boeing 737-800 at 35,000 feet over the North Atlantic/Norwegian Sea Homepage Astrophotos Purchase Photos! Total Solar Eclipse of March 20, 2015 as seen from a Boeing 737-800 (Air Berlin charter) about 35,000 feet over the Norwegian Sea and Atlantic Ocean. Our aircraft departed Dusseldorf, Germany, with 56 passengers each with their own or shared row. The six hour flight resulted in 3m 40s of totality, about a minute longer than on the ground as we traveled with the shadow. At least 15 or so aircraft went up above the clouds to take in this eclipse and were lined up in two rows and stacked 1000 feet apart so as not to interfere with each other (see radar maps below). (Note: The rainbow artifact in the diamond ring photos is from the three panes of acrylic in the aircraft windows. I am quite happy with my results and amazed at being able to get such sharp images despite the windows. I left the rainbow in as it made for a nice addition.) See also photos from my visit to London! Please note, montages may be arranged in various shapes & arrangements to fit various print sizes and publication needs. Just ask. <--- Total Solar Eclipse 2013 Total Solar Eclipse 2017 ---> |
A spectacular display of the aurora (northern lights) looking north from our Virgin 747-400 over the North Atlantic on the way to London |
Flight tracking maps (credit: flightradar24.com) showing all the eclipse charter flights in our area, around the point of maximum totality north of the Faroe Islands. This flight (Air Berlin 1234) is noted with a red marker. The two lines of planes consisted of aircraft that were also separated by an altitude of 1000 feet minimum for safety ("stacked" in aviation terms; seen more clearly at left). You can more clearly see in the wider view below how we lined up for the eclipse in rows. |
Photo below taken by Thomas Bujack & courtesy group leader & flight organizer Glenn Schneider: |
Fictitious Point?!... (And yes, AB1234 is the real flight number....Air Berlin flight 1234) |