Astronomy enthusiasts will have a rare opportunity to witness the solar eclipse of 12 August 2026 from the air, thanks to a unique eclipse flight organised by Urania Public Observatory in cooperation with the University of Antwerp, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and Brussels Airlines.
The special evening flight will take participants aboard an Airbus A320 from Brussels Airport to France, offering a privileged view of the partial solar eclipse above the clouds. At its peak, the eclipse will reach an exceptional 96% obscuration, meaning that almost the entire solar disc will be covered by the Moon.
The flight offers a major advantage over ground-based observation, as the Sun will be very low on the horizon during the eclipse, making visibility highly dependent on weather conditions. From cruising altitude, passengers will have a much better chance of observing the phenomenon without cloud interference.
The programme begins with check-in at Brussels Airport at 17:20, followed by departure at 19:20. The maximum phase of the eclipse is expected at 20:21, before the aircraft returns to Brussels with a scheduled landing at 21:20.
Only 100 seats will be available, with aisle seats intentionally left empty to improve viewing conditions. Participants will receive eclipse glasses and will be accompanied by experienced Urania guides throughout the flight.
The organisers highlight that an eclipse of this magnitude will be a particularly rare experience for Belgian aviation and astronomy enthusiasts. A comparable eclipse flight from Belgium will not be possible again until 23 September 2090.
Scientific research at 11 kilometres altitude
Beyond the passenger experience, the flight will also serve a scientific purpose. Researchers and students from the University of Antwerp and VUB, supervised by Prof. Dr Katrien Kolenberg and Prof. Dr Valéry Ann Jacobs, will study atmospheric and environmental effects during the deep partial eclipse.
Measurements will focus on phenomena such as the blue-green twilight effect, changes in light intensity, sky darkness and temperature variations. The same observations will be carried out on the ground in Spain, allowing researchers to compare measurements and assess the influence of the atmosphere at different altitudes.
To prepare participants, Urania will organise an information evening on 8 August 2026 at 20:00 at its observatory in Hove, including explanations about the eclipse, the flight programme and a planetarium presentation.
The eclipse flight costs €299 per person, including the preparation evening, planetarium show, two-hour flight towards Nantes (France), eclipse glasses and onboard guidance.
More information and registration (in Dutch): https://www.urania.be/activiteiten/eclipsvlucht-zonsverduistering-boven-de-wolken