Mark Your Calendars for the August 2026 Eclipse!
On August 12, 2026, witness the spectacular eclipse as the Moon obscures the Sun at sunset. Learn about astronomical events and discoveries leading up to this momentous occasion.
The countdown has begun! On August 12, 2026, the Moon will eclipse the Sun at sunset, creating a spectacular celestial event that has been months in the making. As the date approaches, anticipation builds for what promises to be a breathtaking sight.
What will you be doing around 8:30 PM on August 12, 2026? We will be gazing skyward, as this event marks a return of the Sun and Moon's dance, over two decades since the last significant eclipse in 1999.
To experience totality, observers will need to travel to Spain, just a short distance from the Pyrenees. In France, viewers can expect over 90% obscuration of the Sun. This phenomenon is remarkable for several reasons, prompting a special adjustment to our usual programming to highlight it.
This month, instead of the regular segments by Cyril Birnbaum and Sébastien Fontaine, we will still feature their favorite picks, along with our call to a scientific club or organization somewhere in France. Additionally, we will provide observation tips for other astronomical events occurring this month, including:
- The crescent Moon passing just 1.5 degrees from the Pleiades on the 7th
- Mercury appearing in the dawn light beneath a thin crescent Moon on the 11th
- The peak of the Perseid meteor shower on the 12th
- A partial lunar eclipse on the 28th
The radio ephemeris of Ciel & Espace is presented by David Fossé and produced by Nicolas Franco. You can find our show "In the Sky" on Spotify, Deezer, Podcast Addict, or your preferred listening app, and explore our full range of podcasts available to subscribers on our website.
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New Planetary Nebula Discovered by Amateurs
After a monumental effort that involved a cumulative 310 hours of exposure time, a team of amateur astronomers has unveiled a new planetary nebula. About one-third the size of a full Moon, FACT 1 emits a faint glow in the constellation Auriga.
Third Planet Photographed Around Beta Pictoris
Astronomers previously identified two giant planets orbiting the star Beta Pictoris, recognized as having a young planetary system since the 1980s. Recently, they captured an image of a third, smaller planet, which had been hidden in their data for 11 years.
Reflecting on Viking 1's Mars Landing: 50 Years Later
On July 20, 1976, the Viking 1 probe made history by landing on Mars. Fifty years later, witnesses of this landmark event share their experiences of the anxiety and excitement during the critical twenty minutes between landing and confirmation of its success.
