Drone time lapse shows total solar eclipse in amazing 4K quality

This article is part of a special report on the total solar eclipse that offered the best views from the Arctic Circle, Iceland, Spain and parts of Portugal on August 12, 2026.

The 2026 total solar eclipse has come and gone, but that doesn’t mean the wonder has to end.

Scientific American contributor and eclipse chaser Lucie McCormick watched the eclipse unfold from central Spain, where she recorded and photographed the event with a drone, as well as ground-based cameras. Using those drone-captured images, McCormick has created a stunning time-lapse video showing the eclipse from beginning to end.

In the time lapse, the setting sun disappears behind the moon as our natural satellite moves directly in front of the star. During this period of totality—which had lasted just more than a minute in real time—you can see the entire landscape plunged into darkness, leaving only a halo of orange light in the sky.

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To learn more about this solar eclipse, read our full eclipse guide . And if you feel inspired to try and catch the next one yourself, check out McCormick’s tips and tricks for safely photographing an eclipse using any camera.

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