Eclipse over Europe observed
On the evening of 29 September 2024, between 20:26 and 20:34 CEST, the Moon’s umbra swept across parts of the Iberian Peninsula, producing a total solar eclipse. The Meteosat Third Generation Imager (MTG‑I1), stationed in geostationary orbit, captured the dark shadow as it moved across Earth’s surface while evening twilight advanced over the continent.
From its vantage point roughly 36 000 km above Earth, MTG‑I1 tracked the path of totality as it first crossed Greenland and Iceland, then clipped a northeastern portion of Portugal before moving over Spain. Although the total phase lasted only a few minutes on the mainland, the satellite was able to follow the shadow’s progression.
Outside the narrow totality zone, a partial eclipse was visible across a much larger area. Observers in northern Canada, the Nordic countries and along the western African coast as far south as Sierra Leone and Liberia saw the Moon cover part of the solar disc.
Looking ahead, several solar eclipses are expected before 2028, with updates provided by ESA’s solar eclipse programme. The MTG mission is also preparing for the launch of MTG‑I2, scheduled for 27 August 2026 on an Ariane 6 launcher from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.