Stephan Heinsius reports on an extraordinary adventure
Observing a solar eclipse at an altitude of approximately 13.5 kilometers above the Atlantic Ocean – this extraordinary experience is the focus of a multimedia presentation at the Weiterstadt City Library. On Friday, October 23, 2026, Stephan Heinsius will speak at 7 p.m. in the media ship about observing a rare hybrid solar eclipse in 2013. Admission is free.
What do you do when clouds obscure the view of the sun during a solar eclipse? In 2013, an international group of astronomy enthusiasts opted for an unusual solution: they wanted to observe the event from an airplane above the clouds. Stephan Heinsius was involved in organizing the flight and experienced the solar eclipse himself on board.
Precise planning for just a few moments
Observing a solar eclipse from an airplane requires precise coordination of flight route, speed, position, and timing. The aircraft must be in exactly the right place when the moon obscures the sun.
The 2013 eclipse was particularly challenging because it was a rare hybrid solar eclipse. In this special configuration, the sun and moon appear almost the same size in the sky. The duration of the complete solar eclipse could theoretically even be zero seconds.
Several hundred kilometers from Bermuda, the group ventured an observation flight over the Atlantic despite unfavorable weather forecasts.
Extraordinary phenomena above the clouds
The solar eclipse was observed at an altitude of 44,500 feet, equivalent to approximately 13.5 kilometers. Rare phenomena were visible, including the red ring of the sun's chromosphere at the edge of the moon and a multiple diamond ring effect.
The movement of the blurred tip of the umbra, which travels across the Earth's surface at several times the speed of sound, is also one of the special phenomena that Heinsius explains in his lecture.
Film footage and behind-the-scenes glimpses
In his approximately one-hour multimedia presentation, Stephan Heinsius describes the elaborate preparations, the coordination of the flight path, and the events during the observation.
Film sequences and a report from the ZDF "heute journal" supplement his narrative. The lecture is aimed not only at astronomy enthusiasts, but also at people interested in extraordinary natural phenomena and travel adventures.
The most important data
What: Multimedia presentation “Observing a solar eclipse from an airplane”
Speaker: Stephan Heinsius, eclipseland experiences
When: Friday, October 23, 2026, 7 p.m
Doors open at 6:45 pm
Where: Medienschiff Weiterstadt, Darmstädter Straße 40 Duration: approximately one hour
Admission: free. Registration: not required. Organizer: Weiterstadt City Library
(WEITERSTADT – RED/PSW)
