Chasing a Total Solar Eclipse in Spain with NASA

Spain recorded its first total solar eclipse in over a century, and the team traveled to Burgos to film it alongside NASA researchers launching balloons to the edge of space. The episode combines field footage with explanations of eclipse mechanics, pinhole and shadow experiments, and a look at historical observations of the Sun.

■ Eclipse Patterns and Mechanics
- Why the Northern Hemisphere sees more total eclipses, and how that pattern will eventually reverse
- Eclipse seasons, the 29.5-day new moon cycle, and how up to five solar eclipses can fall in a single year
- The pairing of solar eclipses with lunar eclipses two weeks apart

■ On-Site Experiments and Missions
- Pinhole projections, crescent shapes in tree shadows, and why shadows become sharp in one direction
- Shadow bands and Baily's beads, including a 1905 balloon experiment conducted in Burgos
- Helium's discovery during an eclipse, plus NASA's balloon and jet observation efforts

■ The View of Totality
- The corona, the surrounding ring of light, and footage captured from the ground and the edge of space

Those interested in astronomy, eclipse science, or hands-on demonstrations will find concrete experiments and mission footage alongside the explanations. A sponsor message for the nonprofit 80,000 Hours appears near the end.