Sky Briefing #016 — Total Eclipse, Perseids, and a Decade of Delays
Tomorrow afternoon at 17:46 UTC, the Moon slides in front of the Sun. Over northern Spain, Iceland, Greenland, and a stretch of the North Atlantic, the sky goes dark for two and a half minutes. First total solar eclipse visible from mainland Spain since 1999. On the same night, the Perseids hit their peak under an almost moonless sky. No other moment in 2026 asks more of a window seat.
Skies
Tomorrow’s total solar eclipse is the first over mainland Spain since 1999. The path of totality runs from Siberia through Greenland and Iceland to the Iberian Peninsula; maximum totality at 17:46 UTC, duration 2 minutes 18 seconds. On transatlantic routes crossing the North Atlantic between 16:00 and 19:00 UTC, a partial eclipse is visible with no cloud cover in the way — the advantage of FL350. Anyone landing or departing Bilbao or San Sebastián tomorrow evening: bring eclipse glasses. Totality itself needs none; the minutes before and after do. NASA Science — Total Solar Eclipse 12 August 2026
Perseid peak on the night of August 12–13: moonless for the first time in years. The Perseids reach their maximum on the night of Wednesday into Thursday. New Moon means no lunar interference — up to 100 meteors per hour under ideal conditions. From the ground, after midnight local time as the Perseus radiant climbs; on polar overnight routes (AMS–JFK, FRA–YYZ, LHR–YVR) better still, with no ground haze and no light dome below. North window seat, cabin lights off. Allow ten minutes for your eyes to adjust. EarthSky — Perseid meteor shower 2026
Aviation
Boeing 737-7 certified: Southwest passengers fly it in 2027 at the earliest. The FAA certified the 737-7 on August 3, nearly a decade behind the original schedule. Southwest Airlines, with 269 on order, plans to use it as a replacement for its aging 737-700 fleet. Passenger service is planned for 2027, after deliveries and pilot training. Certification allows Boeing to ship the planes. When travellers board is a different question. Anyone counting on new Southwest routes this year: the calendar says 2027. One Mile at a Time — FAA certifies Boeing 737 MAX 7
Starlux opens Taipei–Prague as its first European route. Starlux Airlines launched its first European service on August 1: Taipei (TPE) to Prague (PRG), three times weekly on an A350-900, four weekly from October. Four cabins on board, including first class. For Taiwan–central Europe connections this was a thin market — China Airlines held it with little competition. From September the route upgrades to the larger A350-1000 with 350 seats. Prague as a first European destination is an interesting bet — built for the traveller who knows exactly where they are going, not the one hunting a connection. Aerotime — Starlux Airlines launches first European route
because you need to know that tomorrow the Sun goes dark over Spain, and the meteors come at midnight.