Eclipse online media briefings

On 12 August 2026, a solar eclipse will be visible across large parts of Europe and the North Atlantic. The path of totality will cross Greenland, Iceland, Spain and a small area of northeastern Portugal, while many other regions of Europe will witness a partial eclipse. It will be an exceptional event: the first total solar eclipse visible from mainland Spain since 1905 and the first in a remarkable series of three solar eclipses that will be visible from Spain between 2026 and 2028.

As millions of people prepare to experience this rare celestial phenomenon, the eclipse provides a unique opportunity to explore the science behind our Sun and gain insight into Europe’s leading solar and space research. ESA missions such as Solar Orbiter, Proba-3 and SMILE are helping scientists better understand the Sun and its interaction with Earth, revealing the processes that drive space weather and shape our cosmic environment.

To support journalists covering this landmark event, ESA is organising online media briefings in English and Spanish on 15 July.

Registration for media representatives

Interested journalists are kindly requested to register by 15:00 CEST on Tuesday 14 July, using the registration form available at this link. When registering, please clearly indicate whether you wish to attend the media briefing in English or in Spanish. Only registered media representatives will be able to participate in the briefing and ask questions.

Briefing schedule: (all times in CEST):

15 July 2026

11:00-12:00: Briefing in English

Participants:

Prof. Carole Mundell, Director of Science, ESA

Miho Janvier, Project Scientist for Solar Orbiter / Proba-3 / SOHO, ESA

12:15-13:15: Briefing in Spanish

Participants:

Rocío Guerra, Smile Mission Manager, ESA

Pedro García Lario, Gaia Scientist and member of the Eclipse Advisory Committee, ESA

More information

Additional information here

Learn more about Eclipse here

For any further questions or enquiries, please contact  media@esa.int

Images

ESA’s Photo Library for Professionals: https://www.esa-photolibrary.com/

Terms and conditions for using ESA images: www.esa.int/spaceinimages/ESA_Multimedia/Copyright_Notice_Images

For questions or more information related to ESA images, please contact directly spaceinimages@esa.int

Videos

ESA’s Video Library for Professionals: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos

Terms and conditions for using ESA video: www.esa.int/spaceinimages/ESA_Multimedia/Copyright_Notice_Images

For questions or more information related to ESA videos, please contact directly spaceinvideos@esa.int

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About the European Space Agency

The European Space Agency (ESA) provides Europe’s gateway to space.

ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.

ESA has 23 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia are Associate Members.

ESA has established formal cooperation with three Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.

By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. It is working in particular with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes as well as with Eumetsat for the development of meteorological missions.

Learn more about ESA at www.esa.int.