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 Total Solar Eclipse of 2015 March 20
 in Svalbard, the Faroe Islands or the Arctic

The point of greatest eclipse (totality phase during 2 min 46 sec) was located in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean east of Iceland and northwest of the Faroe Islands. As weather prospects weren’t that great for the few ground-based locations, seeing it from the stratosphere was tantalizing. Svalbard was the second choice as there are quite a few clear days at that time of the year, and the fact is the sky was indeed clear on eclipse day. The Faroe Islands were the third choice as the weather there changes very quickly which is why some saw it and others didn’t.
To observe the 2015 March 20 total solar eclipse, I was offering very special eclipse flights at the edge of the stratosphere (see the similar flight executed in November 2013) in partnership with AmJet Executive and Dassault Falcon Service, but also tours in Svalbard (Norway) and at the North Pole. The Faroe Islands were another option but the weather prospects weren’t that great with a strong variability.
The expedition to the North Pole for a very limited number of participants is in the planning phase. This last trip will be very expensive, but will provide an unforgettable and rewarding experience during the spring equinox with the black Sun barely over the frozen horizon.

You can use this solar eclipse calculator to compute the local circumstances of the eclipse, and the solar eclipse timer notifies the beginning of the various events. A time exposure calculator is there to help you choose your camera settings.


Click on thumbnails for a larger version

Tours (very limited space)
Stratospheric Eclipse Flight :
North Atlantic
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Norway :
Svalbard
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Arctic Expedition :
North Pole
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Total Solar Eclipse 2015 Svalbard Hot Air Balloon Stratospheric Norway
Hot air balloon panoramic view just after mid-totality above Longyearbyen
(a stratospheric balloon from Zero2Infinity was planned for 27 kilometers or 89,000 feet but later cancelled because of the heavy logistics)

Total Solar Eclipse 2015 Svalbard Stratospheric Balloon Norway
First composite image taken from Longyearbyen and processed by Miloslav Druckmüller

Total Solar Eclipse 2015 Svalbard Don Gardner Norway
Second and third contacts from Adventdalen (about 10 kilometers east of Longyearbyen) by Don Gardner

Total Solar Eclipse 2015 Svalbard Tunç Tezel Norway
Wide angle view from Longyearbyen by Tunç Tezel

Total Solar Eclipse 2015 Svalbard Thanakrit Santikunaporn Norway
Composite image from Longyearbyen by Thanakrit Santikunaporn

Total Solar Eclipse 2015 Svalbard Totality Tunç Tezel Norway
All sky view with planets, stars and constellations during totality from Longyearbyen by Tunç Tezel

A film sponsored by the French company Salomon was shot on location with free rider skiers going down a slope during totality. Up to 300 people can ask to be invited to attend the movie preview in Toulouse, France, on November 12th, 2015 during the Salomon O.U.T. festival.
Total Solar Eclipse 2015 Svalbard Totality Reuben Krabbe Skier Free Ride Norway
Salomon Free rider and totality by Canadian photographer Reuben Krabbe assisted by the French mountaineering guide and emergency doctor Pierre Muller
(expedition and film sponsored by the French company Salomon)
Salomon produced a small documentary about the expedition in both French and English; a DVD is available.
Total Solar Eclipse 2015 Svalbard Totality Reuben Krabbe Skier Free Ride Powder Magazine Norway
Powder Magazine January 2016 Salomon Eclipse


Looking forward to Alaska for the next one in Saros 120…

Prediction Aurora Longyearbyen Svalbard Norway
Current prediction over Longyearbyen (updated every 15 minutes)

Sky Aurora Longyearbyen Svalbard Norway
Current sky over Longyearbyen (updated every 15 minutes)

Total Eclipse 2015 Map Totality Duration Svalbard Spitsbergen

Total Solar Eclipse 2015 Longyearbyen Area Visibility First Contact
Area of visibility at first contact (download full resolution 7,200 by 8,400 pixels image)



Total Solar Eclipse 2015 Longyearbyen Area Visibility Three Degree Clearance Maximum Eclipse
Area of visibility for three degrees of clearance at maximum eclipse (download full resolution 7,200 by 8,400 pixels image)


Total Solar Eclipse 2015 Longyearbyen Area Visibility Fourth Contact
Area of visibility at fourth contact (download full resolution 7,200 by 8,400 pixels image)



Total Solar Eclipse 2015 Longyearbyen Visibility Three Degree Clearance Maximum Eclipse
Area of visibility for three degrees of clearance at maximum eclipse (download full resolution 7,200 by 8,400 pixels image)


Total Solar Eclipse 2015 Svalbard Cartoon Bill Kramer Norway
Cartoon from Bill Kramer

The Czech who did not take the necessary precautions to not attract the polar bears have had some mishaps! For the full story, go to Thursday, March 19th for the detailed explanations. You will see where the female polar bear attack, that made the headlines on March 19th, occurred and also understand why it happened… Thanks to my friend Jason for informing me. Not to mention the ultimate price paid because of this negligence…

Total Solar Eclipse 2015 Svalbard Bivouac Polar Bear Norway
Courtesy of Jason Poinot and Jack

Flight Total Solar Eclipse 2015 Svalbard Norway

Because of the great success of the stratospheric eclipse flights with business jets, this project has been suspended.

Nevertheless here is the private aircraft that was going to be used for the return flights from Paris to Longyearbyen, and in the event of bad weather on the ground to view the eclipse in-flight as well.

If you are still interested by such a trip, then please let me know soonest.

If the weather conditions are too bad on the ground, then we’ll view the eclipse in-flight from our private aircraft.


Use of this simulation is strictly forbidden without a written approval. All commercial uses are subject to a fee for every planned flight.
[requires an H.264/MPEG-4 decoder: Windows users can install the Windows Essentials Codec Pack]

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Last page update on March 21, 2015.
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