On August 2, 2027, an extraordinary event will take place: a total solar eclipse (magnitude 1.079) that will be visible across southern Spain, North Africa, and the Middle East. This is a unique opportunity to observe one of the phenomena that, to this day, remains crucial to the study of the Sun and its effects on Earth, through the observation of the solar corona.

For this reason, the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), together with other institutions such as Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) and the National Solar Observatory (NSO) of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), and with the support of the Government of the Canary Islands, has launched the North African Telescope Eclipse (NATE) experiment. This is a science, education, and outreach initiative that will observe the eclipse through a coordinated network of telescopes operated by teams composed of astronomers (IAC and partners), volunteers, teachers, and high school and college students.

Prior to that, another key event will be the total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026, in various locations in the province of Palencia, wich will serve as a rehearsal and training opportunity for the teams. In this way, the international cooperation aspect is complemented by the involvement of regions with unique characteristics, such as depopulated areas of Spain and the outermost islands.

This initiative draws on the experience gained from the successful Citizen CATE (Continental American Telescopic Eclipse) projects, carried out in the United States during the 2017 and 2024 eclipses and launched by the NSF, the NSO, and the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI).

The NATE experiment

The NATE experiment will use a total of ten telescopes to observe the total solar eclipse on August 2, 2027, in locations such as Tangier, Tetouan, El Jebha, Al Hoceima, Nador, and Saidia. As the Moon’s shadow passes over Morocco, teams in these locations within the path of totality will capture images of the brightness of the solar corona.

While the totality phase of the eclipse will last about four minutes at each location, the combined data set from the NATE experiment will reveal how this part of the solar corona changes during the extended period it will be visible in Morocco (ten minutes). New scientific findings regarding the dynamics of magnetic fields and plasmas in this region of the solar corona can be derived from this data, and the sequence of images will provide a unique perspective on the eclipse. Furthermore, the data processing required for this project will train participating teams in techniques applicable to a wide variety of scientific research. 

The NATE team, composed of astronomers from the IAC and collaborating Moroccan institutions, volunteers, and undergraduate students, will design and develop the training strategy for each location. In addition, the equipment purchased for each station will be donated to the host communities once the eclipse is over, leaving a lasting legacy of astronomy and solar science throughout the country.

Test in Palencia: Using the 2026 Eclipse to Conduct Scientific Research in 2027

In collaboration with the municipal governments of Palencia, Frómista, and Carrión de los Condes, the leaders of the undergraduate student teams will travel to Spain a year in advance, along with a team from the IAC, for the total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026, where they will conduct a test of the equipment to collect trial data for developing their processing system. Because it will be much shorter and lower on the horizon —occurring near sunset— the 2026 eclipse is suitable for testing the equipment, but not for conducting the experiment.

The NATE training will not only be a technical test but also a major public event. The team will organize talks, workshops, and safe solar observation stations, coordinate the communication plan and safety signage, and serve as a bridge between scientific work and public participation. In this way, while the protocol and data transmission from the NATE network are being tested with the scientific team and students, the public will enjoy a fun, festive day with accessible activities.