‘Amazing’: What a total solar eclipse looks like from outer space, NASA astronaut says

Most things retired NASA astronaut Terry Virts saw in space were unique, but viewing a solar eclipse was out of this world.

Virts, who now lives in Columbia, Maryland, with his wife and two children, was aboard the International Space Station in 2015 when he observed a total solar eclipse moving over the face of the Earth and jokes that he’s lucky NASA told the crew what was coming.

“It was really kind of bizarre, I’ve never seen anything like that,” Virts told the Star-Telegram. “If you look down and you just saw this black thing moving across the Earth it would be kind of unsettling.”

Steve Wilson swilson@star-telegram.com

While it won’t be from a space station, the next chance Texans have to view a total solar eclipse is less than two weeks away.

Most of North and Central Texas are on the path of totality for the April 8 total solar eclipse. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to descend upon Texas cities, including the small town of Hillsboro.

Virts plans to be in Texas as well for the solar eclipse, likely with a SONIC Drive-In drink in hand.

The former astronaut turned pitchman for the restaurant chain said buying an eclipse-inspired drink — Blackout Slush Float — gets you a pair of eclipse safety viewing glasses. The drink is available until May 5.

Beyond the dragon fruit-flavored, soft serve and multi-color sprinkles topped slush being tasty, Virts is glad SONIC is promoting safe eclipse viewing habits.

“If you need to get glasses anyway, you may as well get a SONIC treat,” Virts said.

‘Amazing’ view of a total solar eclipse from outer space

Virts began his career with NASA in 2000 and retired in 2016, with two spaceflight missions under his belt.

In February 2010, Virts piloted the space shuttle Endeavor on the STS-130 mission to the International Space Station to deliver a connecting module. From December 2014 to June 2015, Virts was aboard the space station as commander for NASA expedition 43.

After spending months aboard, Virts admits that the space station doesn’t have great viewing windows.

When it came to the March 2015 total solar eclipse, instead of looking at the sun, the crew looked down at the Earth. That’s when Virts captured a photo of what he describes as a “big black spot” moving across the globe.

“That was definitely one of the most amazing things that I saw,” Virts said.

Viewing tips for the April 8 total solar eclipse

With the total solar eclipse less than two weeks away, Virts is sharing a few tips for viewing the celestial event.

First step is to only look directly at the eclipse with proper viewing glasses Virts said. Looking at the solar eclipse without proper protection can cause severe eye damage.

Next step is picking an eclipse viewing site and sticking with it. There’s no need to be driving and trying to look at the eclipse at the same time, as that could cause accidents, Virts said.

Finally, Virts is encouraging people to simply take part in viewing the eclipse. Its not often that North and Central Texas are in the eclipse’s path of totality and the April 8 event will be special.

“It’ll be worth it,” Virts said. “It’s not going to happen again for 40 years, so it’s worth doing now.”

This story was originally published March 28, 2024 at 5:00 AM.

Brayden Garcia

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Brayden Garcia is a service journalism reporter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He is part of a team of local journalists who answer reader questions and write about life in North Texas. Brayden mainly writes about weather and all things Taylor Sheridan-related.