NATE IN
MOROCCO
NATE, the North African Telescope Eclipse project, is a science, education and outreach initiative. On 2 August 2027 a coordinated network of telescopes in Morocco will observe the total solar eclipse.
How it works
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10
Telescopes along the path
Ten telescopic instruments at different places in Morocco, inside the path of totality.
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~4′
A few minutes each
Each station sees about four minutes of totality as the Moon’s shadow passes over it.
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~10′
Stitched together
Put end to end, the stations’ images follow the corona for about ten minutes, longer than any single place can see it. The science behind it.
Who observes
NATE is a citizen science project: the telescopes are operated by volunteers, teachers, secondary-school students and university students, alongside scientists. In Morocco a field team of 25 to 30 people is trained before eclipse day, in observing technique and in running the public activities at each hub.
After the eclipse
The equipment of each station will be donated to the community that hosted it, so the telescopes keep being used for science and teaching.
Where the stations will be
Seven community hubs along the coast of northern Morocco, from Asilah to Saïdia. Each one is an observing station and a place where anyone can watch the eclipse safely with the team.
- 1Asilah
- 2Tangier
- 3Tetouan
- 4El Jebha
- 5Al Hoceima
- 6Nador
- 7Saïdia
The exact observing sites are confirmed before deployment.
From Palencia 2026 to Morocco 2027
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10–12 August 2026
Rehearsal in Spain
Around the total eclipse of 12 August 2026, in Palencia, Frómista and Carrión de los Condes, Spain, scientists, volunteers and students from Spain, Morocco and the United States rehearsed with the equipment. NSO graduate students led the training of new observer teams from Morocco and the Canary Islands.
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Until March 2027
Recruiting and training the field team
25 to 30 people trained by UM6P and the IAC in telescope operation, data logging, safety and public activities.
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April to July 2027
Preparing the hubs
Hub sites confirmed with local authorities and schools, telescopes shipped and tested, rehearsals on site, and the first SpaceBus stops.
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2 August 2027
The eclipse over Morocco
Totality begins in Tangier at 09:44:48 (UTC+1) and lasts 4 minutes 51 seconds. Times for each city.
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After
Equipment to the host communities
The telescopes stay where they observed. Publication of the results is decided by the consortium.
