On 7 September 2025, the unique science-and-education flight Astro Night will depart from Moscow. Passengers will be able to observe a total lunar eclipse and the northern lights from the aircraft.
Up to eight aircraft will depart from Vnukovo at 19:00 and head to the Northern Urals, where light pollution is minimal. This makes it possible to observe the sky in its natural state, without interference from city lights. The eclipse will last from 20:30 to 21:53. Under favourable conditions, passengers may also see the northern lights.
The flight will be accompanied by commentary from astronomer Stanislav Korotky, science popularizer Vladimir Surdin and an active cosmonaut whose name has not yet been disclosed. Passengers will be able to ask questions, discuss what they are seeing and feel part of a real scientific process. An interesting detail of the route is that the lunar eclipse and the aurora will seem to “switch places” depending on the aircraft’s manoeuvres, so every participant will be able to see them.
The Astro Night project is not just a tourist trip into the sky. It is part of a global trend: to make science more accessible, engaging and spectacular.
