The Fotoklub Technika student team has had a demanding day and night – and there is more to come. Václav Široký is in charge of the observation site, and the whole team is now working intensively to assemble all the mounts. The equipment they brought to Spain is the result of many hours of hands-on mechanical engineering. Designed specifically for the Solar Wind Sherpas team, it was developed at the Institute of Production Machines, Systems and Robotics at FME BUT.
At the Institute of Production Machines, Systems and Robotics, students normally focus on design, automation, quality control, and robotics. This time, however, they had the opportunity to put all of these skills into practice on a real project. The aluminium clamps, which are an essential part of the team’s equipment, were manufactured directly in the Institute’s workshops. As part of the Operation of Machine Tools course, an entire class took part in producing the custom-made components for the Solar Wind Sherpas team.
“A huge thank you goes to the Institute of Production Machines, Systems and Robotics, and especially to Ing. Jiří Tůma, Ph.D., for his expert advice and support during both the development and manufacturing process. We are delighted when the university connects so naturally with a real-world project like this,” say the Fotoklub Technika members taking part in the expedition. They add: “For students, it is a fantastic opportunity to test their knowledge in practice on something that then genuinely works in the field.”
So far, the weather in Spain has been ideal. “Shortly after we arrived, the sky became overcast. We discovered that a fire had broken out nearby and smoke was covering the sky. The local firefighters now have it under control, and the observing conditions are currently almost ideal,” Václav Široký said.
Calibration Using the Stars
Miloslav Druckmüller and his wife Zuzana joined the team on Monday. Together with the students, Professor Druckmüller checked the control software and calibrated the instruments using the night sky.
If the sky remains cloud-free on the day of the eclipse, the team on Pico Trigaza could obtain valuable data for solar research. The data will help American astrophysicists better understand the physical processes that determine the structure of the solar corona and the sources of the solar wind. The BUT researchers will have approximately two minutes to capture their images.
| The Expedition and the Media Journalists have been showing strong interest in the eclipse since the beginning of August. So, in addition to packing for the expedition, travelling, assembling the equipment, and setting up the systems, the team has also been answering a wide range of media enquiries. Together with Miloš and Vašek, we have been dealing with practical questions such as whether their internet connection is stable enough for live appearances on the ČT24 news channel or interviews with Czech Radio. Fortunately, everything is working perfectly, allowing us to share both the expedition experience and the team’s solar corona research with the wider public. Professor Miloslav Druckmüller and Václav Široký manage to answer journalists’ questions even while working in the field (photo: Martin Šebek) Czech Radio report, 11 August 2026 Interview with Professor Druckmüller on ČT24, 1 August 2026 (starts at 22:00) Live report on ČT24 from Spain – 12 August at 11:33 and 20:50 Live report on ČT24 from Iceland – 13 August at 00:10 |
Would you like to know how the other part of the team is doing in Iceland? Read the engaging account by mathematician and FME Vice-Dean Jana Hoderová, written for the Vědavýzkum.cz portal. New entries are being published daily until 13 August 2026.