How to Safely and Successfully Photograph the Upcoming Solar Eclipse

Monday - April 8 2024, 14:29 UTC - 9 months ago

The upcoming solar eclipse on April 8 is a must-see event, and here's how to safely watch and photograph it. Make sure to plan ahead and check the weather forecast, secure proper eye protection, and use a filter on your camera. You can also join in on livestreams if visibility is poor. Enjoy this rare and exciting celestial event!.

On April 8, the moon will pass directly between Earth and the sun, creating a total solar eclipse across much of the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Although total solar eclipses occur somewhere in the world every 18 months or so, this one is unusual because tens of millions of people in North America will likely witness it, from Mazatlán in Mexico to Newfoundland in Canada. "It’s a huge communal experience," says Meg Thacher, a senior lab instructor in the astronomy department at Smith College in Massachusetts .

"A total solar eclipse is the Super Bowl of astronomy." Here’s how to safely watch—and photograph—the natural phenomenon.It pays to have a plan of action for the day. Before you decide on a spot to watch the eclipse, whether it’s in your own backyard, in a national park, or at a viewing party, it’s worth checking the weather forecast to see how likely clouds are to spoil the show. Currently the majority of the eclipse’s path of totality—areas where onlookers will see a full eclipse, as opposed to a partial one—is forecast to have some degree of cloud cover .

However, even if visibility turns out to be poor, you still have options. NASA and the National Science Foundation are broadcasting livestreams, and many eclipse viewing parties will broadcast unobstructed views as part of their festivities. The American Astronomical Society has a state-by-state list to help you find your nearest event.Safety first: You need proper eye protection to look at the eclipse, because the sun’s light can cause long-term damage to your vision .

Be sure to purchase either specially made eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers. Glasses might be the best option if you plan to take photos, as they’ll keep your hands free. Eclipse glasses are thousands of times darker than regular sunglasses and contain a polymer designed to filter out harmful light. You should also make sure any cameras, binoculars, or telescopes through which you plan to look at the sun have been fitted with a solar filter .

You don’t need to double up and wear eclipse glasses if you already have a solar filter, though.Once the moon fully obscures the sun, it’s safe to remove your eye protection for the duration of the totality, which is projected to last around four minutes during this eclipse. Photographing an eclipse is pretty simple, says Randall Benton, a professional photographer who has been capturing them since 1979 .

Although cameras have changed vastly since then, the fundamentals remain the same.If you plan to use your phone to take photos, skip to the next section. Benton recommends fixing a DSLR or mirrorless camera (equipped with a solar filter to protect both your eyes and the camera itself) to a tripod. A short exposure, which is designed to capture movement, is more likely to capture the details of the sun’s corona—the plasma surrounding it .

A longer exposure, which keeps certain elements of pictures in focus while blurring others, is likely to stretch the corona further out. The exposure you choose will depend on the kind of shot you’d like to capture. Before the eclipse begins, take the time to focus the camera exactly where you want it looking so when the time comes you can just click the button.