Understanding Solar Eclipses

A total solar eclipse is one of Nature's most awe-inspiring events. It occurs when the moon casts its shadow on the earth, completely covering the sun in what is known as totality. During this time, the sky darkens to the level of twilight, allowing observers to see the sun's outer atmosphere, the Corona.

On April 8th of this year, North America will experience a total solar eclipse, with the path crossing from Mexico to Canada. While the moon will partially cover the sun across much of North America, only a narrow band will witness the sun completely covered, providing over 4 minutes of totality for those in the central part of the band.

Where to Watch

If you are on the path of totality, you are in luck as you won't need to travel anywhere. However, if you are not on the path, you will need to make your way to the path of totality to witness the full eclipse. It is essential to choose a location with clear skies, as weather conditions play a significant role in your viewing experience.

Some of the best odds for clear weather in the United States are in Texas. Keep in mind that hotels along the path of totality may already be booked, and there could be traffic congestion in certain areas on the day of the eclipse.

Protecting Your Vision

When viewing a solar eclipse, it is crucial to protect your eyes from the sun's intense brightness. Looking directly at the sun can cause irreversible damage to your eyesight. It is recommended to use solar glasses that are ISO certified to safely view the eclipse. Additionally, using telescopes or cameras to capture the event requires proper solar filters to prevent damage to the equipment.

Equipment for Viewing

For those interested in taking photos of the eclipse, magnification is key. Using a telephoto lens with an ISO rated solar filter can help capture stunning images. If you prefer to use a telescope, ensure it is equipped with a solar filter to safely observe the sun.

For those on a budget, there are still options available. Repurposing an old telescope with the correct specifications or creating a pinhole projector using simple materials like a cereal box can provide a safe viewing experience without breaking the bank.

Solar glasses

These are so cheap, they’re basically a no-brainer. Go ahead and get them now. They’re pretty cheap, and I’d recommend getting a 10 or 20 pack so you can share with friends and family. Make sure they’re ISO certified! (include text of the certification)

Paper solar glasses (Paid Link)

Solar binoculars

Solar binoculars are nice, but they can be tricky to point at the sun. They block so much light, that all of the sky will appear completely black until you’re pointing them almost directly at the sun. Don’t get ones with too high of a magnification, or it will be hard to find the sun. If you have normal binoculars, you can add filters. But again… you must be careful!

Solar binoculars (Paid Link)

Camera with a telephoto lens

If you want to take photos, magnification is the name of the game. For the partial phases, you want to fill the frame. For totality, less so. (show that chart, show Stellarium)

You will want to put an ISO rated solar filter on the lens. But be careful that the filter can’t come loose accidentally.

If you have a telephoto lens, that will probably work. However, It has to be a fairly substation telephoto lens. Not necessarily this large. But I’d say 300mm might be the bare minimum. I find a zoom lens gives me the most flexibility.

In 2017 and 2023 I used a Sigma 150-600mm lens with a Canon EF mount. It is available in other camera mounts. I've been pretty happy with the lens, but it's a bit bulky, and not necessarily something you want to get just for an eclipse. (I use it to take nature photos, plus the occasional plane, the moon, and any other time I want to get a photo of something I can't get any closer to.)

Sigma 150-600mm EF (Paid Link)

Telescope?

Now, finally you can use a telescope with solar filter.

If you’re astro-curious, but don’t have a telescope and want one, and have about $500 budget, order the Seestar S50 right now. (Link in description.). It’s a great beginning friendly telescope. It’s perfect for the partial phases. However, for totality it won’t be as useful.

There are other setups you can have, but I’m not going to cover them in this video.

Seestar S50 (Paid link)

Other gear: Sun tracking, automation

Now, there are other things you may want. For example, unless you have something like a Seestar which tracks the sun for you, you might want some kind of a star tracker or special purpose sun tracker. These will cost $300 to $500 if you go this route.

If you want to automatically take a series of photos, and if you have a mirrorless camera or DSLR, some cameras will let you configure them to take a series of photos automatically. If not, you can use an intervalometer. It’s a fairly cheap gadget that plugs into your camera and lets you take a number of photos on a regular interval. Like every 15 seconds for example. In that case, you’ll definitely want some kind of way to track the sun.

If you want to get really fancy, there is software you can use to control the camera.

SolarQuest sun tracker (Paid link)

Repurposing things you might have

Now, what if you don’t want to spend any money, or much? There are options.

If you have an old telescope sitting around, you might be able to use that, even without a solar filter. But it has to be the right kind. (show old photo of me). This is a Newtonian reflector. It doesn’t have a sealed tube, and it wasn’t very large. So heat build up was less of an issue. Refractors and SCT type telescopes should never be used like this. Also, since you are just projecting the sun’s image on something, there is no filtering. You have to be super careful that no one tries to look through it.

If you’re willing to get a lens filter, I was even able to use a kids’ telescope. Again… it has to be supervised. But it worked. No award winning images, but it did the job. (show split screen of telescope and photo with my phone)

Another, even safer option works if you’re near a tree. If you see circles of light under the tree when the sun is shining, those will turn to crescents during the eclipse. If there is pavement, you don’t have anything to do. If there is grass, you can put a white sheet or poster board on the ground. Cheap and easy and no one will accidentally go blind!

Finally, you can even make your own pinhole projector with a cereal box. It’s a great craft project. Similar to the telescope and tree examples above, you’re looking at a projection of the sun’s image, so you don’t go blind. Just make sure it’s used correctly. (And someone doesn’t try to look through the pinhole.)

Whatever you do, make sure you test things out well before the eclipse. You don’t want to be testing out new gear the day of the eclipse. Trust me.

Preparation is Key

Testing out your viewing equipment well before the eclipse is essential to ensure everything is working correctly. Avoid testing new gear on the day of the eclipse to prevent any last-minute issues. Stay informed with additional resources and videos leading up to the event to enhance your viewing experience.

Conclusion

Witnessing a solar eclipse is a remarkable experience that requires proper preparation and safety precautions. Whether you are on the path of totality or watching from afar, taking the necessary steps to protect your vision and equip yourself with the right tools can make the event truly unforgettable.

Resources

• https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/