573 replies to this topic

[Look at the sky 101]

Since I live soutwest of Houston, I'll probably head somewhere west of Austin.

You're chances a good for cloudless day and it's not that far from Huston. 

[Look at the sky 101]

Hi everyone, 

How do you plan to watch the eclipse, with your eyes, binoculars, a telescope dedicated to the sun?

Taking pictures with a cel or a dslr camera ? 

I would love to hear your thoughts, as this is going to be my first and possibly last totality experience.

Thanks. 

[APshooter]

I did all of the above, which was good and stressful at the same time. This is the way I did it: I downloaded SETnC (freeware) and automated the eclipse photography months before hand on my laptop. I did test runs weeks before, testing the rig. Practicing taking off solar filters.

I ordered eclipse glasses so our group could watch by eye. I also had binoculars to pass around during totality.

The telescope had a dslr taking white light photos while my Lunt solar scope took Ha images in time lapse.

Using computers made everything come together, but it was VERY stressful setting up and dealing with so much equipment for imaging. Most veteran eclipse watchers say just bring yourself, maybe a simple camera, eclipse glasses. I'll be imaging again next time but then, I've been through this once before. Seeing it with your naked eye had far more impact than looking at a picture viewed later. It really is a surreal experience.

[AJamesB]

For the 2017 eclipse I did camera and telescope with bracketed images, etc. 

 

This next one I'm going with no equipment and am just going to enjoy the whole experience undistracted.

[Siderius]

For the 2017 eclipse I did camera and telescope with bracketed images, etc. 

 

This next one I'm going with no equipment and am just going to enjoy the whole experience undistracted.

You might take a colander. There are lots of interesting eclipse phenomena that you can see without a telescope. The image on the left was taken just before totality and because the sun is more like a point source, shadows are crisper.

 

[Look at the sky 101]

I did all of the above, which was good and stressful at the same time. This is the way I did it: I downloaded SETnC (freeware) and automated the eclipse photography months before hand on my laptop. I did test runs weeks before, testing the rig. Practicing taking off solar filters.

I ordered eclipse glasses so our group could watch by eye. I also had binoculars to pass around during totality.

The telescope had a dslr taking white light photos while my Lunt solar scope took Ha images in time lapse.

Using computers made everything come together, but it was VERY stressful setting up and dealing with so much equipment for imaging. Most veteran eclipse watchers say just bring yourself, maybe a simple camera, eclipse glasses. I'll be imaging again next time but then, I've been through this once before. Seeing it with your naked eye had far more impact than looking at a picture viewed later. It really is a surreal experience.

Thank you for your answer.

I know now that I will bring the bare minimum, my eyes, binoculars and my cel.

You made me realize that I have to see it with my eyes and not spend my time with too much equipment.

[Look at the sky 101]

For the 2017 eclipse I did camera and telescope with bracketed images, etc. 

 

This next one I'm going with no equipment and am just going to enjoy the whole experience undistracted.

Me too, I'll just take my binoculars, my cel as equipment. 

My eyes will do the rest.

[APshooter]

Don't forget those eclipse glasses!

 

There's fun things you can do on eclipse day.  I spread a white sheet upon the ground so we could observe shadow bands as totality neared.  Easy and not too distracting.  Look at the shadows on the ground that the leaves make.  Lots of eclipsed suns projected on the ground.  I made a folding solar projector that I aimed sunward to cast the eclipse image onto a sheet of white cardboard.  The crowd around us appreciated the view of the projected image.

[Look at the sky 101]

Don't forget those eclipse glasses!

 

There's fun things you can do on eclipse day.  I spread a white sheet upon the ground so we could observe shadow bands as totality neared.  Easy and not too distracting.  Look at the shadows on the ground that the leaves make.  Lots of eclipsed suns projected on the ground.  I made a folding solar projector that I aimed sunward to cast the eclipse image onto a sheet of white cardboard.  The crowd around us appreciated the view of the projected image.

The glasses of course,  check. 

Do you have any pic of that sheet? 

[APshooter]

I have a video of it... it might be possible to grab a screen shot of it or upload the video.

[Look at the sky 101]

I have a video of it... it might be possible to grab a screen shot of it or upload the video.

If possible yes I'd like to see it. 

[APshooter]

I checked the link but in my video, the sheet was totally blown out white and you couldn't see the bands.  We had 5 cameras going but none dedicated to shadow bands!  My friend also was there shooting but he turned his video camera to the side so he could watch the bands with his own eyes, thus missing recording the event!  Here's a link to someone's video that shows it really well 10 seconds before totality.  From the voice in the background he too was using SetnC as either a timer or camera control program.

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=qR0S_bCP7g0

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=ZyhbuHh97qQ

Edited by APshooter, 28 January 2022 - 03:04 PM.

[Look at the sky 101]

Thanks. 

I will try to do this to .

 

I checked the link but in my video, the sheet was totally blown out white and you couldn't see the bands.  We had 5 cameras going but none dedicated to shadow bands!  My friend also was there shooting but he turned his video camera to the side so he could watch the bands with his own eyes, thus missing recording the event!  Here's a link to someone's video that shows it really well 10 seconds before totality.  From the voice in the background he too was using SetnC as either a timer or camera control program.

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=qR0S_bCP7g0

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=ZyhbuHh97qQ

Wow,  thanks. 

I might do that to. 

[Look at the sky 101]

Hi everyone. 

I would like to take pictures with my nikon.

Is there anything I should know before?

And maybe also with my cel.

[APshooter]

No problem. What sort of lens? You'll need a solar filter at the very least if you want to shoot the partial phases. You won't need one during totality.

https://www.nikonusa...e solar eclipse.

Edited by APshooter, 15 February 2022 - 08:40 PM.

[Look at the sky 101]

Hi ,

My lense is a nikon dx  vr 18, 200 mm ed. 

 

No problem. What sort of lens? You'll need a solar filter at the very least if you want to shoot the partial phases. You won't need one during totality.

https://www.nikonusa...e solar eclipse.

Hi ,

My lense is a nikon dx  vr 18, 200 mm ed. 

[APshooter]

You'll be able to get a fairly wide shot of the Corona during totality with that lens.

[Look at the sky 101]

You'll be able to get a fairly wide shot of the Corona during totality with that lens.

You were talking about a filter 

Do you have a link or a picture.

I couldn't find what you meant about the filter.

Thank you very much for your help.

[APshooter]

I don't have a picture but if you Google solar filter on Amazon you'll see the ones made by Thousand Oaks Optical. If you're handy you can make your own with AstroSolar film. But I'd caution you to really do your research if you are making your own.

Solar filters are needed when shooting the partial phases. Once totality begins, you can remove the filter to image the Sun's Corona. The filter must be put back on when totality ends.

[Look at the sky 101]

I don't have a picture but if you Google solar filter on Amazon you'll see the ones made by Thousand Oaks Optical. If you're handy you can make your own with AstroSolar film. But I'd caution you to really do your research if you are making your own.

Solar filters are needed when shooting the partial phases. Once totality begins, you can remove the filter to image the Sun's Corona. The filter must be put back on when totality ends.

 Thank you, I really appreciate it. 

[APshooter]

Np. The link above about eclipses and Nikon cameras has a wealth of info on the subject.

[Look at the sky 101]

I've tried, and I've had not so bad results.

I had some difficulties with the speed of obscuction.

It just takes practice.

[B 26354]

Get one of these for your camera lens... or more, if you're gonna use more than one lens. Easy to put on and take off. I use two of them on my 10x56 binoculars.

 

https://www.bhphotov...ens_filter.html

 

[Look at the sky 101]

Get one of these for your camera lens... or more, if you're gonna use more than one lens. Easy to put on and take off. I use two of them on my 10x56 binoculars.

 

https://www.bhphotov...ens_filter.html

 

This is really neat,  thanks. 

[Look at the sky 101]

I just checked with my travel agency,

And already the hotels on the west coast of Mexico and west Texas are filling up very fast.

The travel agencies are getting a lot of calls for these destinations.

I have already booked a long time ago. 

 

Wisdom is to book as soon as possible.