418 replies to this topic

[chakel]

Paul,

Can you possibly share the script that you’re using for your Traveller/5D Mark IV setup. I’m still working on refining the script for my Stowaway/FF/6D Mark II.

Many thanks and wishing clear skies for all,
John

[CreatorsHand]

Paul,

Can you possibly share the script that you’re using for your Traveller/5D Mark IV setup. I’m still working on refining the script for my Stowaway/FF/6D Mark II.

Many thanks and wishing clear skies for all,
John

John,

 

I would be happy to, although it will have to wait until tomorrow; I've run through the part from DR through totality to DR, but I want to run through the full 2 1/2 hours to verify everything works, and need to do some cleanup afterwards.

 

Paul

[agavephoto]

Paul,

Can you possibly share the script that you’re using for your Traveller/5D Mark IV setup. I’m still working on refining the script for my Stowaway/FF/6D Mark II.

Many thanks and wishing clear skies for all,
John

John,

 

Here's my 5D4 script operating at f/5.5: if you're using the 92TCC, this isn't too far off from f/5.3 ... if you're using the 92FF, just swap out your exposures for your f/7 system. I'm using the series of exposure ramps method in case it's partly cloudy.

 

 

 

# --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# ------ 5D4 section -----
# ------ 5D4 section -----
# ------ 5D4 section -----
# ------ 5D4 section -----
#
# Using the exposure calculator for f/5.6, there is extra light from f/5.5 of the Esprit 100ED!
#
# Camera is Canon 5D4.
#
# Exposure calculator suggests the following for the Esprit 100ED, f/5.5, ISO 100:
#
# 1/5000 @ ISO 50!!! 1/10000 needed at ISO 100!!! Baily’s Beads bright in 2017, using 1/8000!
# 1/250 Diamond Ring, back to ISO 100!!!, bright in 2017, using 1/320
# 1/6400 Chromosphere
# 1/3200, Prominences
# Corona set:
# 1/800 <0.1 R_sun -> using 1/1000
# 1/100 <0.2 R_sun ->
# 1/50 <0.5 R_sun
# 1/13 <1.0 R_sun
# 1/6 <2.0 R_sun
# 1/4 < 3.0 R_sun
# 1/1.6 <4.0 R_sun
# 2 <8.0 R_sun
# 4 <Earthshine, but will expose this as well for corona.
#
#
# General formatting of commands is as follows:
# Action,Date/Ref,Offset sign,Time (offset),Camera,Exposure,Aperture,ISO,MLU,Quality,Size,Incremental,Comment
#
#
#--------- Voice Prompts --------

PLAY,C2,-,00:10:00.1,10_Minutes.wav, , , , , , , ,'10 minutes' voice prompt
PLAY,C2,-,00:05:00.1,5_Minutes.wav, , , , , , , ,'5 minutes' voice prompt
PLAY,C2,-,00:02:00.1,2_Minutes.wav, , , , , , , ,'2 minutes' voice prompt
PLAY,C2,-,00:01:00.1,60_Seconds.wav, , , , , , , ,'1 minute' voice prompt
PLAY,C2,-,00:00:30.1,30_Seconds.wav, , , , , , , ,'30 seconds' voice prompt
PLAY,C2,-,00:00:29.1,Filters_Off.wav, , , , , , , ,'Filters off' voice prompt
PLAY,C2,-,00:00:10.1,10_Seconds.wav, , , , , , , ,'10 seconds' voice prompt
PLAY,MAX,-,00:00:00.1,Max_Eclipse.wav, , , , , , , ,'Maximum eclipse' voice prompt
PLAY,C3,-,00:00:10.1,10_Seconds.wav, , , , , , , ,'10 seconds' voice prompt
PLAY,C3,+,00:00:11.9,Filters_On.wav, , , , , , , ,'Filters on' voice prompt

################################## TOTALITY ######################################

LVPSTART,C2,-,00:14.0,5D4, , , , , , , ,Start photography in Lv
LVPSTOP,C3,+,00:12.0,5D4, , , , , , , ,Stop photography in Lv

 

#--------- Set Max Burst Rate --------
CHGCSSL,C2,-,00:12.0,5D4, , ,100, , , , ,Set max burst

#--------- Diamond Ring --------
TAKEBST,C2,-,00:11.0,5D4,1/320,5.6,100,10,RAW,None,Y,Diamond Ring

#--------- Set Max Burst Rate --------
CHGCSSL,C2,-,00:08.0,5D4, , ,100, , , , ,Set max burst

#--------- Bailly's Beads --------
TAKEBST,C2,-,00:07.0,5D4,1/8000,5.6,50,26,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads

TAKEPIC,C2,-,00:01.0,5D4,1/8000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads

 

#--------- C2 TOTALITY BEGINS!!! --------
#--------- C2 TOTALITY BEGINS!!! --------
#--------- C2 TOTALITY BEGINS!!! --------

#--------- Set Max Burst Rate --------
CHGCSSL,C2,+,00:00.0,5D4, , ,100, , , , ,Set max burst

#--------- Chromosphere Set --------
TAKEBST,C2,+,00:01.0,5D4,1/6400,5.6,100,6,RAW,None,Y,Chromosphere

#--------- Set Max Burst Rate --------
CHGCSSL,C2,+,00:03.0,5D4, , ,100, , , , ,Set max burst

#--------- Prominence Set --------
TAKEBST,C2,+,00:04.0,5D4,1/3200,5.6,100,5,RAW,None,Y,Prominences

#--------- Corona Sets --------

# Ramp up 13 exposures from 1/1000
RAMPUP,C2,+,00:06.0,5D4,1/1000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,13,1.0,Exposure ramp 1/1000-->4s

# Ramp up 13 exposures from 1/1000
RAMPUP,C2,+,00:30.0,5D4,1/1000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,13,1.0,Exposure ramp 1/1000-->4s

# Ramp up 13 exposures from 1/1000
RAMPUP,C2,+,00:53.0,5D4,1/1000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,13,1.0,Exposure ramp 1/1000-->4s

# Ramp up 13 exposures from 1/1000
RAMPUP,C2,+,01:16.0,5D4,1/1000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,13,1.0,Exposure ramp 1/1000-->4s

# Ramp up 13 exposures from 1/1000
RAMPUP,C2,+,01:39.0,5D4,1/1000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,13,1.0,Exposure ramp 1/1000-->4s

# Ramp up 13 exposures from 1/1000
RAMPUP,C2,+,02:02.0,5D4,1/1000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,13,1.0,Exposure ramp 1/1000-->4s

# Ramp up 13 exposures from 1/1000
RAMPUP,C2,+,02:25.0,5D4,1/1000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,13,1.0,Exposure ramp 1/1000-->4s

# Ramp up 13 exposures from 1/1000
RAMPUP,C2,+,02:48.0,5D4,1/1000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,13,1.0,Exposure ramp 1/1000-->4s

# Ramp up 13 exposures from 1/1000
RAMPUP,C2,+,03:11.0,5D4,1/1000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,13,1.0,Exposure ramp 1/1000-->4s

# Ramp up 13 exposures from 1/1000
RAMPUP,C2,+,03:34.0,5D4,1/1000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,13,1.0,Exposure ramp 1/1000-->4s

# Ramp up 13 exposures from 1/1000
RAMPDN,C3,-,00:32.0,5D4,1,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,11,1.0,Exposure ramp down 11 shots 4s-->1/1000

 

#--------- Set Max Burst Rate --------
CHGCSSL,C3,-,00:09.0,5D4, , ,100, , , , ,Set max burst

#--------- Prominence Set --------
TAKEBST,C3,-,00:07.0,5D4,1/3200,5.6,100,6,RAW,None,Y,Prominences

#--------- Set Max Burst Rate --------
CHGCSSL,C3,-,00:04.5,5D4, , ,100, , , , ,Set max burst

#--------- Chromosphere Set --------
TAKEBST,C3,-,00:04.0,5D4,1/6400,5.6,100,10,RAW,None,Y,Chromosphere

#--------- C3 TOTALITY ENDS!!! --------
#--------- C3 TOTALITY ENDS!!! --------
#--------- C3 TOTALITY ENDS!!! --------

 

#--------- Set Max Burst Rate --------
CHGCSSL,C3,-,00:00.5,5D4, , ,100, , , , ,Set max burst

#--------- Baily's Beads --------
TAKEBST,C3,+,00:00.0,5D4,1/8000,5.6,50,26,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads

#--------- Set Max Burst Rate --------
CHGCSSL,C3,+,00:07.0,5D4, , ,100, , , , ,Set max burst

#--------- Diamond Ring --------
TAKEBST,C3,+,00:08.5,5D4,1/320,5.6,100,15,RAW,None,Y,Diamond Ring

 

#--------- C4 ECLIPSE ENDS!!! --------

 

################################## PARTIAL PHASE ######################################

#TAKEPIC,C2,-,00:35.0,5D4,1/6400,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Last Before Totality Sequence
#TAKEPIC,C3,+,00:30.0,5D4,1/6400,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,First After Totality Sequence

#FOR,(INTERVALOMETER),0,1.001,3
#TAKEPIC,C1,-,00:01:00.0,5D4,1/500,5.6,100,0.000,RAW,None,N,Pre-C1 uneclipsed
#ENDFOR
#FOR,(INTERVALOMETER),1,1.001,3
#TAKEPIC,C4,+,00:01:00.0,5D4,1/500,5.6,100,0.000,RAW,None,N,Post-C4 uneclipsed
#ENDFOR

#FOR,(INTERVALOMETER),1,1.001,5
#TAKEPIC,C1,-,00:00:01.0,5D4,1/500,5.6,100,0.000,RAW,None,Y,First contact
#ENDFOR
#FOR,(INTERVALOMETER),0,1.001,5
#TAKEPIC,C4,+,00:00:01.0,5D4,1/5000,5.6,100,0.000,RAW,None,Y,Fourth contact
#ENDFOR

#FOR,(INTERVALOMETER),0,300.000,14
#TAKEPIC,C2,-,05:00.0,5D4,1/500,5.6,100,0.000,RAW,None,Y,Partial C1-C2
#ENDFOR
#FOR,(INTERVALOMETER),1,300.000,16
#TAKEPIC,C3,+,05:00.0,5D4,1/500,5.6,100,0.000,RAW,None,Y,Partial C3-C4
#ENDFOR

Edited by agavephoto, 03 April 2024 - 09:33 AM.

[chakel]

Drew,

 

Thanks for your post.  Unfortunately, the commands in the script would indicate that this script is for Solar Eclipse Maestro, and Paul and I are using Eclipse Orchestrator Pro. There is no equivalent take burst command with EO.  With EO, you can achieve a faster shot rate (2/sec) by using the SETEXP and RELEASE commands over just using the TAKEPIC command.  The only way I know to handle bursts for the DR/BB phases is to manually switch the camera's mode dial from one custom mode (single exposure) to another (high speed continuous) and then back.  I'd prefer to be totally hands-off the camera for the main event.

 

CS,

John

[agavephoto]

Drew,

 

Thanks for your post.  Unfortunately, the commands in the script would indicate that this script is for Solar Eclipse Maestro, and Paul and I are using Eclipse Orchestrator Pro. There is no equivalent take burst command with EO.  With EO, you can achieve a faster shot rate (2/sec) by using the SETEXP and RELEASE commands over just using the TAKEPIC command.  The only way I know to handle bursts for the DR/BB phases is to manually switch the camera's mode dial from one custom mode (single exposure) to another (high speed continuous) and then back.  I'd prefer to be totally hands-off the camera for the main event.

 

CS,

John

Ah, mea culpa ... I tend to forget Windows exists ...

[TrailExplorer]

I will be using a Canon R5 with the 100-500mm, mounted atop the Sky Watcher Star Adventurer. And all that on top of a photographic grade tripod (Feisol CT-3442, if curious). 

 

Unfortunately, my setup seems to have some stability weakness. My tests have indicated that I can't get tack sharp images from my R5 with shutter speeds slower than 1/50sec. I'm not sure if the big culprit is the star adventurer, since my camera/lens combo is pretty close to the weight limit when including the counterweight. Or it might be the legs... I know they're solid for the camera alone, but with the camera AND the Star adventurer, maybe they're being overstressed.

 

And speaking of shutter speed, I have a question about the impact of seeing during the eclipse. During some of my tests, I was shooting the sun on what must have been really bad seeing days since I couldn't get maximum sharpness on sunspots with Shutter speeds slower than 1/200 sec. With that in mind, is it possible that poor seeing could impact the corona during totality? If that's the case is there anything to do other than to avoid long shutter speeds(which I may be doing anyway  )? Seems like the outer corona isn't really feasible without getting close to full second exposures...

[bonjorno]

My tests have indicated that I can't get tack sharp images from my R5 with shutter speeds slower than 1/50sec.

Try changing the Shutter Mode to Electronic 1st Curtain . My exposure bracketing results seem sharper in that mode. Of course my setup is a bit simpler than yours, just the R5 and 800mm f/11 lens.

[Astronomy4You]

I'm driving an hour or so to Kerrville from my house in San Antonio on Sun. I'm bringing a few things with me. For visual observation, My Celsestron Evolution 9.25 (with 6.3 Focal reducer)

 

For imaging I'll have the folllowing gear:

An Explore Scientific 127ED mounted on a Losmandy G-11 

A Skywatcher AZ-GTi holding a Celstron 80ED doublet. in EQ mode.

 

Cameras:

Pentax K-1 (Full frame)

Canon 70D (Crop Sensor) 

 

The Canon will be run by SetnC for Eclipse automation The Pentax via intervalometer since no software supports it.

 

I'm going to keep the Pentax/Celestron 80mm combo since that served me well in 2017 and try and capture more detail of the prominences and inner corona with the Canon on the 127 triplet. 

 

Since I have almost double the totality time (and much more experience) I shouldn't have as much of a problem with the manual operation of the Pentax bracketing during totality.

[sggi]

This will be my first Total Eclipse viewing, I have been planning for months getting my gear ready and practicing on beautiful sunny mid-day afternoons. Cant wait for the traffic, road slush and insane people on Monday morning, LOL. Anyways here is my gear and setups.

Totality: Nikon D300S w/Nikkor 300mm with a diy Baader filter. Camera mounted to a Sky-watcher 2i Equal. Running EO. (a Intervalometer attached as a backup to a possible software failure)

Wide field Eclipse: Nikon D200 w/sigma 10-20mm @ 15mm Tripod mounted running a Intervalometer

Surrounding Event: Canon G11 Video recording.

 

[Cityskylights]

This will be my first solar eclipse i'll be attempting to photograph. I'll be using a Astro-tech 60ED, a Canon 750D, thousand oaks solar film and my star adventurer 2ti. I was originally  tempted to use a raspberry pi 4 with stellarmate with the astro-tech60 ED, and a zwo asi120mc-2 to somehow automate taking photos, i have zero confidence in doing something more complex.

 

test image below with a sunspot and sadly some clouds floating by

 

 

Edited by Cityskylights, 05 April 2024 - 09:46 PM.

[JimB1]

First full solar eclipse for me, not sure if the cloud cover is going to work with me but going to attempt to take pics with my Nikon D700 with an older 75-300 af d zoom and Thousand Oaks filter. I’ll be going somewhat manual but using a Omegon LX2 to try and track. Testing shows me it can’t keep up with solar tracking for more than a few min but we’ll see how it goes. I’m relying on all of you to get good pics because between the forecast and my potential to screw up the shot I’m giving myself a 20% chance of getting a decent shot or two LOL

[APshooter]

We are setup just south of Indianapolis in my observatory; weather Saturday was textbook perfect. However, rain is due late this evening. Tomorrow is forecast sunny with partly cloudy skies.  This is the main rig:  AP130 with Nikon Z6ii and Z8 cameras, 400mm telephoto plus doubler, Lunt LS50 double stack, Canon with 14mm wide angle shooting widefield, 2 security cameras shooting widefield, Seestar S50, a second camera shooting side widefield.   We are using the Eagle 4 to connect and control wirelessly from inside during the partial phases.  Wireless recorders are also live streaming to Youtube during the event.  Eclipse Orchestrator for control. Three cameras are recording timelapse.  This our second total eclipse and the equipment has vastly improved since then.

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[markmanner]

We are setup just south of Indianapolis in my observatory; weather Saturday was textbook perfect. However, rain is due late this evening. Tomorrow is forecast sunny with partly cloudy skies.  This is the main rig:  AP130 with Nikon Z6ii and Z8 cameras, 400mm telephoto plus doubler, Lunt LS50 double stack, Canon with 14mm wide angle shooting widefield, 2 security cameras shooting widefield, Seestar S50, a second camera shooting side widefield.   We are using the Eagle 4 to connect and control wirelessly from inside during the partial phases.  Wireless recorders are also live streaming to Youtube during the event.  Eclipse Orchestrator for control. Three cameras are recording timelapse.  This our second total eclipse and the equipment has vastly improved since then.

Good luck! I'm deciding now between Ash Flat AR and Marion IL.  

[Rickycardo]

We've settled on Marion IL area. Its looking like any clouds might be upper level cirrus clouds for Monday. I can live with that. I was planning 2 cameras and shooting a 200mm and a 400mm lens. With the clouds I think I will shoot the 200mm and back out to a 24 mm and shoot a time lapse of the eclipse. Might be more photogenic with any clouds in the area.

[markmanner]

Hi, were in Marion too. Some cirrus so not great extended corona, but Baily's Beads and prominences were great! One prom in particular has been remarked upon by everyone, and here is a link to it and some other pics.

 

https://www.astrobin.com/gpchn4/F/

 

Edited by markmanner, 10 April 2024 - 09:04 AM.

[JethroXP]

This was my setup, from left to right:

1) RedCat 51 (f/4.9) w/ ASI2600MC Pro (at Gain 0) on ZWO AM3, sequence from pre-C1 to post-C4 managed with SharpCap Pro with timings and exposures adapated from Eclipse Orchestrator
2) Nikon P1000 at 1000mm on Sky Watcher Star Adventurer GTi, unmanaged, captured 30-minute 4K video starting about 12-minutes before totality
3) Nikon Z6 w/ TTArtisan 500mm prime lens at f/11 and ISO 100, sequence from pre-C1- to post-C4 managed with Eclipse Orchestrator using a DSUSB serial cable from ShoeString Astronomy
 

 

And these are the photos I was able to get:

Diamond Ring at C2

Baily's Beads at C2

Baily's Beads at C3

Diamond Ring at C3

Earthshine HDR Strack

Individual photos and exposures used for Earthshine HDR

Edited by JethroXP, 12 April 2024 - 11:42 AM.

[DelVento]

Summary of the TSE eclipse from my location in Texas

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=Lo6D1sb0Gz8

Edited by DelVento, 14 April 2024 - 11:50 PM.

[markmanner]

 

...

Earthshine HDR Strack

Individual photos and exposures used for Earthshine HDR

 

Hi, thanks for sharing the great pics and how the different brackets look. I got very little earthshine, and seeing where your earthshine data came from makes sense. In my longer brackets, I had complete white-out due to the cirrus/haze at my site. I got just the barest hint on some of the shorter exposure.

 

It was a fun process getting ready for the eclipse and in some sense the weather turmoil and decision angst it caused was part of the excitement.  I could wish for a perfect day that happened to come right over my observatory though. The only thing I know for certain is that won't happen!

Best,

Mark 

[geovermont]

Thanks for including the individual photos that you used. That helps me understand my own photos. I should be getting access to Adobe Camera RAW Plugin soon and will try an HDR stack with my photos. I was wondering if the longest of my exposures, which had blue sky in them, would be of any use. The last of those was taken what I now can see as just a second or so before C3. When I reviewed the photos on-screen right after the end of totality I had wondered if they might have been taken just barely after C3, but thinking about it I can see that they would have been massively blown out, given that I was working at f/8 and ISO200 and the exposures were 1 second and 1.6 seconds long. Instead, I see now that they are simply long exposures taken during the last moments of totality. I can see hints of the coronal streamers and there is no sign of direct solar exposure. It was all happening kind of fast in those last seconds!