Planning for An Eclipse(s)

[JSBach1801]

On October 14th of this year there will be an annular eclipse which passes only about four hours from where I live. I want to take pictures of it. I have already scouted out a location in a park area almost right on the center line of the eclipse. (Like only dozens of yards away.) I'm going to book a room the night before in a nearby town and set up shop at the park early on the morning of. The eclipse will be at its max at 10:29 AM. It's on a Saturday too, so I won't have to miss work!

Then on April 8th, 2024, there will be a total eclipse passing nearby where my parents live in Texas. They are in the 90% coverage range. I have found another park area in a town about an hour's drive away where I can set up shop and witness the total eclipse in full. I can stay at my folk's place and leave early in the morning and get to the park with hours to spare. The eclipse is at 12:48 PM. This one is a bit more involved for me to manage since Texas is a 1,450 miles drive from my place in Utah, but it gives me a good excuse to visit my family, plus free room and board,

Now, my question is, I know I will need a filter for my telescope, but what filter? It would be cool to be able to make out sunspots, and of course I will want the nice image of the corona. I will be using my Sony color camera to capture the images and my William Optics scope. (Listed in my signature.) I know many of you take exceptional solar images, but that is with special solar telescopes and dedicated solar imaging cameras, yes? Any advise for me?

[JayTee]

Bader solar film is what I used at the last annular eclipse that I photographed. You can find it here.

https://agenaastro.com/baader-astrosola ... 59286.html

[yobbo89]

i use this with a solar filter https://www.ozscopes.com.au/baader-plan ... -1-25.html , enhances solar granulation , i do question on what others do for a totaly eclipes when it is dark out, i guess people take thier filters off ?

[SkyHiker]

Speaking from experience with a superzoom DSLR trying to capture the entire event, you need a filter so long as the sun is visible but not at the short period of time when the sun is eclipsed. That was easy with a DSLR; I used a cylindrical enclosure from cardboard with the filter on it that I could easily take off. The same could work for a telescope. Just be aware that the light conditions change a lot during the critical moment, and that you have it set up for blue sky brightness, I guess.

[JSBach1801]

Bader solar film is what I used at the last annular eclipse that I photographed. You can find it here.

https://agenaastro.com/baader-astrosola ... 59286.html

These look very promising and quite affordable. Thank you!

[JSBach1801]

i use this with a solar filter https://www.ozscopes.com.au/baader-plan ... -1-25.html , enhances solar granulation , i do question on what others do for a totaly eclipes when it is dark out, i guess people take thier filters off ?

Looks like a great filter, but it states that it is best suited for a mono-chrome camera, so might not be the best for me.

As for exposure changes when the eclipse hits, that's a great question. I'll still researching. When I settle on a plan of action, I'll update this thread. It'll will probably be different depending on annular vs total, I would think.

[JayTee]

As for exposure changes when the eclipse hits, that's a great question. I'll still researching.

At full eclipse it is not dark outside, if fact, it's not dark at all! The metering system in your Sony will easily handle auto exposure/time and autofocus even with the solar film in place. So there is no need to research exposure times.

Additional info for you: the solar film blocks out so much light that you cannot see anything other than the sun. If you have a second camera or even your smartphone use that to take scenery panorama images. Trying to do that with just one camera is a study in frustration, I know, I've tried!