December 23, 2024

Five NASA Tips for Photographing the “Ring of Fire” Solar Eclipse

A “Ring of Fire” solar eclipse, also known as an annular solar eclipse, occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun but does not completely cover the Suns disk due to its apparent smaller size. Whether you have a high-end DSLR, or a camera phone, you can take fantastic pictures throughout the eclipse; after all, the finest piece of equipment you can have is a great eye and a vision for the image you want to produce. While the Sun is the most commanding element of an eclipse, keep in mind to look around you. A safe solar filter needs to be used in front of a camera lens whenever photographing an annular solar eclipse or a partial solar eclipse. A lot of video cameras, and even lots of camera phones, have adjustable exposures, which can help you darken or lighten your image throughout the challenging eclipse lighting.

A “Ring of Fire” solar eclipse, likewise known as an annular solar eclipse, happens when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun but does not completely cover the Suns disk due to its obvious smaller sized size. As a result, the external edge of the Sun remains visible as a brilliant ring, or annulus, surrounding the dark disk of the Moon.
An annular “ring of fire” solar eclipse is crossing the Americas on October 14, 2023. This astronomical event is a best opportunity to capture unforgettable pictures of the Moon “taking a bite” out of the Sun or producing a “ring of fire” result in the sky. Whether youre an amateur professional photographer or a selfie master, try these pointers for photographing the eclipse.
1. — Safety First.
To take images as the Sun is being eclipsed, youll require to utilize a special solar filter to safeguard your cam, just as youll require a set of eclipse glasses to secure your own eyes.
Having a few other tools can likewise be available in convenient during the eclipse. Using a tripod can assist you support the electronic camera and avoid taking blurry images throughout the low lighting. In addition, utilizing a postponed shutter release timer will permit you to snap shots without jiggling the video camera.

Sarah Baker sees the partial solar eclipse as the sun rises, Thursday, June 10, 2021, at Lewes Beach in Delaware. Credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani.
2.– Any Camera Is a Good Camera.
Taking a spectacular image has more to do with the photographer than the cam. Whether you have a high-end DSLR, or a cam phone, you can take fantastic photos throughout the eclipse; after all, the very best piece of equipment you can have is a good eye and a vision for the image you want to produce. If you dont have a telephoto zoom lens, concentrate on taking landscape shots, which catch the altering environment.
3.– Look Up, Down, All Around.
While the Sun is the most commanding element of an eclipse, keep in mind to take a look around you. As the Moon insinuates front of the Sun, the landscape will be bathed in long shadows, creating spooky lighting across the landscape. Light filtering through the overlapping leaves of trees develops natural pinholes, which will likewise develop mini eclipse reproductions on the ground. Everywhere you can point your camera can yield exceptional imagery, so make certain to make up some wide-angle photos that can capture your eclipse experience.
NASA professional photographer Bill Ingalls suggests focusing on the human experience of seeing the eclipse. “The real pictures are going to be of individuals around you pointing, gawking, and seeing it,” Ingalls kept in mind. “Those are going to be some terrific moments to catch to reveal the emotion of the entire thing.”.
A safe solar filter needs to be utilized in front of a cam lens whenever photographing an annular solar eclipse or a partial solar eclipse. Putting the video camera on a tripod will assist support the view and produce clearer pictures. Credit: Danny B. Thomas.
4.– Practice.
Make sure you understand the abilities of your electronic camera before eclipse day. Many cameras, and even lots of electronic camera phones, have adjustable exposures, which can help you darken or lighten your image during the difficult eclipse lighting. Ensure you understand how to manually focus the cam for crisp shots.
For DSLR cameras, the very best way to determine the proper exposure is to evaluate settings on the uneclipsed Sun in advance. Utilizing a repaired aperture of f/8 to f/16, try shutter speeds between 1/1000 to 1/4 2nd to discover the ideal setting, which you can then utilize to take images throughout the annular or partial phases of the eclipse.
5.– Share!
Share your eclipse experience with loved ones afterward. Tag @NASA to link your images on social networks to those taken around the country and share them with NASA.
While youre out refining your best eclipse shot, do not forget to look and stop at the eclipse with your own eyes. Just keep in mind to use your solar watching glasses (or “eclipse glasses”) throughout the whole eclipse!