Great American Eclipse

We are quickly approaching what is being dubbed as the Great American Eclipse, with its path stretching from Mexico, the United States, and through to Canada on April 8, 2024.

In this episode, we will talk about how to get ready for this event of a lifetime! 

IMAGE CREDIT: GreatAmericanEclipse.com


SOLAR ECLIPSE
What is a solar eclipse?  A solar eclipse is when the moon is in a position to partially or totally block the light of the Sun.    There are around two to five solar eclipses per year, with a total eclipse happening around every 18 months on our planet.  

So let's talk about 5 TIPS you can do to get ready for the eclipse.

1.  LEARN ABOUT ECLIPSES

Eclipses of the Sun and Moon are fascinating.   Before our modern understanding, eclipses were viewed as bad omen of things to come, evoking fear in many.    Eclipses are fascinating events to learn about.  And so is astronomy!   You can learn more about this eclipse by going to

GREAT AMERICAN ECLIPSE:

SKY & TELESCOPE ECLIPSE GUIDE
https://skyandtelescope.org/

PLANETARY SOCIETY:



2.  PICK UP SOME SOLAR ECLIPSE GLASSES

So why can I not look at the Sun?   Our eyes contains sensitive rod and cone photoreceptors in the retina.   The Sun's ultraviolet light is absorbed in the retina and starts a process of destroying those photoreceptors.   This all happens without you even sensing it.   It can take up to 12 hours afterwards for you to notice symptoms.   If this is the case, seek medical help.

Be sure to pick up solar eclipse glasses with the ISO 12312-2 certification.    I purchased eclipse glasses in 2017 from the largest online retailer, and it turned out that the glasses that were purchased failed the certification standards.   The ISO 12312-2 certification that applies to the glasses are for using the eclipses glasses with your eyes only, and not be to used in with camera lens, binoculars or a telescope.

Be sure to use my High Point Scientific link here to pick up some eclipse glasses before it is too late.

3.  MAKE A DIY ECLIPSE VIEWER

Another fun DIY product you can do that is great with kids is making your own eclipse viewer.   In the past, I've made eclipse viewers out of a MilkBone Dog treat box, and another time out of a LaQuinta hotel brochure.    You can even make it out of a cardboard tube.

The idea is simple.  Take the Sun end of the box or tube, a puncture a small hole in the middle with a thumb tack.     The Sun end of the box or tube needs to be thick enough only to allow the light of the Sun through that end.    Some DIY use aluminum foil.

On the projection end of the tube or box, have an area where the Sun's light will be cast in the color white.   This is your "movie screen".   You can use bright white notecards or paper taped on this side as your screen.


IMAGE CREDIT: NASA

Finally, you need a way to view your screen.   You may need to cut an opening in the side of the box or tube to see the eclipsing sun.

4. USE A CAMERA TO TAKE ECLIPSE IMAGES

For this eclipse, I am planning on using my camera tripod, Canon R10 camera, a Canon RF  100-400mm Super telephoto zoom lens, an intervalometer and a Celestron – EclipSmart Safe Solar Eclipse Telescope filter, in order to take pictures throughout the event.

Once I set up my equipment, I'll use MANUAL mode on my camera.   Focus in on the Sun by zooming in on a prominent feature like a high contrast feature, such as a Sunspot or the limb of the Moon.

I recommend going to Mr. Eclipse website and consult the chart that he has put together to work with your particular camera.   The link is in the description of this video.


I'm practicing now with different settings to be sure I have everything down pat for the eclipse.   Once totality takes place, I'll remove my Safe Solar Eclipse filter and take multiple shots using a faster shutter speed.     Just be sure to get your filter back on before totality ends!

5.  USE YOUR SOLAR TELESCOPE

I am also packing my Lunt 40mm dedicated Hydrogen-Alpha Solar telescope, and Sky-Watcher SolarQuest solar tracking mount for viewing this eclipse.   I'm planning on using my ZWO 178MM monochrome camera to take images of the Sun with FireCapture software.




CONCLUSION

I'm really pumped for this day and really hope there are no clouds!!  Otherwise,  plan B is to enjoy the hotel pool with my family!     If you haven't picked up your solar eclipse glasses, or are interested in telescopes, consider using my affiliate link in the description with High Point Scientific.   I have purchased almost all my astrophotography and solar gear from them.   They are amazing.   By using my affiliate link, you are helping support this channel.



High Point Scientific

https://www.highpointscientific.com/?rfsn=7755489.66ed8e

I'll leave you some words from the famous philosopher Plato.. "Astronomy compels the soul to look upwards and leads us from this world to another".   Take care.

Enjoy learning more about Astronomy and Astrophotography?   Come explore with me with my newsletters and YouTube channel.

Visit my YouTube channel for more astrophotography
https://www.astrobortle.com/

Check out my Astro-photos images on AstroBin!
https://www.astrobin.com/users/erikgigem/

For the latest Blogger updates, subscribe to my Newsletter
https://tinyurl.com/2arry74k














Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

All I want for Christmas is a telescope

Image
The night sky is full of wonders to behold.  After my friends see my pictures, I get asked, can I see that if I bought a telescope?  What kind of telescope should I get?  I don't want anything too complicated! In today's article, let's talk about telescopes!  And what should you look for in your first telescope! Seasons greetings!   The nights are getting longer in the northern hemisphere as the winter solstice approaches.  It's the season of giving and lots of folks are looking for the perfect gift.  Maybe this year it will be a new telescope!  What should you look for in a telescope?  And what can I expect to see?  With a descent telescope, you should be able to see the red spot on Jupiter, the red coloration of Mars, the beautiful rings of Saturn, the craters of the Moon, and countless stars. Telescopes come in all different shapes and sizes.   There are three basic categories of telescopes.  Refractors, reflectors, and Catadioptric telescopes.    TYPES
Read more

What does Bortle 5 mean in your Blog Title?

Image
So what in the world is "Bortle 5" in your title exactly mean?   An American amateur astronomer by the name of  John E. Bortle created this useful scale of the quality (brightness) of the night sky.  His work was published in  the February  2001 edition of "Sky and Telescope." The nine-point scale goes something like this:  Bortle 1 :  Excellent Dark Sky Site,  Bortle 2:  Truly a dark sky site ,  Bortle 3:  Rural Sky Site,  Bortle 4: Bright rural sky,   Bortle 5:  Suburban sky,  Bortle 6: Bright Suburban sky,  Bortle 7: Suburban / Urban transition,  Bortle 8: City Sky,  Bortle 9 : Inner City Sky What makes the sky more light-polluted are the amount of lights in the area, such as streetlights, floodlights, security lights, advertising, and building lights.    Light pollution hides the beauty of the Milky Way from 80% of Americans.   I am fortunate to live in Bortle 5 skies outside of Atlanta.  However with more growth and development in our area, the light-pollution
Read more