{"id":37883,"date":"2022-10-22T08:33:23","date_gmt":"2022-10-22T08:33:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skyatnightmagazine.com\/?p=112917"},"modified":"2022-10-22T08:52:12","modified_gmt":"2022-10-22T08:52:12","slug":"how-to-photograph-the-25-october-partial-solar-eclipse","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/rss_feed\/how-to-photograph-the-25-october-partial-solar-eclipse\/","title":{"rendered":"How to photograph the 25 October partial solar eclipse"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Pete Lawrence\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Saturday, 22 October 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

T<\/span>he Moon will pass in front of a part of the Sun on the morning of 25 October, an event that will result in a partial solar eclipse<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Partial solar eclipses, as their name suggests, don\u2019t cover the Sun\u2019s disc completely.<\/p>\n

As the greatest coverage will only be 24.5% at best from mainland UK, the area of Sun that remains visible will pose a danger to eyesight and equipment.<\/p>\n

Consequently, great care needs to be taken to protect both. Here we\u2019ll look at some of the ways you can image the event safely.<\/p>\n

Find out more about the event with our guide to the 25 October partial solar eclipse<\/a>. For more on solar photography, read our guide on how to photograph the Sun<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Partial solar eclipse, Omid Qadrdan\/Ahmad Riahi Dehkordi, Hengam Island, Iran, 26 December 2019. Equipment: Canon 6D Mark I DSLR<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

What to photograph during the eclipse<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Although there aren\u2019t many \u2018special effects\u2019 during a partial solar eclipse, there are still things to look out for.<\/p>\n

First contact<\/strong> is always exciting, noticing the first intrusion of the Moon in front of the Sun\u2019s disc being strangely satisfying.<\/p>\n

You may also have access to H-alpha filters<\/a><\/strong>, which can expand the experience.<\/p>\n

With an H-alpha filter it\u2019s possible to see the edge of the Moon move in front of what\u2019s known as the spicule layer, essentially the appearance of the chromosphere seen sideways-on at the edge of the Sun.<\/p>\n

Made up of many plasma jets, each around 10,000km in length, the tightly packed spicules create an edge to the H-alpha Sun that looks, for want of a better term, furry.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Eclipse and prominences, James Robertson, London. Equipment: ZWO ASI178 mono camera, Lunt LS60THa H-Alpha solar telescope, Sky-Watcher SolarQuest mount<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

The Moon\u2019s passage across the spicule layer<\/strong> will be brief, the layer appearing very narrow against the large apparent diameter of the Sun\u2019s main disc.<\/p>\n

However, the Holy Grail would be if there was a well-positioned, well-timed prominence<\/strong> on show. Seeing the Moon pass across this would really give H-alpha setups an extra spectacle.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But what if you don\u2019t have an exotic and, let\u2019s face it, expensive H-alpha filter to hand?<\/p>\n

Low-tech solutions exist too, thanks to the fact that the Sun\u2019s so bright.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The projections of a partial solar eclipse in New Delhi, India, 29 March 2006. CreditL Manan Vatsyayana\/AFP via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

A piece of card with a 1\u20132mm hole in the centre will cast a shadow with an image of the Sun projected by the pinhole.<\/p>\n

This image can be safely photographed with something as basic as a smartphone (read our guide to smartphone astrophotography<\/a> for tips).<\/span><\/p>\n

For a little more pazazz, consider making<\/span> a series of holes to form a familiar pattern or shape.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Natural effects occur too. Find a tree or bush with leaves on it and look at the points of sunlight that occur on the ground as the light passes through during the middle part of the eclipse.<\/span><\/p>\n

The leaves form irregular but still functional pinholes, the light cast on the ground forming a multitude of little eclipse images.<\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019ve suggested a number of ways you might like to capture the event below. All we need now is clear skies on 25 October!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Partial Solar Eclipse by Konstantinos T. Kinnoull Hill, Perth, Scotland. Equipment: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ72, solar filter, placed on a basic tripod<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Photographing the eclipse: tips and techniques<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Equipment<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n