Tips for Total Solar Eclipse Videos
-
- Don't bring me down
- Posts: 2524
- Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2012 11:24 am
- AKA: Bruce
- Location: East Idaho
Tips for Total Solar Eclipse Videos
For those planing to be in the path of totality on August 21 are there any tips for taking good recordings of this event? We have iPhone & iPad devices, and want to capture as much as possible of this rare astronomical treat.
Bruce
Bruce
Just as zero is not equal to infinity, everything coming from nothing is illogical.
Re: Tips for Total Solar Eclipse Videos
As cool as some direct imaging is, I also love the projected images and the leaf-filtered ‘pinhole camera’ multi images.
-
- Don't bring me down
- Posts: 2524
- Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2012 11:24 am
- AKA: Bruce
- Location: East Idaho
Re: Tips for Total Solar Eclipse Videos
Thanks for that Case. I do have a spotting scope that I mainly use for birding, which could be used for projected images. I'd need to be extremely protective though lest someone tries looking directly through it during the partial phases. Maybe I'll set it up high in the bed of my pickup.
Bruce
Bruce
Just as zero is not equal to infinity, everything coming from nothing is illogical.
- Fred the Cat
- Theoretic Apothekitty
- Posts: 975
- Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2016 4:09 pm
- AKA: Ron
- Location: Eagle, Idaho
Re: Tips for Total Solar Eclipse Videos
Last eclipse I made a cap for my 4 inch reflector with safety film. It worked pretty well.
Hope the ISS astronauts get a decent view too.![Cool 8-)](./images/smilies/icon_cool.gif)
Hope the ISS astronauts get a decent view too.
![Cool 8-)](./images/smilies/icon_cool.gif)
Freddy's Felicity "Only ascertain as a cat box survivor"
-
- Don't bring me down
- Posts: 2524
- Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2012 11:24 am
- AKA: Bruce
- Location: East Idaho
Re: Tips for Total Solar Eclipse Videos
Thanks Fred. I wonder if there is a possible substitute like a very thin tin foil that could be used as a filter. I also don't want to overheat the inside of my spotting scope.
Bruce
Bruce
Just as zero is not equal to infinity, everything coming from nothing is illogical.
- Chris Peterson
- Abominable Snowman
- Posts: 18460
- Joined: Wed Jan 31, 2007 11:13 pm
- Location: Guffey, Colorado, USA
- Contact:
Re: Tips for Total Solar Eclipse Videos
No, that will be opaque. Full aperture solar filters are either glass or some kind of coated plastic. Almost everyone agrees that the Baader film works very well, maybe best. It's cheap and easy to work with. That's what I would suggest (and there is no concern about your scope getting warm or damaged).BDanielMayfield wrote:Thanks Fred. I wonder if there is a possible substitute like a very thin tin foil that could be used as a filter. I also don't want to overheat the inside of my spotting scope.
Chris
*****************************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
https://www.cloudbait.com
*****************************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
https://www.cloudbait.com
-
- Don't bring me down
- Posts: 2524
- Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2012 11:24 am
- AKA: Bruce
- Location: East Idaho
Re: Tips for Total Solar Eclipse Videos
But if the spotting scope was used to project an image without the use of such a filter there would be a real risk of damage to the scope, right?Chris Peterson wrote:No, that will be opaque. Full aperture solar filters are either glass or some kind of coated plastic. Almost everyone agrees that the Baader film works very well, maybe best. It's cheap and easy to work with. That's what I would suggest (and there is no concern about your scope getting warm or damaged).BDanielMayfield wrote:Thanks Fred. I wonder if there is a possible substitute like a very thin tin foil that could be used as a filter. I also don't want to overheat the inside of my spotting scope.
Bruce
Just as zero is not equal to infinity, everything coming from nothing is illogical.
- Chris Peterson
- Abominable Snowman
- Posts: 18460
- Joined: Wed Jan 31, 2007 11:13 pm
- Location: Guffey, Colorado, USA
- Contact:
Re: Tips for Total Solar Eclipse Videos
Yes, you could damage the interior if your pointing was off, or even the eyepiece lenses if they are cemented together. But as long as the aperture is under a couple of inches, you're unlikely to have a problem.BDanielMayfield wrote:But if the spotting scope was used to project an image without the use of such a filter there would be a real risk of damage to the scope, right?Chris Peterson wrote:No, that will be opaque. Full aperture solar filters are either glass or some kind of coated plastic. Almost everyone agrees that the Baader film works very well, maybe best. It's cheap and easy to work with. That's what I would suggest (and there is no concern about your scope getting warm or damaged).BDanielMayfield wrote:Thanks Fred. I wonder if there is a possible substitute like a very thin tin foil that could be used as a filter. I also don't want to overheat the inside of my spotting scope.
Chris
*****************************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
https://www.cloudbait.com
*****************************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
https://www.cloudbait.com
-
- Don't bring me down
- Posts: 2524
- Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2012 11:24 am
- AKA: Bruce
- Location: East Idaho
Re: Tips for Total Solar Eclipse Videos
Well, better safe than sorry, so I think I'll go ahead and order a sheet of film then. One sheet could be used to make filters for my scope, binoculars, and even eyeglasses.
Thanks for the tips.
Thanks for the tips.
Just as zero is not equal to infinity, everything coming from nothing is illogical.
-
- Don't bring me down
- Posts: 2524
- Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2012 11:24 am
- AKA: Bruce
- Location: East Idaho
Re: Tips for Total Solar Eclipse Videos
But my initial question is about iPhones and iPads. Is it ok to video the sun with cellphones, etc.?
Just as zero is not equal to infinity, everything coming from nothing is illogical.
- Chris Peterson
- Abominable Snowman
- Posts: 18460
- Joined: Wed Jan 31, 2007 11:13 pm
- Location: Guffey, Colorado, USA
- Contact:
Re: Tips for Total Solar Eclipse Videos
Note, however, that the film is for visual and photographic use. You can't use a filtered telescope for projection.BDanielMayfield wrote:Well, better safe than sorry, so I think I'll go ahead and order a sheet of film then. One sheet could be used to make filters for my scope, binoculars, and even eyeglasses.
Thanks for the tips.
This is the one I made for my new refractor. The ripples look scary to anyone used to normal optics, but they're normal and cause no problems at all. If you try stretching the stuff out, that's when you may create issues. I made this on my 3D printer, but simple cardboard designs work just as well.
Chris
*****************************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
https://www.cloudbait.com
*****************************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
https://www.cloudbait.com
- Chris Peterson
- Abominable Snowman
- Posts: 18460
- Joined: Wed Jan 31, 2007 11:13 pm
- Location: Guffey, Colorado, USA
- Contact:
Re: Tips for Total Solar Eclipse Videos
You won't damage the devices. I doubt that the results will be very good, however. If those are your only options, you might consider an external lens to give you a much longer focal length.BDanielMayfield wrote:But my initial question is about iPhones and iPads. Is it ok to video the sun with cellphones, etc.?
Chris
*****************************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
https://www.cloudbait.com
*****************************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
https://www.cloudbait.com
Re: Tips for Total Solar Eclipse Videos
There are smartphone adaptors for optical instruments for sale. So that the lenses align well and they stay in position (no shaky hands).
Some are tailored towards specific model smartphone, but more often to a specific model scope. Some are for more general use and very adaptable. Some are easy to use and sturdy, some less so. Some are cheap, and eh, some should be considered with very frequent use, because of the price.
The Carson products seem to get good reviews (compared to similar).
Some are tailored towards specific model smartphone, but more often to a specific model scope. Some are for more general use and very adaptable. Some are easy to use and sturdy, some less so. Some are cheap, and eh, some should be considered with very frequent use, because of the price.
The Carson products seem to get good reviews (compared to similar).
Re: Tips for Total Solar Eclipse Videos
Just came across this image, that illustrates so well that there’s cool things to be seen, even without fancy equipment. Only hands. Sorry about the sandals.Case wrote:As cool as some direct imaging is, I also love the projected images and the leaf-filtered ‘pinhole camera’ multi images.
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/Qa2kFlF.gif)
Re: Tips for Total Solar Eclipse Videos
How to Photograph a Solar Eclipse
Mr Eclipse | Fred Espenak | 2017 Jun 18
Tips on Preparing for the August 21 Total Solar Eclipse
Nikon USA | Featuring Fred Espenak | 2017 Jul 20
Mr Eclipse | Fred Espenak | 2017 Jun 18
Tips on Preparing for the August 21 Total Solar Eclipse
Nikon USA | Featuring Fred Espenak | 2017 Jul 20
Know the quiet place within your heart and touch the rainbow of possibility; be
alive to the gentle breeze of communication, and please stop being such a jerk. — Garrison Keillor
alive to the gentle breeze of communication, and please stop being such a jerk. — Garrison Keillor
WITNE: Plenty of Campsites & RV Parks Available for Total Solar Eclipse
31 Days To Darkness: Eclipse Expert Finds Plenty Spaces in Campsites and
RV Parks for August 21’s Total Solar Eclipse, Warns Against Day Tripping
WhenIsTheNextEclipse.com | 2017 Jul 20
RV Parks for August 21’s Total Solar Eclipse, Warns Against Day Tripping
WhenIsTheNextEclipse.com | 2017 Jul 20
New guide launched to help eclipse-chasers to ‘Get To The Path’ hassle-free
Has America made its plans for August 21? The first Total Solar Eclipse to sweep across the USA for 99 years is set for August 21, 2017, but many people are yet to finalize their travel plans. Negative publicity about sold-out hotels and potential traffic is dissuading people from planning a trip. A new guide aims to redress the balance with a simple message––there is plenty of room for everyone who wants to experience Totality.
As the publication of the unique USA Eclipse 2017 Camping & RV Guide ebook proves, there are hundreds of places to pitch a tent, or park an RV, within the 70 mile-wide Path of Totality that arcs from Oregon to South Carolina. Until now, finding information on camping and RV parks has been difficult.
Jamie Carter, author of the guide, a travel and science writer who edits WhenIsTheNextEclipse.com, says: “A Total Solar Eclipse is coming to the U.S.––it’s time to camp out. You don’t want to have regrets about missing out on Totality because of speculative news reports. Eclipses always come with horror stories about sold-out hotels and predictions of traffic chaos. The reality is that there are thousands of places to camp or park an RV within the long Path of Totality in the U.S., and if you’re able to travel, you must, because experiencing Totality is like nothing else. A Total Solar Eclipse in your backyard is impossibly rare––Americans just don’t know how lucky they are.”
Know the quiet place within your heart and touch the rainbow of possibility; be
alive to the gentle breeze of communication, and please stop being such a jerk. — Garrison Keillor
alive to the gentle breeze of communication, and please stop being such a jerk. — Garrison Keillor
Re: Tips for Total Solar Eclipse Videos
How to Photograph a Total Solar Eclipse
Photographing Space | Alex Conu | 2017 Jul 31
Photographing Space | Alex Conu | 2017 Jul 31
Know the quiet place within your heart and touch the rainbow of possibility; be
alive to the gentle breeze of communication, and please stop being such a jerk. — Garrison Keillor
alive to the gentle breeze of communication, and please stop being such a jerk. — Garrison Keillor
AAS Offers Updated Advice for Safely Viewing the Solar Eclipse
AAS Offers Updated Advice for Safely Viewing the Solar Eclipse
American Astronomical Society | 2017 Aug 01
American Astronomical Society | 2017 Aug 01
In response to alarming reports of potentially unsafe eclipse viewers flooding the market as the coast-to-coast solar eclipse of August 21st draws near, the American Astronomical Society (AAS) has revised some of its safety advice to the public.
How can you tell if your “eclipse glasses” or handheld solar viewers are safe? It is no longer sufficient to look for the logo of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and a label indicating that the product meets the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard for filters for direct viewing of the Sun’s bright face. Why not? Because it now appears that some companies are printing the ISO logo and certification label on fake eclipse glasses and handheld solar viewers made with materials that do not block enough of the Sun’s ultraviolet, visible, and infrared radiation to make them truly safe. Some sellers are even displaying fake test results on their websites to support their bogus claim of compliance with the ISO safety standard.
Given this unfortunate situation, the only way you can be sure your solar viewer is safe is to verify that it comes from a reputable manufacturer or one of their authorized dealers. The AAS Solar Eclipse Task Force has been working diligently to compile a list of such vendors, now posted on its Reputable Vendors of Solar Filters & Viewers page. Task-force members have checked manufacturers’ ISO paperwork to make sure it is complete and that it comes from an accredited testing facility, and they’ve asked manufacturers to identify their authorized resellers and dealers to identify the source of the products they’re selling. Only when everything checks out does the AAS add a vendor to its listing. ...
Know the quiet place within your heart and touch the rainbow of possibility; be
alive to the gentle breeze of communication, and please stop being such a jerk. — Garrison Keillor
alive to the gentle breeze of communication, and please stop being such a jerk. — Garrison Keillor
- MargaritaMc
- Look to the Evenstar
- Posts: 1836
- Joined: Wed Jan 09, 2013 10:14 pm
- Location: 28°16'7"N 16°36'20"W
Re: Tips for Total Solar Eclipse Videos
This article in Nature isn't about making videos, but about using the upcoming eclipse as a science outreach opportunity.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-017-0203
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-017-0203
Scientists, funding bodies, educators and the media alike need to carry this momentum forward. We live in a particular historic moment where this thirst for accurate science and fascination for astronomical events clashes with a strong movement rooted in scepticism towards scientists and research, from climate change to vaccines. When budgets get squeezed, it is all too easy to cut funding for outreach, but where are the scientists of tomorrow going to come from, and how can we tilt the public balance towards a more positive view of science? Spectacular shows that nature gives us for free, like the upcoming solar eclipse, are the perfect opportunity for this purpose, and we must welcome and support any initiative promoting them.
"In those rare moments of total quiet with a dark sky, I again feel the awe that struck me as a child. The feeling is utterly overwhelming as my mind races out across the stars. I feel peaceful and serene."
— Dr Debra M. Elmegreen, Fellow of the AAAS
- MargaritaMc
- Look to the Evenstar
- Posts: 1836
- Joined: Wed Jan 09, 2013 10:14 pm
- Location: 28°16'7"N 16°36'20"W
Re: Tips for Total Solar Eclipse Videos
PS. I've just discovered that this review article in Nature Astronomy by Jay Pasachoff, "Heliophysics at total solar eclipses", seems to be open access!
(But I've made a PDF copy of it in case the access is only temporary. I've experienced that with Nature occasionally.)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-017-0190
(But I've made a PDF copy of it in case the access is only temporary. I've experienced that with Nature occasionally.)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-017-0190
"In those rare moments of total quiet with a dark sky, I again feel the awe that struck me as a child. The feeling is utterly overwhelming as my mind races out across the stars. I feel peaceful and serene."
— Dr Debra M. Elmegreen, Fellow of the AAAS