We had an Annular Eclipse in 1994 that was visible from our area and lucked out with clear skies that day. I was ready with my telescope, tripod, solar filter, film camera, camera adapter and a cable release to activate the camera without shaking the whole setup. I took the pictures below...
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| ANNULAR ECLIPSE, SOUTHGATE MICHIGAN MAY 10, 1994 |
If you are in the path of the eclipse or can get yourself there, make sure you have what you need ahead of time to enjoy it. You CANNOT LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN, even during an eclipse, without permanently damaging your eyes. You also should not point your digital camera or cell phone camera at the sun, unless it is very low in the sky around sunset. The earth's atmosphere will act as a solar filter at sunset, making it possible.
You can buy a special 10 pack of SOLAR ECLIPSE GLASSES WITH A SUN FILTER FOR YOUR CAMERA OR CELL PHONE by clicking the blue letters in the link. They will do the trick for you and 9 of your closest friends, protecting your eyes and your camera.
You can get a more permanent pair of Solar Eclipse glasses for a few dollars more, if you like staring at the sun more often to look at the sunspots that are becoming larger and more frequent as Solar Max arrives by clicking THIS LINK.
Also, a reminder that that the first full moon following a total eclipse of the sun will be a TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE MOON, which is perfectly safe to watch without any special equipment.
I, however, already have the special equipment so I took this next picture of a lunar eclipse in my own backyard!!!! The light that filters through the earth's atmosphere, which acts like a lens, hits the moon and makes it look red. ENJOY!
