If you haven't already marked your calendar for April 8, it's about time you do. Not only will Monday feature a total solar eclipse spanning the United States, Mexico, and Canada, but it's the last such eclipse we'll see from North America until 2044. But you don't have to be within the path of totality to catch this uncommon astronomical event. Whether you're in the eclipse's shadow or on the other side of the globe, you have options—though if you're in the former camp, you can photograph the eclipse, too.
Viewing the Eclipse
All of the US and Mexico will see at least a sliver of the solar eclipse on April 8, while Canadian skygazers will want to be in the central or eastern parts of the country to catch the event. But those in Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and most of New England, as well as in Newfoundland, Sinaloa, Durango, and Coahuila, are in for a special treat. These states and provinces are in the path of totality, or the area where the Moon's shadow will entirely eclipse the Sun.
While the eclipse is sure to impress those within and outside of the path of totality, both experiences will be wildly different. When part of the Sun remains exposed, skygazers aren't drenched in the same level of darkness seen during totality. A small sliver of sunlight makes it difficult to see the Sun's corona, which is expected to be spectacular this time. Those outside of totality also miss out on the artificial sunset and sunrise enhanced by the Purkinje effect, which makes the sky's colors pop. Even the gap between 99% and 100% coverage is huge, which is why over 3.7 million people are expected to travel to a region of totality this month.
"Partial coverage is like trying to watch a football game from outside the stadium," Babak Tafreshi, an astrophotographer for National Geographic, told ExtremeTech. "Most solar eclipse phenomena happen during totality. A few planets and stars are visible; the drop of light is so sudden that your eyes need a moment to adjust to the dark."
Tafreshi is one of many experts involved in Eclipse Across America, an event produced by Walt Disney Company subsidiaries ABC and National Geographic. During the eclipse, astrophysicists, anchors, and photographers will report on the changes happening both in the sky and on the ground. Live coverage starts at 2 p.m. ET on ABC, ABC News Live, National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Disney+, and Hulu.
Tafreshi will be covering the eclipse from Frio Cave, Texas, where he'll observe how wildlife behavior differs under sudden darkness. Annular and total solar eclipses are known to "trick" animals into thinking it's nighttime, causing birds to become quiet, frogs to sing, and bees to return to their hives. These effects might vary depending on the length of an eclipse. Bats in Mexico emerged from their roosts during a fairly long solar eclipse in 1991; they stayed in their northern Georgia caves during a shorter eclipse in 2017. Tafreshi looks forward to documenting how Frio Cave bats behave on April 8, when totality is expected to last a relatively lengthy 4.5 minutes—more than twice as long as that from the 2017 eclipse.
Photographing the Eclipse
We're human, and it's only natural to want to capture jaw-dropping experiences to look back on later. No matter how challenging it can be to capture, the eclipse is no exception. We asked Tafreshi for a few tips that even photographers without expensive equipment can implement.
With the precision of most of today's smartphone cameras, it's possible to snap impressive eclipse photos with just a phone. Those whose phones can shoot in RAW (or ProRAW, on iPhone Pro models 12 and up) will likely get a sharper image that can be brightened or dimmed later. Tapping and holding on the screen also allows the phone's exposure and focus to be fixed. Don't zoom in—a smartphone's 1x setting will produce the highest-quality picture possible.
"Most people are going to aim for close-up images of the Sun because that's what's attractive," Tafreshi said. "But remember, experts are going to capture the Sun close-up, including NASA. What we don't have—what's going to be unique—is your signature shot of where you are and how your environment is responding to the eclipse." A smartphone is perfect for capturing an entire eclipse scene, Tafreshi said, especially if skygazers want to give their camera's wide-angle option a try.
Our hands naturally tremble, especially if we're awestruck by the astronomical scene happening before us. Tafreshi recommended using a tripod to keep the phone or camera stable and avoid a blurry picture.
"I always think I've seen this enough, and I'll be able to control my emotions during an eclipse," he said. "But that never happens. It's almost like a caveman reaction—you don't expect that sudden drop in light, and the brain needs time to process it."
For some, it might be worth ditching the camera entirely and admiring the eclipse directly (with proper eye protection, of course). "Some people are too busy filming or taking pictures of the eclipse to actually experience this life-changing phenomenon with their own eyes," he said. "If you're near the center of the eclipse's shadow, this one will be long enough to do both. But it's okay to just let yourself be a caveman."
