Today's (partial) eclipse

[melek]

OK, so I didn't do much to prepare for this, other than getting my welding goggles and 500mm mirror lens.

We only got a partial eclipse - about 74%, I think.

The clouds moved in just at the right time, allowing me to pop off a few shots. The clouds acted as a 100X ND filter, I think. Even with a 74% eclipse, I was still only getting a bright blob in the clear sky.

I probably did need to pick up a solar filter. Maybe for the next one in seven years.

And a short video that shows how it got much sharper when the clouds moved in.

[bbvideo=560,315]https://youtu.be/cwoFTE2Y3F8[/bbvideo]

Technical info: Sony A7II with 500mm catadioptric lens set at f/16. ISO was set at 50 with exposure compensation dialed down to -3EV. I shot RAW and converted in Corel AfterShot2 - a pretty decent program, I have to say. Shutter speeds ran from 1/1,600 to 1/8,000.

Just looked, and the first one was shot at ISO 320 with no exposure compensation.

[PFMcFarland]

Neat! I made a couple of viewing boxes (PFM Sunviewer Mk I and Mk II), and found my glasses that came free in an issue of Astronomy magazine from the '79 eclipse. I thought about cutting up one of the glasses to make a filter for the Nikon P7700, but figured the neighbors would appreciate being able to use them. Had a nice little get together in the back yard of the apartments.

We were right on the 90% line, and true to form the clouds formed up when it was only about at 50%. They miraculously parted when the time for 90% came, but then closed up again, looking like the rest of the day was shot. I went to the grocery store then, and after getting back the clouds had parted again, so I was able to watch the last 30 seconds or so of the moon moving away.

PF

[titrisol]

Excellent, I went old school and made a filter with 2 dark x-ray plates
I was shooting at about 1/160 @ISO 160 and needed to add +0.3 in post processing
It as really neat, I havent done this since 98