How to Watch the Upcoming Solar Eclipse and Tips to Capture it With A Phone
The first solar eclipse of the year will fall on June 21. Scientifically, a solar eclipse occurs when the moon gets between the Earth and the sun, casting a shadow over the Earth. Solar eclipse in India is popularly known as surya grahan.
This solar eclipse will be unique in the way that the moon will cover the sun from the centre, leaving the outer rim visible - a phenomenon known as the annular solar eclipse, which also leads to the creation of the ring of fire.
Since this will be a rare phenomenon, many astronomy enthusiasts must be waiting to see it live and to capture it. But ones without proper professional equipment must be cautious as during the solar eclipse a lot of harmful rays are emitted that might damage one's sight if viewed with naked eyes.
Solar Eclipse Date and Time
On June 21, the eclipse will start at 9:15 AM and conclude at 3:04 PM. The full eclipse will start from 10:17 AM and the maximum eclipse effect can be seen occurring at 12:10 PM.
As per the Press Information Bureau of the Government of India, the solar eclipse can be viewed partially in different Indian cities.
The PIB in its press release said that, "Obscuration of the sun by the moon at the time of greatest phase of the partial eclipse will be around 94 percent in Delhi, 80 percent in Guwahati, 78 percent in Patna, 75 percent in Silchar, 66 percent in Kolkata, 62 percent in Mumbai, 37 percent in Bangalore, 34 percent in Chennai, 28 percent in Port Blair."
An annular solar eclipse will occur on 21 June, 2020 (31 Jyaishtha, 1942 Saka Era).
— PIB India (@PIB_India) June 16, 2020
From India annular phase will be visible in the morning from some places within a narrow corridor of northern part of the country
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How to Watch the Solar Eclipse Safely
The exposure of bare eyes to the light can damage the eyes permanently and even become a cause of blindness. A protective eyeglass, binoculars, box projector, telescope or an X-Ray film should be used to witness the solar eclipse safely. You can also watch the live streaming of solar eclipse on various channels on the TV or YouTube.
Tips to Capture the Solar Eclipse by Phone or Camera
Many people today are quite enthusiastic about photography and wish to capture rare moments like these. The following tips can help one capture a clear view of the eclipse, using only their phone.
- Use a smartphone that is equipped with high-quality camera.
- Location matters the most, so before capturing the solar eclipse one must scout a location from where they can capture the annular solar eclipse.
- Use of a tripod is highly recommended to get a blur-free image.
- If you can arrange for a telescope that would be the best thing. This will help you track the phases of the eclipse and capture the shot just at the right moment.
- You will get the best images when the camera's sensitivity is set to ISO 400 to keep exposures short. Also set its resolution to the highest level.
- When shooting the partial eclipse, a solar filter must be mounted in front of your telephoto lens to protect it.
When is the Next Solar Eclipse?
The year 2020 will witness a total of six eclipses out of which only two solar eclipses would be taking place this year. The first solar eclipse will occur on June 21 and the next one is expected to happen on December 14. However, unlike the eclipse on June 21, the eclipse in December might not be visible in Asian countries. According to some reports, the next solar eclipse will be visible from South America, Pacific, Atlantic, and parts of the Indian Ocean, Antarctica, and Africa.
