Solar eclipse tonight

[kitchenwench]

Hiya folks!

If anyone has a telephoto lens and is looking for something to shoot tonight, then just letting you know that there is a partial solar eclipse happening in a few hours

Partial Solar Eclipse
Australia Day will be celebrated with a solar eclipse. An annular eclipse will be visible from the Indian Ocean to western Indonesia. This occurs when the Moon doesn’t quite cover the Sun and a bright ring remains around the dark shadow of the Moon. Unfortunately, here in Melbourne we won’t see much of an eclipse. Only 2% of the Sun will be covered by the Moon and it occurs just before sunset, so the Sun will be very low on the horizon.

Eclipse begins 7:41pm
Eclipse maximum 7:55pm
Eclipse ends 8:08pm
Sunset 8:38pm
(source - http://museumvictoria.com.au/planetariu ... uary-2009/)

Okay, so it's only 2% coverage which is pretty pitiful, but hey, if your lens can make the distance then maybe worth a shot

[ATJ]

Um... maybe it is just me, but I don't think I want to be pointing my lens at the Sun (especially if I'm looking through the viewfinder).

[stubbsy]

My understanding is it can be done, but for a total eclipse you need to use a solar filter between both your eye and the camera's sensor or the bright edges of the eclipse will burn eye or sensor. If it's only a partial eclipse I'm not sure, but I'd be playing safe.

[rossda]

Well.. wont be seeing much here in Syd on account of the cloud cover and glorious rain.

[ATJ]

My understanding is it can be done, but for a total eclipse you need to use a solar filter between both your eye and the camera's sensor or the bright edges of the eclipse will burn eye or sensor. If it's only a partial eclipse I'm not sure, but I'd be playing safe.

I believe a partial eclipse would be worse than a total eclipse in terms of the amount of UV light.