I’ve chased eclipses for years. Everything I’ve learned about how best to capture these celestial phenomena has come through several chaotic travel experiences and the generosity of other eclipse enthusiasts. Now I’m gearing up to catch the coming total solar eclipse on August 12—and I want to share my secrets with you.
On that day, a total solar eclipse will sweep across the Northern Hemisphere, traveling from Russia to Spain while passing over parts of Greenland, Iceland and Portugal. A total solar eclipse is when the moon passes directly between Earth and the sun, shrouding our star in darkness and casting the land below into shadow. The path of totality is the area of Earth that will see the entirety of the sun blocked out by the moon—read our guide to know where exactly the path of totality is for this eclipse, and where to expect a partial eclipse.
A total solar eclipse is an incredible sight to behold. Whether you plan to be in the path of totality for this upcoming eclipse or a future one, here are a few tips and tricks to make sure you have the best viewing experience.
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Book early and be ready to pivot
The closer we are to the eclipse, the more expensive travel and hotels in the path of totality become. The demand can influence the costs and availability of flights, lodging and rental cars. In other words, if you want to see an eclipse, it’s best to sort out basic accommodation and transportation early. And try booking a refundable option. There’s always a chance that a change in the forecast will call for a new viewing location, meaning you will need to move.
Tours and events tend to be planned around eclipses—including by Scientific American. These gatherings can be a great way to build community or ease the burden of logistics, but a tour isn’t necessary; once you’re in the path of totality, all you have to do is look up.
Ensure you have adequate eye protection
Anytime you plan to look at the sun, make sure you have the proper eyewear first. Never look at the sun without protective eyewear or a solar filter.
Eclipse glasses and binoculars should have a safety rating called ISO 12312-2. This is an international standard that ensures glasses filter 99.99 percent of all sunlight—anything less than this can lead to eye damage. It’s common for fakes to enter the market, so be sure you’re buying from a reputable seller with this ISO rating.
The only time it is safe to look at the sun without eye protection is during totality—for this eclipse, that will last around a minute—and not a second longer. If you’re outside the path of totality—even if you have a 99 percent partial eclipse—you still need protecting eyewear to ensure you don’t damage your vision.
Watch the forecast and use a cloud map
My second total eclipse was in Argentina in 2019. I flew into Buenos Aires with the intention of watching from the city. But a couple of days before totality, the forecast showed cloudy skies on the day of the eclipse. Because I was there to photograph it, I couldn’t chance an uncertain forecast, so I compared several cloud maps to find an area that was projected to have consistently clear skies inside the path of totality. The day before the eclipse, I flew across the country to the city of Río Cuarto and drove into a small, rural town and managed to catch a beautiful totality just over the horizon.
All that is to say, to be certain that you are getting the best viewing experience, it’s helpful to do more than check the weather forecast. Comparing cloud maps such as those on Ventusky and AccuWeather can help pinpoint areas with clear skies during totality.
How to photograph an eclipse
Ahead of the last total solar that crossed North America in 2024, I made a short tutorial on how to photograph an eclipse using whatever equipment you have.
This solar eclipse has a very different path of totality, but the tips remain the same.
A total solar eclipse is a rare, often once-in-a-lifetime event. So we asked Lucie McCormick, a professional astrophotographer and eclipse chaser, how to capture an eclipse using any camera you have.
Here are a few tricks for photographing the eclipse:
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Make sure you have an appropriate solar filter for your camera to use during the partial eclipse. This will protect your sensor and help you get the clearest image.
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Using a tripod is helpful for stability. You can also add a star tracker for an extra layer of precision.
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During totality, you can take the solar filter off your camera.
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Don’t use autofocus because environmental factors (like bugs!) can disorient the camera.
Fun fact: If you are using a star tracker to take photos, you can orient the tracker by pointing your tripod north and using an angle finder and level to tilt up to the same angle as your latitude. (This is for the Northern Hemisphere. Below the equator, point your tripod south and angle to your degrees of latitude south).
Consider your environment
Eclipses draw a lot of international tourism, and depending on weather or the path of totality, there can be a large migration of people to a single place. The April 2023 total eclipse primarily crossed over ocean, so only a few island countries and a spot at the tip of Australia experienced totality. Because of this, places such as Exmouth, Australia, found themselves inundated with visitors, and their population jumped from just under 3,000 to nearly 20,000 people for the event.
If you plan to travel somewhere many other people are going, consider bringing essential medications, snacks and toiletries with you. This can be helpful should local resources be stretched.
This sort of travel can also generate a lot of waste. When traveling a far distance, consider whether there are more environmentally friendly modes of transit available. And after the eclipse, look for programs to recycle used eclipse glasses.
Be present
In addition to looking up, pay attention to the environment around you. During an eclipse, there are environmental changes such as shifting light and shadows and can be unusual animal behavior. Birds may sing their evening songs early.
While it’s helpful to plan and have contingencies, keep your expectations loose. Eclipses are a force of nature, and even if things don’t go as planned or clouds get in the way, they are still quite beautiful to experience.
An eclipse is a moment in space and time. Part of their wonder is that they can’t be controlled. You can’t revisit them; you can only be there.
