Next Solar Eclipse

Countdown to the next solar eclipse event

Loading...
-- Days
-- Hours
-- Min
-- Sec

Upcoming Solar Eclipses

Eclipse Types

Understanding the four types of solar eclipse

Total Eclipse

The Moon completely covers the Sun, revealing the corona. Day turns to twilight for up to 7.5 minutes. The only time to view without a solar filter.

Frequency ~Every 18 months
Max Duration 7m 32s

Annular Eclipse

The Moon is too far from Earth to fully cover the Sun, leaving a bright "ring of fire" around the lunar silhouette. Solar filter required throughout.

Frequency ~Every 18 months
Max Duration 12m 30s

Partial Eclipse

The Moon covers only a portion of the Sun's disc. Visible over a much wider area than total eclipses. Solar filter required at all times.

Frequency ~2–3 per year
Max Coverage Up to ~99%

Hybrid Eclipse

Shifts between total and annular along its path due to Earth's curvature. Extremely rare — some locations see totality, others see a ring.

Frequency ~Few per century
Last Occurred Apr 2023

Eclipse Simulator

Scrub through eclipse phases to preview what you'll see and photograph

Phase First Contact
Coverage 0%
Magnitude 0.000
C1 C2 Max C3 C4

Exposure Calculator

Get recommended shutter speeds for each eclipse phase

Recommended Exposure 1/1000 s
Solar filter required for all partial phases. Remove filter ONLY during totality.

Exposure Quick Reference

Phase Filter ISO 100, f/8 Notes
Partial phases Solar (ND5) 1/1000 – 1/250 Solar filter required at ALL times
Diamond Ring None 1/2000 – 1/500 Brief — be ready, shoot fast
Baily's Beads None 1/2000 – 1/1000 Lasts seconds — continuous burst
Chromosphere None 1/2000 – 1/500 Thin red ring, very brief
Prominences None 1/2000 – 1/500 Red loops at limb
Inner Corona None 1/1000 – 1/250 Bright corona near limb
Outer Corona None 1/4 – 2s Faint — bracket exposures widely
Earthshine None 1 – 4s Subtle glow on Moon's surface

Camera Settings by Phase

Recommended settings for each eclipse scenario

Total Eclipse — Totality

Mode Manual
Aperture f/5.6 – f/8
Shutter Bracket 1/2000 to 2s
ISO 200 – 400
White Balance Daylight / 5500K
Extra Burst mode, no filter

Total Eclipse — Partial Phases

Mode Manual
Aperture f/8 – f/11
Shutter 1/500 – 1/1000
ISO 100
Filter Solar filter essential
White Balance Daylight / 5500K

Annular — Ring of Fire

Mode Manual
Aperture f/8 – f/11
Shutter 1/1000 – 1/250
ISO 100
Filter Solar filter required
White Balance Daylight / 5500K

Diamond Ring Moment

Mode Manual
Aperture f/8
Shutter 1/2000 – 1/500
ISO 200
Filter Remove at C2
Extra Burst mode

Corona Detail

Mode Manual
Aperture f/5.6 – f/8
Shutter Bracket 1/1000 to 4s
ISO 200 – 400
Tripod Essential
Extra Bracket ±3 stops

Eclipse Landscape / Wide

Mode Manual
Aperture f/8 – f/11
Shutter 1/250 – 1/60
ISO 200
Lens Wide angle 14–24mm
Extra Include horizon

Eclipse Sequence / Composite

Mode Manual
Aperture f/8
Shutter 1/1000 with filter
ISO 100
Tripod Fixed, don't move
Extra Shoot every 5 min

iPhone / Phone Eclipse

Mode Auto with solar filter
Night Mode OFF
Zoom Max optical zoom
Filter Solar filter on lens!
Timer Use 3s timer
Extra Phone tripod mount

Quick Reference

When to remove solar filter? Only during totality (C2 to C3), never for annular
Best focal length? 500–800mm for disc detail, 14–24mm for landscape
Bracket during totality? Yes — bracket ±3 stops to capture inner and outer corona
Autofocus or manual? Manual — prefocus on Sun before eclipse, then tape focus ring
Mirror lock-up needed? Yes for DSLR — reduces vibration during long corona shots
RAW or JPEG? RAW — critical for corona dynamic range in post
ND filter instead of solar? No — ND filters don't block IR/UV, can damage sensor & eyes
Intervalometer useful? Yes — program bracket sequence before totality begins

Safety & Equipment

Protect your eyes, your camera, and your shot

Eye & camera safety: Never look at or photograph the Sun without a certified ISO 12312-2 solar filter on the front of your lens. The only exception is during the brief totality of a total eclipse.

Filter & Gear

  • ISO 12312-2 solar filter on the front of the lens — never the eyepiece
  • Never substitute ND filters, smoked glass, or CDs
  • Sturdy tripod, remote release, extra batteries & cards
  • Eclipse glasses for visual observation
  • Printed settings cheat sheet

Day-of Timeline

  • 2 hrs before: Set up, align with Sun's path, attach filter
  • 30 min before C1: Manual focus on Sun's edge via Live View, lock focus
  • At C2: Remove filter, start bracket burst
  • At C3: Replace filter immediately

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting to remove filter during totality
  • Forgetting to replace filter after totality
  • Using autofocus — it hunts in low light at C2
  • Not pre-programming bracket sequences
  • Bumping the tripod during long corona exposures

Pro Tips

  • Practice with your solar filter on a clear day before the eclipse
  • Bracket ±3 stops during totality for inner + outer corona
  • Tape the focus ring after locking manual focus
  • Take a moment to experience totality with your own eyes