Eclipses

• PHOTO COLLECTION •

Image of the sky with fluffy clouds

2017 Total Solar Eclipse

Partial eclipse from Austin, TX

Eclipse Map August 21, 2017

The 2017 solar eclipse occurred on August 21 and was the first total eclipse visible from the contiguous United States since 1979. The total eclipse lasted for up to 2 minutes and 40 seconds along the path, with partial eclipses visible throughout much of North America.

I didn’t travel to the path of totality for it, but still had a viewing party on the roof of the office building I was working in at the time in downtown Austin.

Shadows during a solar eclipse, projected through my hand
Shadows during a solar eclipse, projected onto my shirt
Animated gif of a partial solar eclipse timelapse
Image of a camera on a tripod set up across from the Texas State Capitol building

I bought a solar filter sheet and cut it to fit between my camera lens and a basic UV filter. I did not have a tracker, so I just adjusted the position of my camera periodically to create this crude timelapse.

Image of solar film covering binoculars and camera
Image of people observing a solar eclipse
Image of a solar eclipse shown on a camera's preview screen
Image of a telescope set up in a grassy field

2019 Lunar Eclipse

Total eclipse from Central Texas

Eclipse Map January 21, 2019

On January 21, 2019, there was a total lunar eclipse visible for nearly all of North America. I had the opportunity to view the eclipse outside of Enchanted Rock SNA, in a Class 2 sky on the Bortle scale. I wanted to try taking a series of images using my Celestron SCT-8, and I think this was the first time I traveled with that big bear of a scope and didn’t fail the setup and alignment.

I took 281 frames, capturing 3 hours and 37 minutes of the eclipse. Four years later, I finally aligned those frames to create a timelapse.

I was also able to snap a few pics with a wide angle lens while the moon was dim. Typically a full moon would completely blow out the fainter band of the Milky Way that we see during the winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

Image of the moon taken during a lunar eclipse
Image of the sky taken during a lunar eclipse
Image of the sky taken during a lunar eclipse
Image of a lunar eclipse shown on a camera's preview display

2021 Lunar Eclipse

Partial eclipse from Central Texas

Eclipse Map November 18-19, 2021

Image of a full moon before a lunar eclipse
Image of the sky taken during a lunar eclipse
Image of the moon taken during a lunar eclipse
Image of the moon taken during a lunar eclipse
Image of the moon taken during a lunar eclipse
Image of the moon taken during a lunar eclipse
Star trails image taken during a lunar eclipse

2022 Lunar Eclipses

Yes, there were two visible from Texas

Eclipse Map May 15, 2022

Image of the moon taken during a lunar eclipse
Image of the moon taken during a lunar eclipse
Image of the moon taken during a lunar eclipse
Image of the moon taken during a lunar eclipse
Image of the moon and trees taken during a lunar eclipse
Image of the moon and trees taken during a lunar eclipse
Composite image of the progression of a lunar eclipse
Composite image of the progression of a lunar eclipse with timestamps
Star trails image taken during a lunar eclipse

Timelapse video of the lunar eclipse on May 15, 2022

Eclipse Map November 8, 2022

Image of the moon taken during a lunar eclipse
Image of the moon taken during a lunar eclipse
Image of the moon taken during a lunar eclipse
Image of the moon taken during a lunar eclipse
Image of a telescope and camera outfitted for a solar eclipse

2023 Annular Solar Eclipse

Partial eclipse from Austin, TX

Eclipse Map October 14, 2023

On October 14, 2023, there was an annular solar eclipse visible in North America. An annular eclipse occurs during a new moon, which means there is no moment of totality because the sun does not get completely eclipsed by the moon. But still very cool nonetheless!

Timelapse of the annular eclipse from Austin

2024 Solar Eclipse

Total eclipse from Austin, TX

Eclipse Map April 8, 2024

On April 8, 2024, there was a total solar eclipse visible in North America. Of course it was cloudy as all get out in Austin that day! 😑 The clouds thinned out a bit as it got closer to totality, so I was still able to snag a handful of pics through my telescope. Not great ones, mind you, but better than total cloud cover.