Solar Eclipse 2012 - # - Dan Finnerty's Photos

Solar Eclipse of May 20, 2012

Photos taken as part of a time lapse sequence from Chilao Campground in the San Gabriel Mountains north of Los Angeles

Taken with an equatorially mounted 5 inch refractor @ f/7.5, 952mm focal lenght with a Canon T3i (600D)

My first-cut time lapse sequence is at: https://vimeo.com/42670797

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The sun about 15 minutes before eclipse first contact

A full-resolution crop showing two large sunspot groups

After first contact. The moon is about to eat a large sunspot group.

Mid eclipse. This is as near to annular as we got in Los Angeles

The moon is passing the sun by. The large sunspot group has reappeared.

The moon has passed on, the eclipse is ended with about 2 minutes to spare before sunset.

Day is done.

I'm not sure if it is atmospheric turbulence or telescope motion that is blurring the image. I suspect mostly turbulence, as the trees are on a ridge line about 5 miles away at the end of a moderately hot day. You can see how the atmosphere is distorting the limb of the sun. By this time exposures were down to 1/60 second so the tracking motion of the mount would have blurred the trees somewhat too.

Basecamp at Chilao Flats, Manzanita campground. This site had the best western view I could find. It was a 100 foot hoof uphill to the view spot. No big deal except telescope+ mount is about 100 lbs and the battery to power everything is about 60lb.

$The Solar MegaCanon. A 5 inch aperture refractor, equatorial mount to track the sun and Canon T3i DSLR. All the orange stuff is gaffers tape to ensure the sun filter does not blow off (a total disaster and major safety hazard), to tape power cables in position, mark alignment of key parts, etc. I like the ghetto look it gives...$