Eclipse Orchestrator

Using Eclipse Orchestrator to photograph the eclipse

1. Eclipse Orchestrator So, You Want to Image the Solar Eclipse

2. Before I start… The best advice is to not try to take pictures for your 1 st eclipse It is too easy to miss the entire event If you must, fully automate the process Eclipse Orchestrator Free to control 1 camera

3. What equipment do you need? Mount that can track the sun No computer interface Just a motor to track in right ascension Canon or Nikon DSLR camera No fancy Astro imaging camera Windows computer To run Eclipse Orchestrator Optional equipment USB GPS receiver

4. What knowledge do you need? Your exact location Latitude Longitude Altitude To within 50’ GPS will provide this The correct time Accurate to a fraction of a second Windows will do this Camera details Lens focal length Lens diameter Delay between shots SD card save time

5. What can it do? Capture the diamond ring At start At end Capture Baily's beads At start At end Take multiple sets of various exposures during totality All fully automated while you enjoy the spectical

6. Why take different exposure lengths? High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography Take fast shots to capture the bright details Take longer shots to capture the faint details Last Eclipse I used 0.1 Sec to 8 Sec Lots of “regular” photo software will combine them in a HDR manner No special Astro imaging software skills required Why take multiple sets? Stuff happens You can stack

7. Taking photos before totality You need a strong neutral density filter https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0068V23KA $65.90 MARUMI ND Filter 58mm DHG ND10000 58mm for Solar Eclipse Photography No special software required Eclipse Orchestrator is for totality

8. Before/After and During Totality Before/After totality Use a zoom lens with the ND filter Get “up close” Set your focus point ahead of time using the moon and no filter During totality Use a wider field lens with no filter You want to get the chromosphere and solar winds Set your focus point ahead of time using the moon

9. Script!!! Don’t panic Yes, Eclipse Orchestrator needs a script But it is easy Uses a CSV so you can edit it is Excel or Open Office or Notepad There is a wizard to help!

10. Practice Practice Practice EO allows you to simulate the eclipse at any time. Test your setup! Plan to know how to get your lens(es) focused at infinity Use the moon!

11. Getting Started http://moonglowtechnologies.com/products/EclipseOrchestrator/GettingStarted.shtml

12. Demo time