How to Photograph a Total Solar Eclipse with Any Camera

We asked a professional astro photographer and eclipse chaser how to take the best photographs and videos of a total solar eclipse.

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This article is part of a special report on the total solar eclipse that will be visible from parts of the U.S., Mexico and Canada on April 8, 2024.

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.

Lucie McCormick is an Emmy-nominated video journalist and filmmaker. Her work focuses on the intersection of conservation, science and social justice.

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Kelso Harper is an award-winning senior multimedia editor at Scientific American. As a producer, editor and host, they work on short documentaries, social videos and Scientific American’s podcast Science Quickly. They have a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Johns Hopkins University and a master’s degree in science writing from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Previously, they worked with Wired, Science, Popular Mechanics, and MIT News. Follow them on LinkedIn and Instagram.

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