First contact:
Partial eclipse begins
The Moon’s disk first touches the outer edge of the Sun’s disk. From Earth, it looks like the Moon is taking the first tiny bite out of the Sun.
Crescent sun
The moon slowly nibbles at the solar disk, gradually transforming it into a crescent sun.
Video: Partial phase of the 2024 solar eclipse captured with a Vaonis smart telescope
Crescent sun
The moon slowly nibbles at the solar disk, gradually transforming it into a crescent sun.
Video: Partial phase of the 2024 solar eclipse captured with a Vaonis smart telescope
Sunspots
While observing the eclipse, seize the opportunity to study sunspots. Their quantity serves as an indicator of the sun's activity, which follows an 11-year cycle. Given the sun's current phase of maximum activity, expect to observe numerous or sizable sunspots.
Image : the sunspots captured with Vaonis smart telescope.
Sunspots
While observing the eclipse, seize the opportunity to study sunspots. Their quantity serves as an indicator of the sun's activity, which follows an 11-year cycle. Given the sun's current phase of maximum activity, expect to observe numerous or sizable sunspots.
Image : the sunspots captured with Vaonis smart telescope.
The Moon's relief
Getting a closer look at the edge of the moon, one can notice that it is irregular. It is then possible to have a sense of the relief of our satellite, its mountains, and valleys.
The Moon's relief
Getting a closer look at the edge of the moon, one can notice that it is irregular. It is then possible to have a sense of the relief of our satellite, its mountains, and valleys.
The pinhole projector effect
If you're watching the eclipse in an area with trees and vegetation, take note of the dappled light filtering through the foliage, creating crescent-shaped images of the sun on the ground. The openings in the foliage act like numerous pinholes, casting this unique pattern during the eclipse.
Image credits : Guillaume Cannat.
The pinhole projector effect
If you're watching the eclipse in an area with trees and vegetation, take note of the dappled light filtering through the foliage, creating crescent-shaped images of the sun on the ground. The openings in the foliage act like numerous pinholes, casting this unique pattern during the eclipse.
Image credits : Guillaume Cannat.
10 minutes before totality
The Sun is reduced to a thin crescent, and the daylight becomes strangely dim. The light feels eerie and unusual and the air may begin to cool.
90% of the sun obscured
The sun's light is so intense that, even with only a thin crescent remaining, the decrease in ambient brightness is only slightly perceptible. Yet the feeling becomes unusual
90% of the sun obscured
The sun's light is so intense that, even with only a thin crescent remaining, the decrease in ambient brightness is only slightly perceptible. Yet the feeling becomes unusual
Temperature begins to drop
You might start to notice a change in temperature. During the totality and depending on the conditions, there could be a drop of 5 degrees Celsius.
Temperature begins to drop
You might start to notice a change in temperature. During the totality and depending on the conditions, there could be a drop of 5 degrees Celsius.
Venus becomes visible
The planet Venus ,which is the brigthest object in the sky after the Sun and Moon, should be visible to the naked eye at the west of the sun.
Venus becomes visible
The planet Venus ,which is the brigthest object in the sky after the Sun and Moon, should be visible to the naked eye at the west of the sun.
2 minutes before totality
Only a razor-thin crescent of sunlight remains. The sky darkens rapidly, and the whole landscape is swallowed by shadow.
For those outside the path of totality, this will be the maximum phase of the eclipse.
Observe the behavior of wildlife
The sunlight regulates the life rhythm for many animal species. The sudden decrease in brightness during the day leads to a change in their behaviors. Birds seem disoriented and land, chickens return to their coop, and nature becomes quieter, except for crickets that start to sing. Mosquitoes also become active.
Observe the behavior of wildlife
The sunlight regulates the life rhythm for many animal species. The sudden decrease in brightness during the day leads to a change in their behaviors. Birds seem disoriented and land, chickens return to their coop, and nature becomes quieter, except for crickets that start to sing. Mosquitoes also become active.
Observe the arrival of the shadow on the horizon
If you're observing the eclipse from elevated areas or with a clear horizon, such as by the seaside, look westward to see the moon's shadow approaching and swiftly engulfing the landscape. It looks like a timelapse of a severe thunderstorm.
Observe the arrival of the shadow on the horizon
If you're observing the eclipse from elevated areas or with a clear horizon, such as by the seaside, look westward to see the moon's shadow approaching and swiftly engulfing the landscape. It looks like a timelapse of a severe thunderstorm.
A few seconds before totality
The last sliver of sunlight clings to the Moon’s edge, the tension peaks, and the grand spectacle begins.
The diamond ring
As the very last portion of the sun is about to disappear, the bright part of the corona begins to emerge. This creates the effect of a soft, luminous ring enhanced by an intense glow of light. To witness this phenomenon, you must remove your eclipse glasses.
The diamond ring
As the very last portion of the sun is about to disappear, the bright part of the corona begins to emerge. This creates the effect of a soft, luminous ring enhanced by an intense glow of light. To witness this phenomenon, you must remove your eclipse glasses.
Baily's beads
The moon is now fully in front of the sun. However, through its deepest valleys along the edge, a few rays of light still manage to sneak in at the last second, forming a series of fleeting luminous pearls.
image : P. Horálek/ESO
Baily's beads
The moon is now fully in front of the sun. However, through its deepest valleys along the edge, a few rays of light still manage to sneak in at the last second, forming a series of fleeting luminous pearls.
image : P. Horálek/ESO
Second contact: total eclipse begins
The Sun becomes fully covered by the Moon and the corona can become visible.
From this point on until the reappearance of Baily's beads, you may remove solar filters, including those on telescopes, to observe the various phenomena occurring during totality.
Chromosphere and solar prominences
During a solar eclipse, we get a glimpse of specific layers of the sun that are typically invisible from Earth, unless observed through an instrument that artificially replicates an eclipse, such as a Coronagraph. One such layer is the chromosphere, the sun's lower atmosphere, which takes on a pink hue during a total eclipse. Solar prominences of the same color appear to emanate from it, representing eruptions of matter from the underlying layers.
The 2024 total solar eclipse captured with Vaonis Vespera smart telescope
Chromosphere and solar prominences
During a solar eclipse, we get a glimpse of specific layers of the sun that are typically invisible from Earth, unless observed through an instrument that artificially replicates an eclipse, such as a Coronagraph. One such layer is the chromosphere, the sun's lower atmosphere, which takes on a pink hue during a total eclipse. Solar prominences of the same color appear to emanate from it, representing eruptions of matter from the underlying layers.
The 2024 total solar eclipse captured with Vaonis Vespera smart telescope
Sun's corona
This is the outer part of sun atmosphere. It is normally totally invisible from Earth due to its difference of luminosity with the sun surface. Yet it can easily be observed even with the naked eye during a total eclipse. It extends millions of kilometers away from the sun's surface. Observing it with a telescope reveals an intricated structure of filaments.
Sun's corona
This is the outer part of sun atmosphere. It is normally totally invisible from Earth due to its difference of luminosity with the sun surface. Yet it can easily be observed even with the naked eye during a total eclipse. It extends millions of kilometers away from the sun's surface. Observing it with a telescope reveals an intricated structure of filaments.
Bright stars
During the peak of darkness, you should be able to see the brightest stars such as Vega, Arcturus and Altaïr
Bright stars
During the peak of darkness, you should be able to see the brightest stars such as Vega, Arcturus and Altaïr
Glowing horizon
While you're enveloped by the moon’s shadow, the sun continues to shine all around, casting a glow on the atmosphere reminiscent of twilight, but this phenomenon occurs uniformly across the entire horizon, rather than being confined to one side.
Glowing horizon
While you're enveloped by the moon’s shadow, the sun continues to shine all around, casting a glow on the atmosphere reminiscent of twilight, but this phenomenon occurs uniformly across the entire horizon, rather than being confined to one side.
Third contact: total eclipse end
At this instant, the Moon has moved far enough that the first bright bit of the Sun starts to reappear from behind it.
From this point on, you absolutly need to put back on solar filters to keep observing the sun.
Experience the whole sequence in reverse order
The timeframe of the total eclipse is very short. If you don't have time to enjoy every aspects of it, here's your chance to relive them in the reverse order : the corona faded as the first baily's beads appear again followed by a thin crescent of sun. Daylight is back, nature emerges from its torpor and the temperature rises. While the partial eclipse still has to last an hour or so before the eclipse is finally over, it's usually the moment for the party to begin and celebrate the incredible moment you've just experienced.
Experience the whole sequence in reverse order
The timeframe of the total eclipse is very short. If you don't have time to enjoy every aspects of it, here's your chance to relive them in the reverse order : the corona faded as the first baily's beads appear again followed by a thin crescent of sun. Daylight is back, nature emerges from its torpor and the temperature rises. While the partial eclipse still has to last an hour or so before the eclipse is finally over, it's usually the moment for the party to begin and celebrate the incredible moment you've just experienced.