Tuesday morning, 10 October 2023, I did a dry run for the Annular Solar Eclipse on 14 October. From Cassiopeia Observatory the Moon will cover 85% of the Sun's diameter. The eclipse will begin at 0811 MST and end at 1104 MST. I set up for the dry run a little before 0811 MST to ensure that the Sun would be above the hill to the east from my location.

Here is my setup, just a little north of the observatory. The camera is a Nikon D850 DSLR with a Tamron 150-600mm lens. I used the Explore Scientific Sun Catcher Solar Filter on the camera. On the bench are some other accessories, including the Lunt SUNoculars 8x32 and the Spectrum Telescope Smartphone 8X Telephoto Kit with Solar Filter that I would use with my Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max.

When I first started D850 DSLR imaging tests there were clouds obscuring the Sun.

While waiting for the clouds to move away I prepared the iPhone 13 Pro Max for handheld solar imaging. After the Sun was in the clear, I took these photos using NightCap Camera. The first two photos were taken with solar glasses in front of the camera lens. The third photo was taken with the 8X telephoto lens and solar filter.

1X lens, 1/125sec, ISO 34


3X lens, 1/2500sec, ISO 2000


1X lens + 8X telephoto lens, 1/350sec, ISO 34

I then returned to the D850 DSLR for more imaging tests. This photo (f/8, 1/1600sec, ISO 800, FL 600mm) shows some small sunspots. The enlarged version shows the sunspots more clearly.

I declared the dry run successful and I am now ready for Saturday's Solar Eclipse.

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