Watching a solar eclipse is an unforgettable experience, but did you know you can also capture it with nothing more than your smartphone and a pair of certified solar eclipse glasses?
Professional astronomer Dr Doug Duncan developed the Solar Snap app to make eclipse photography simple and accessible for everyone. Designed specifically for beginners and casual smartphone users rather than experienced photographers, the app removes much of the guesswork involved in photographing the Sun. During the 2024 total solar eclipse across North America, it became one of the most popular apps in the United States, with around 400,000 downloads on eclipse day alone. Solar Snap is available for both Apple and Android devices.
Before pointing your phone at the Sun, it’s important to remember that your smartphone camera needs the same protection as your eyes. Looking directly at the Sun without a proper solar filter can damage your camera sensor.
Fortunately, you don’t need any specialist equipment. Simply place one lens from a pair of ISO-certified solar eclipse glasses over your phone’s camera lens. The filter material used in eclipse glasses is suitable for protecting both your eyes and your smartphone camera while photographing the Sun.
This simple technique works brilliantly for photographing partial solar eclipses, allowing you to safely capture the changing crescent shape of the Sun as the Moon passes in front of it.
If you’re lucky enough to experience a total solar eclipse, Solar Snap includes a special automatic mode designed specifically for totality. With your phone mounted on a tripod, the app can automatically capture the different stages of the eclipse while you put the camera down and enjoy the spectacle with your own eyes.
Whether you’re observing a partial eclipse from the UK or travelling to witness a total eclipse elsewhere in the world, Solar Snap and a pair of certified eclipse glasses make it easy for anyone to capture memorable photographs safely using the smartphone they already have.
Solar Snap App on iPhone
