Preparing for the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse, Pt. 5 (Fully Automated Imaging)

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Resources
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❤️ Patreon ❤️
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Contents
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0:00 Pros/Cons of full automation
4:38 Comparison and compatibility of available software
9:35 Squarespace (sponsored segment)
10:44 CaptureEclipse demo
24:46 Solar Eclipse Maestro demo
32:44 Eclipse Orchestrator demo
38:21 SET'n'C demo
44:29 EclipseDroid intro (not a full demo)
46:35 Patreon / Credits (Astrospheric Pro offer)

This video is sponsored by Squarespace.

[NebulaPhotos]

URGENT message for anyone who was planning to use Solar Eclipse Maestro for the eclipse:

[lizards]

Dude, you are THE MAN for making this video. There really is no other information anywhere on these.

[Naztronomy]

Great video, Nico! And thanks for the link to my SETnC demo in the description, Clear skies!

[jasonkip]

I appreciated watching this video, even if I'm going to take your earlier advice and stick to a basic setup. I was in the path in 2017, the Smoky mountains were a little too smoky that day, and I'm ready for the full show this time around! Clear skies!

[davidg]

This is fantastic! I didn't even know these software tools existed.

[terrizittritsch]

Great run through of what's available and how they work. Thank you!

[Tiago]

Amazing video thank you so much! You make it look easy.

[TheTwoTwelve]

Hey Nico! Just wanted to jump in here and thank you so much for this series. I don't have any kind of fancy tracker or automation, but even still, because of your earlier videos I got some absolutely stunning photographs with just a tripod, a telephoto zoom, and an a6700 from here in Dallas. Thank you so much for all this information it really really helped.

[richardshagam]

In SetnC, the exposure table is editable like a spreadsheet in that you can copy one cell and drag it into additional cells relatively quickly. Also, if you start the actual eclipse timing sequence you can go into a practice mode. It's a bit clunky, but you can run through the entire eclipse sequence and advance from one stage to the next without waiting for real-time. If you know where you will be in advance, it is possible to save your location and timing data. I expect to generate mine on site, so I'll be practicing a lot

[CAPHOTO]

Thanks for this. I just downloaded eclipse orchestrator and it works with my d800e on the free test version. So ill be dropping the 100 on the pro mode, it really will reduce a lot of the stress and the voice cues are great.

[COGSCNY]

I’m too excited for this one need to calm down

[Folly_Inds]

I was just thinking of you while panicking and prepping for the Eclipse

[virtualjoedub]

Thanks for sharing a map that includes data for the Candian prairies! The NASA one shows bands, but not data! Thanks for the awesome content

[figzastro-photography]

Much appreciated Nico. I’m still on the fence on taking my Radian 61 or using my Tamron 150 - 600 lens and using my Canon 6DMll on my ZWO AM5. This video will help make the process a lot easier to take the pictures and enjoy the eclipse and not miss it visually with eclipse glasses of course.

[lidarman]

Funny enough I was testing my setup today for the umpteenth time. I found a lot of bugs still. A thing I learned are that some low power items that might be run using a small power bank might cause the bank to sleep (I' have a camera taking polarized images and have a small microcontroller that went to sleep while testing). Bottom line is do an end-to-end test several times--don't leave anything as assumed. It cannot be stressed enough.

[PJeBenn]

Thanks for the video, great information. After watching this video I almost wish I had gotten myself a used Canon DSLR. As this is my second total eclipse. It would be interesting to see what I could get with the automation software. I am one of the small groups of people that shoots with a Pentax camera (which I personally love) and of course none of the automation software works with Pentax. Guess I will have to see what I do in 20 years. 😁

[jimmurray]

Very well detailed and presented...thanks! I used Maestro in 2017. Nice that it could run four cameras. Using CaptureEclipse in 2024 with a Canon RP. I appreciate the reassurance of seeing someone else demo it. Have you tried changing out the camera battery with the script running? Experiencing totality near Waxahachie, TX with 4min11sec duration. Clear skies to everyone!!!

[jackdiamond]

Been following this since Video #2! I’m not photographing the eclipse but this is super interesting!

I am driving cross country to go see this thing and it looks like all of Texas is going to be cloudy. I’m going to be pretty sad if it ends up being overcast all day.

[rural_astro]

I believe SET'n'C also requires you to set your computer's time zone to (UTC) Coordinated Universal Time with daylight savings and set time automatically off. Not sure if the other programs require this as well.

[Zegery]

Im deciding to use NINA for the eclipse, theres a lucky imaging plugin for high FPS. I made a sequence in the advanced sequencer for it, tested out well! Can't wait