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Email support is suspended until August 20.

The app will still be downloadable, but if you are not fully running by August 1 please, please, please do not try to use this app for the eclipse. Taking wide angle views is interesting and will produce great images . And you can do it without a lot of risk.

Welcome to the beta of Version 3.0

Version 3.0 represents a significant overhaul of the original CaptureEclipse code base. Numerous algorithms have been revamped, simplified, and rigorously tested using AI-powered tools to identify and eliminate any potential bugs in the generation and execution processes. Notably, the code base now exclusively utilizes features available in macOS 26/27 and only available with Apple Silicon. Additionally, it incorporates user feedback received since the initial release.

  • Version 3 is no longer limited to 4 exposure cycles. It will take as many cycles as will fit. The documentation will explain this more completely.
  • User feedback was that each cycle should include more exposures. Version 3 allows the user to select how many exposures are included in an exposure set.
  • If there isn’t enough time to generate a complete corona set, the remaining time can optionally be filled with as many additional corona exposures as possible
  • Cameras like the 6D, which have a slow maximum mechanical shutter speed but lack an electronic shutter (such as the R series), previously had limited support. Version 3 will fully support them.
  • The touchbar is deprecated, but I likely have one of the last Macs that support it.
  • The focus dialog now prompts the user when new focus adjustments can be applied
  • Update to the latest version of Canon's EDSDK .

Also, I replaced the rather clumsy Site editor with a new one that is both more robust and user-friendly. In degree mode, W and S can now be entered as negative numbers instead of requiring the use of buttons. Additionally, I believe that all of the user-visible displays now present numbers correctly, at least for PFIGS languages.

Please take some time to review this website. While most of the program functions identically to version 2.3, the scenario generator has undergone a complete overhaul and now features a new user interface for its control. Additionally, other features like saving and restoring task lists are now less unsupported, as the test suites now utilize them.

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Past Versions

Information on Past Versions is here

About the App

Overview

This program is based on my 25+ years and 18 experiences of totality (+ 2 annular) chasing the moons shadow . In that time I have learned that capturing totality is hard. I have also learned that, with the proper tools and absolute familiarity with the tools, you can do it and still enjoy the show. As you can see from my eclipse page I have had some good results over the years. Good enough that prior to the 2017 and 2024 eclipses in the US most of the local astronomy clubs asked me to share my experience. This program is only one part of the overall equation. I cover the rest of what you need to know in my video series Photographing Solar Eclipses which I have updated as a part of this work. This program was written since one of the tools that I used in 2017 and 2019, Solar Eclipse Maestro, does not currently run on modern MacOS®s (or hardware). Since I was stuck in the house thanks to COVID I decided to provide a solution.
In 2017 millions of people watched the Total Eclipse and at least thousands tried to photograph it. While the 2012 Annular was not as speculator, every parking spot in the remote view site I chose was full. This program will allow the user to enjoy the eclipse instead of fussing with a camera.
This software proved itself in Australia 2023, Spain 2026, and Albuquerque 2023. Many folks used it successfully in 2024 (unfortunately I was clouded out).
Before we go any further I must state what I do in all of the talks I have given and heard from all of the responsible lecturers on my trips

If this is your first eclipse, watch do not photograph

Don't want to be left out? No Problem. You can still set up a camera and capture a wide angle view of the eclipse experience. That way you can focus on the show instead of your camera!
This discussion assumes you are familiar with the basics of solar eclipses. Otherwise you are likely in the set of people who should be enjoying their first and using something like a GoPro instead of a telescope. But in case you need a refresher on terminology this should help [1].
I also suggest you take the following pledges
  • If something goes wrong during totality I only try once to fix it (<10 seconds)
  • I will practice and practice some more until operating my mount, telescope (lens), camera, and this program are second nature
Remember only you can tell if your camera and your computer have the battery life and performance to succeed. The eclipse site is not the place to learn. If you have a solid plan that is well drilled you can spend totality looking through binoculars and let your hardware do the work.
These pages are organized as a progressive lesson. While I believe this program is easy to learn, you do not want to teach yourself while C2 is approaching. I tell the people listening to my lectures to imagine they are sitting down to run the program after running a mile. That will put your adrenaline level at the same point it will be as the shadows sharpen and then fade.
Before we go further let's describe what hardware is required for Version 3.0.
  • the latest MacOS® Tahoe (26.6) or Golden Gate (27.x)
  • Any Apple Silicon Mac® that supports those versions. Support for Intel Macs as ended. See Legacy Support if you have an Intel Mac and would like to continue using version 2.3 with it.
  • One of the Canon Cameras on this list. This program has been tested with a EOS 60D, EOS 80D, and R8.
  • The program will support either the camera being connected to a Canon lens (I recommend the Canon 300mm 1:4 IS) or a telescope such as a Televue TV-76. The program will automatically adapt to the presence or absence of a camera controlled lens. Please review some of the operating details in Camera before using in the field.
  • {Optionally}A GPS receiver using the u-blox 7 chip such as Stemedu VK172 USB GPS Dongle. A GPS dongle is not required, but review the material under Time and Ship to determine whether it will be required in your particular circumstance.
The Spain 2026 eclipse is now in the past. CaptureEclipse was running my camera in while I was looking through binoculars. Here is a preview of what is coming from Fred Espenak's website

Anything boxed like this is something you need to pay attention to such as:

  • Images that have blue or red borders can be clicked for a larger image. You can click the image again in the overlay for a full size image. Items bordered in red are movies

Anything boxed like this is something that is dangerous such as:

  • Photographing or even looking at any uneclipsed part of the sun is dangerous. While during totality the corona is no brighter than the full moon when any part of the Photosphere is visible it is not safe to look. Read the  safety instructions  to keep yourself safe.

Quick Start

Since many will not want to read many pages of detailed instruction nor wish to use an actual camera or GPS before starting to use the program here is a quick walkthrough that will allow you to get a feel on how it works. Many other examples are included in the Learning section
end col

Sydney 2028 with Simulated Camera

Let's start with a simple example. In 2028 the path of totality will pass near Sydney Australia
Start the App
Splash Screen

If this is the first time you have started the app take a moment to read the reminders. This same information will appear in the master help menu. By hitting "I Agree" you are agreeing to the EULA.

Define Eclipse Dialog

Again if this is the first time you have run the application then you will be presented with the Define Eclipse Dialog. When this was run the next eclipse was an annular in Feb 2027

Select 2028 Test Case

Click on the "Sydney 2028" Test Case button. The program will fill in the circumstances for Sydney, NSW on July 22, 2028. Press Save. Note the text that describes the age of the correction for earth rotation (ΔT). This example was captured before USNO updated the value.

Select Camera

The program will then automatically attempt to select a camera. If you have a real camera you will get a different dialog shown in Learning. Since no camera is connected you get the "Did not Find" dialog. Normally this means your camera might be off. In this case we want to use a simulated camera so we press the appropriate button

Camera Parameters

Since we are assuming this is your first use of the program the Camera Preferences Dialog will appear. This dialog contains some important information on how you want to control your camera. For now we will just accept the defaults and move on. We come back to this dialog in Learning

When you actually run the program you will be required to complete the TestDelay test before proceeding. For the moment lets gloss over that.

Scenario Parameters

The entire dialog has been redesigned. For the moment we are just going to use the defaults, but you should explore the more complete explanation of this dialog in the description of the Scenario Editor.

Since this example uses a simulated camera a feature that optionally downloads images from the camera is hidden.

Validate Scenario

Before you can proceed you have to use the Validate tool to verify that that scenario will actually run. Press the Validate button.

Once you have completed validation the save button is enabled and the validate button becomes "secondary color". If you make any further changes then you will have to revalidate.

Ready to Run
Here is the main window that will be controlling the run. Starting from the top
  • The run type - is this a real time run or are you running a practice scenario
  • The start and stop buttons. Enabled when you have a site, camera, and runable scenario
  • The site information is on the upper left
  • The current camera state is in the center
  • The event times are on the right
  • Below the site are two time displays. The display labeled "Run Time" is what time the program thinks it is. In what we are about to do it shows a simulated offset. We are about to advance runtime to July 2028
  • Last but not least is the task list. This is a time ordered set of tasks. This should be fairly obvious, but if you want more information see Details

Use Simulated Time
You could press the Run button at this point and take a generous coffee break (as of this writing, a little less than two years). If you wanted to proceed with a test now, you can use one of the simulated time modes. I highly recommend you practice using Time->Practice->Practice Totality. This starts the clock a little less than 15 minutes before C2. It is important to practice C2 a couple of times to think about where you will be standing or sitting, where your filter goes when you take it off, where the mount will be pointing from C1 to C3, and other such details that you do not want to think about for the first time as the eclipse begins.

However to keep this movie demonstration short I am going to select the C2 - 1 minute

The Capture Eclipse Folder
When CaptureEclipse runs it creates a special folder (marked with its icon) in the Documents directory. Within this folder are all of the user visible files.
Files from this run
Now let's expand the folder. Within is a log file created for the run. That file is described more in Details
Next is a directory of files for this run. For each of the images your script "took", a file is created with the simulated time and with an image that corresponds to the type of exposure you scripted. If we were using a real camera then the images would still be in the camera. This program does not down load them.
This is an example of the file recorded as a C2 (or C3) burst
Run another Day
What happens when you close the app down and come back another day? The app remembers whatever state is unchanged. From now you you will not see the splash screen. Instead of the Define Eclipse dialog you will have the Open dialog.
This is mostly a convenience when you are back home. Unless you are shooting from a friend's backyard you will rarely have good lat/long. No problem hit cancel and select Site->New.
From here you will get the camera dialog above. The Camera Preferences is not necessary so that will be skipped ( you can edit the preferences from the camera menu). Finally the scenario menu will appear defaulted with the last values.
So that is your introductory tour. You can continue the tutorial on the Learn pages (or just start using it). Do take the time to learn about Burst Mode and take the time to read the Time page. If you have not done so you might also want to review Photographing Solar Eclipses to learn about the rest of the process.

FootNotes

[1] And in case you are not familiar with the Cx terminology, Cx refers to the xth Contact as described in the reference

keep nova happy